Short Draw

[crunch]

When I first started shooting I always anchored with the middle finger in the corner of the mouth. I shot, well, okay. Later I looked for a "hard boney anchor", and used an incisor tooth.  At this anchor I shoot pretty good, but I cannot help but feel like I'm under drawing, losing about an inch.
The problem is when I go to a longer anchor point, there isn't, for me,  such a solid reference point. Maybe my face has an odd shape. LOL. Anyway, my consistency goes down the drain.

Should I stay with the short draw or continue looking for a longer reference point?  Suggestions?

Thanks,

Bob

[s_mcflurry]

For me, corner of the mouth is right about where my canine tooth is.  I've heard others using the canine as their solid anchor also.  You can either feel for the tooth through your skin or actually stretch the corner of the mouth to get there.

[canshooter]

I used the mouth corner and eyetooth anchors points and felt the same as you, not quite drawing the bow to full potential. I switched to anchoring with the lower thumb joint behind my jaw and touching my earlobe, additionally the fletching touches my nose. This gives me a draw of 30.5" and a very consistent length of draw. I hope that this may assist you.

[sputterman]

I shoot with my middle finger in the corner of my mouth and my pointer finger on my eye tooth. I have tried all kinds of different anchors because I have 26" draw that bums me out. I resulted back to this anchor which is my shortest but my most accurate. Shoot whats comfortable and consistant.

[DaxE]

I have just started shooting with the thumb behind the jaw and for me it feels really good for me. I am looking for that second anchor though, might try to figure where my earlobe is and see if that works.

[crunch]

Thanks, I guess I'll keep playing...

[Mitch-In-NJ]

I recently changed my anchor.  I use my index finder on my canine.  The middle joint of my thumb on the point of my jaw bone.

At first my draw got shorter while my back muscles got used to the new anchor and now my draw is about 3/4" longer than it was.  Which kind of sucks because now my arrows are a little weak.  Fortunately I was low on arrows and was going to buy new shafts anyway.

On the bright side, my shooting is way better.  I shot this group last night at distances from about 45 yards to about 20 yards.  I say about becuase I just kind of walked around, stopped and shot from different yardages and angles but I know the distances are pretty close because the range does have yard markers.

BTW - that's not a poorly tuned bow... I was just shooting from different angles.

 

[crunch]

Very nice, Mitch.
I'm trying to free up some time to go shooting tomorrow.

ATB,

Bob

[PASSTHRU2]

If your shooting well at that shorter draw stay with it.

[crunch]

I shot a round of 3d with an old friend yesterday. We didn't keep score. It was just a nice day in the woods. Found myself going back to my old shorter draw. I think it works the best for me.

Thanks

[pickaspot]

Like sputterman I have a short draw (26) and went to the thumb behind my jaw and middle finger in the corner of my mouth. It has proven very consistent for me and provides every bit of "umpf" my stubby arms can deliver!

Accuracy is what matters. I agree with the others - experiment and stick with what puts the most arrows in the kill zone.

[targets3D]

One thing to consider is which anchor helps achieve the best back tension for you. I used a middle finger anchor to the corner of the mouth then switched to index finger. While initially it was a slightly shorter draw, it allowed for a better expansion of the shot with back tension which is many cases will increase your DL.