Byron Ferguson on "canting"

[easyup]

After greatly enjoying Rick Welch's "The Accuracy Factory" I read "Become the Arrow" by Byron.  I have one of my longbows that would not tune with Rick's system of softening and building out the rest, only this one bow so may not be form related and the shelf just is not wide enough.  So I tried Byron's setting the cant (basically increasing the cant until the arrow strikes in a vertical line).  My far from classic form from boyhood allows me to cant any which way which is nice when hunting in cover but Byron has me shooting this bow better than ever just as Rick helped with the other bows.  This is getting confusing but is very enjoyable.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Sounds like you found the answer.  Enjoy shooting that bow great.

[Terry Green]

I never did understand the cant/windage statement by Bryon.  It sounded like you had to hold the bow at a certain angle, once you found that angle, so the windage would always be correct, and that really shouldn't be the case.  I'm not disputing Byron BTW....just somehow never understood that statement.

I can cant the bow in all sorts of angles and not have to worry about windage.  Also, its great that you can to...and that's not necessarily bad form either.

[easyup]

Terry, I see it as just another approach to what Rick teaches.  Rick has you hold the bow vertical and with the eye/arrowed lined up to the target and adjust the side plate thickness and softness to bring the arrow to you vertical sight picture.  Byron starts at vertical saying that a normal RH archer will hit left and high, and by increasing the cant the arrows will move right until you find your one cant angle giving vertical strikes.  All I know is it worked on this bow very well.
My 50+ years of boyhood form has served me well but I have been wanting to improve now that I have the time to invest and forced to lower my pull (range).  These approaches and/or the form work that came with them have helped accuracy but do seem limiting in hunting situations.

[T Folts]

Rick's side plate method works best with the correct arrow to start with. If your arrow is too far off, sideplate adjustments may not be possible.

[Terry Green]

I hear ya Easy....I still just don't get it.  Cause I'm sure not limited or being forced to cant a certain angle to 'shoot where I look'.

[gorillabows]

It really is important to consider how close to center the longbow is vs the other bows. It is in my very humble opinion that if you want to shoot a traditional longbow that you need to go with instruction from a guy that shoots them........and shoots them well. i.e. Byron Ferguson.

[easyup]

Joseph, I hear you and think I should check that the Morrison and Griffin are both cut to center.  Obviously Byron is a master's master and I would love to see him in person, however, have you seen Terry do this
 http://www.tradgang.com/videos/tg/terry-2.wmv
which to me is far more useful (except the upside down which is just impossible) to the sort of hunting I do rather than holding a cant angle for all shots.  Terry is shooting a trad LB although I can't tell how close to center cut.

[Stagmitis]

Terry said:

"I still just don't get it. Cause I'm sure not limited or being forced to cant a certain angle to 'shoot where I look'."

I dont get it either....

[Terry Green]

Joseph....again, I'm not in any way knocking Byron.  He's a great shooter in his own right for sure.  I just don't get the comment cause it does not apply to me at all.  I've read his book, and it a good one, and I enjoyed it.  Just don't get that statement.

If you are having to hold the bow a certain way every shot(no matter WHO recomends it)you are being controled by the bow.  I however, (no matter who says what) I'm going to control the bow AND the shot as well.


I think of a dozen animals I've killed with cant angles that were 'off' from my back yard 'go to' cant angle shot.

Also,....just don't watch the clips below, there is more canting info on this thread so read on.

  Here\\'s some more...

[charles m]

Here's another link you should check out if you are a doubting Thomas.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=000060

[turkeyslayer]

I just "firmly" believe if you will tune the arrow to the bow instead of trying to tune the bow to the arrow,youd be alot better off,personally thats what i do,& it dont matter what angle my bow is held at it will shoot where im looking.

[mahantango]

Yup, if your arrows are tuned properly and your form is consistent it doesn't matter what angle you hold the bow. Just like it doesn't matter what rest you use, what type of bow you shoot, what glove/tab you use, what "aiming" method etc. It just all boils down to basics.

[hunterken]

And some talent!