How long do you hold full draw before releasing?

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Since my class with Bob Wesley, he has me taking a 2 count before release.  I was practically snap shooting before that.

[buckster]

2-3 seconds, until I get a good sight picture and back of fletching contacts the tip of my nose, Rick Welch style works for me.

Sometimes I do find myself rushing the shot and my form suffers as well.

[Orion]

Virginia.  The shot sequence you describe for yourself on the first page seems just about perfect.  Don't worry about how long you hold at full draw.  From what you describe, your subconscious is triggering the shot when it looks/feels right.  That's exactly what you want.  Doesn't make any difference whether that occurs 1/2 or several seconds after reaching full draw.  Don't try to make it more complicated than it is. You may need to hold longer in a hunting situation, and if so, your brain will cause you to do so.  Then again, you may need to shoot more quickly than you normally do. There, too, the brain will take over. Just do what's comfortable and feels right for you.

[bubinga]

I shoot considerably better if I focus on the spot for a good 2-3 seconds at full draw before my release.

[BobCo 1965]

I try to be in hold for 1-3 seconds.

[Hoyt]

Once I reach my anchor..top finger to corner of mouth..It takes me 2 or 3 seconds to get everything lined up.

[stevemfwills]

hit my anchor and 2 or three secs..depends if its a target or if its breathing

[18thcentman]

I might take 1-2 seconds. After that I start to over-think. This is when things go wrong.

[eric-thor]

when i think of it 5 to 10 seconds , but if not probably about 2-3. as long as it takes to line up the shot and feel good about it.

[sbschindler]

don't release the string until your eye has locked into the spot you want to hit.

[tkytrac]

I've watched the pros shoot on video.  Watched them hold at anchor on targets.  Then watch them shoot flying targets w/out holding at anchor.  They still hit their marks. Hmmm.

[PSUBowhunter]

I would guess about 5-7 seconds. I think I am on target within 1-2 seconds, but its 5-7 seconds till I get enough back tension.

[SkookumDon]

As recurve shooters have started shooting higher poundage bows, the hold times have decreased. If you shoot a bow 35# or less, about 8 seconds is a good time once you reach full draw, but with bows over 35#, you need to speed it up to around 3-4 seconds. Most folks get too tired in a tournament holding heavy poundage recurves more than 3 seconds.

[stickbowmaniac]

I hold for 3-5 seconds.This technique works better for me than snap shooting.I do hold up to 10-15 seconds to help build muscle memory every now and again.  

[smoke1953]

I get to the necessary form quickly however getting the eye to settle on that small aiming point varies my time considerably with variable success.

[brinkwolf]

First,everyone is different and second I'm not concerned about how long I hold once I hit full draw and third,people like Howard Hill and Fred Bear were only concerned about coming to full draw and being on target not how long they held it there. Both of these great archers would be considered snap shooters now days. As long as you hit your full anchor don't worry if you can't hold it all day.  All that should matter is coming to anchor(to be consistent)and hitting the target after release. And I agree about the target weight bows being easy to hold than hunting weight bows. Target weight bows don't stack near what hunting bows do. I have a couple of target bows and they stack so little it's like shooting a compound.

 "Time is of no importance only life". Ok sorry, I watched Fith Element with the little wife this weekend.

[Bobaru]

More than 5 seconds, and my bow arm is not  dependably stable on target for me.  Focusing on aim for a split second and only releasing when feeling sure works better for me that an instant release at anchor - it creates a mental focus that maybe lacking in a snap shooting situation.  But, holding a draw long is not something that works well for me.

[eddings220]

around 1 - 2 seconds.

[s_mcflurry]

The closer I am to about 3 seconds the tighter my groups.

[Igor]

1 to 3 second. Funny thing I started doing the 1 thousand 1 1 thousand 2 thing and of course lost my focus - plucking the string and missed my mark by 6 inches - grin.....


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Glenn