Get rid of the string plucking devil

[jerry hill]

I learned one little trick from Howard Hill early on, when I picked up a bad habit of plucking the string upon release. I worked on it and worked on it and out of nowhere it would happen again, when I was trying to shoot at a target. Didn't ever occur with me when I was hunting, but target shooting that little devil would come out of nowhere. He told me what to do as it had happened to him once upon a time. He said,"Jerry practice without a target on the backstop or hay bale." "Come to full draw and keep thinking to yourself release bottom finger first, bottom finger first". "Then turn loose of the string with your bottom finger first and the other two will automaticaly follow". I practiced this way until it became second nature and the devil has stayed away. He instructed me that when drawing a bow with three fingers, each finger has a purpose. The top two are on the string for the only purpose of holding the arrow in place against the nocking point, and the bottom finger should be used as your trigger finger for releasing the string. He said that if you were not going to use it for that purpose then why use it at all. Jerry Hill.................

[oddan]

Wonderfull tip. I have the problem somtimes of plucking the string as I release. I will try this. It makes perfect sence. Thanks,,Out Door Dan

[Geo S]

Thanks for the tip Jerry. I will have to work on that one.

George

[Big Sneaky]

I have never heard that.  Thanks for sharing.

[jerry hill]

to Dan and George, Thanks for your comment. I'm only trying to share my experience of shooting the longbow all my life and pass along what I have learned from H.Hill, hoping that it may help my fellow archers enjoy the sport just a little better.

[jacobsladder]

Jerry....what timing...thank you..... im right handed...when i miss ...i typically miss right....and its typically due to a pluck...bottom finger first..we'll try it.

[pdk25]

Thanks for your post, Jerry.  I don't think that I have been plucking, but I'm gonna try it anyway.

[rpembert]

I never thought about the bottom finger like that. I will have to try it out tomorrow. Keep them coming.

Jerry if ya like post the shooting tips in the Shooting Forum. More folks will find them there.
Just a tip. HEHEHE

Thanks,
Joshua

[Shooty1]

Makes sense because the middle and ring fingers share tendons.

[reddogge]

It's worth a try.

[elknutz]

I'm gonna try that.  Thats one of my demons, thanks!

[Old York]

Very interesting!
I'll give it a try, thanks.

[twitchstick]

Haven't had that devil for awhile,but you never know when it will appear. Good tip.

[zetabow]

Interesting concept, I thought the problem was because people thought of release and this thinking of releasing fingers was the root of the problem.

I dont think Release I just focus on aim and expansion, the release just a reaction to expansion process, when I think "Release" it's just not a very good shot. I was also taught by a top Korean Coach not to release with fingers but to learn to relax Flexor muscles in the Forearm, this makes the release very fast and always smooth.

The human brain solves problems in many different ways, everybody has their own way to deal with a problem.    

In 1986 my friend loaned me Howard's Biography and it inspired me so much I purchased a Bow that same week, just wish I started Archer earlier and had the chance to see Howard shoot.

[Gordy]

Good tip thanks ..... and one more phrase for my shooting mantra:
'Up high, in tight, down low ......shoot...No, aim...or not ... then  GO !!!!!!"  ')

[maineac]

Good tip, I'll try it.

[BobCo 1965]

It is interesting.

Personally, I will stay away from contemplating the release though.

[robtattoo]

And there was me thinking that string plucking was a product of incorrect linear back-tension, which causes the drawing hand to fly away from the face, instead of coming backwards.

[fido dog]

Wowsers! Tried that out just a few minutes ago. I'll practice this every time now until I don't even know I'm doing it.

Thank you Jerry!

[Terry Green]

Yeah Rob....most folks I see that pluck the string are either 'telling themselves' to release, or are not properly aligned.  The best way to eliminate string pluck that I have found is to get properly aligned, having all your energy going directly toward and away from the target. Your release hand has nowhere to go but rearward if your energy is directed properly....and you will also eliminate a lot of windage problems.

There's a clip of Howard shooting a tossed rock on his forum.  If you freeze it at full draw, you will see that he had proper alignment down pat.