Hill Style

[LongStick64]

Does anyone shoot Hill style. I have started use a modified version, by going three under and have to admit s far I'm getting good results

[dragonheart]

I shoot hill style.  One of the best resources you can get is the DVD Hitting em like Howard Hill.  Watch videos on this site of Ron Laclair and of course Hill.  Really critique the method they use.  Every aspect of the shot sequence can be viewed and stopped.  I was taught to shoot Hill style as a teen, and deviated in many directions on my form over the years.  Today, I believe this style is just effective in shooting game, and only use this method in hunting with a longbow.  

When shooting at animals, things can get a bit tricky with all of the adrenaline.  The thicker limbed longbow, heavy arrow, and adaptable style just works well.  If you can stick to one methos of shooting, you will be far better off.  

I review the John Schulz DVD many times if I am having issues with my form.  When learning form get about 5-8 yrds and just work on the shot sequence.  Each aspect of a perfect shot.  

When in the field roving only think about the tiny spot you wish to hit and let the muscle memory take over on the shooting form.  Always point your bow shoulder at the target no matter what position you are in.  Your consious mind can only focus on one thing at a time.  There is a time to do bale work and a time to nail things.  

Have fun, never dull with a longbow in hand!

Jeff

[njloco]

I did bale work for the first time a couple of weeks ago just to show a friend how it's done. Wow, what  difference it made in my shooting.

[TSP]

There are many variables to 'Hill style' but most folks probably think of Hill's very fluid approach as the icon of his style...casual and smooth... rather than the straight up, geometrically braced or stiff approach of what Shultz called 'tournament style'...what most folks shoot today in some variation.   Hill style is great for hunting because it's not dependent on calculated components or perfect shooting conditions to function well.  As long as you avoid the potential pitfalls like short drawing or overbowing (leading to target panic) it tends to work very well at close bowhunting ranges, is easier on joints (no static holding at anchor) and gives a quiet release (no hold at anchor so follow-through is easier).  

I like and shoot Hill bows among others and do use many aspects of the Hill style, but my own situation slows a hair longer at anchor and uses a slightly different anchor point.  The variables of the style can adjust with the shooter's needs.  

The overall style, simple and smooth, no long holding or vertical bow requirements, goes perfectly with bowhunting and is a fun and enjoyable method.  Of course, as with any method learning good basic form is always the defining factor for accuracy.  

If you're curious about Hill's fluid style or are just bored with shooting tournament style, why not try it?  You might find that it grows on you.  Fun/enjoyable never gets boring.

[F Thomas]

I hadn't shot in almost a year and went to the range and began close to the bales and did a short session on shooting form  only.  

The results at 20 yards shocked me.  I shoot a close form to the Hill style with the exception of pulling into my anchor point prior to releasing.  Results 4" Groups.  Getting your back  muscles into it, slight bend in bow arm and keeping the drawing hand at anchor and not moving from your face.  Slight but not exagerated move reward at release.  No need for a vertical bow, I cant slightly to the right and am a RH shooter.

Muscle memory is an amazing thing.

[mambashooter]

I prefer to hold my bow straight up and look at the tip of my arrow.I use both eyes. Hold the bow very lightly with with left hand in a V.Pull back as far as I can each time. I don't think about an anchor point at all. Relax my fingers after about 2 secs and let the arrow go.
I don't want to ever get into all this techical stuff.I will go back to golf if I want to do that.  

[zetabow]

I think you can make any style work for you as long as you have the confidence in your abilities, what you consider more target style of shooting can work for hunting and Hill style can work in tourney.

The German shooting longbow who picked up 3rd place (local guy) at the IFAA World Field Champs this Aug was using the Hill style method, it was a tough tourney with steep angle shots and you could see the advantages of this method when it comes to these kinds of angle shots. The only thing that let him down was shooting a 65# Longbow over 5 days, you could see he was running out of steam by the last day.

[alex m]

I shoot Hill style with a Ferguson twist.  My rounds are two arrows.  The first is set arm slow draw to mimic a shot from a stand at a very close animal.  My second shot is moderate to fast with a swing draw (right from John Schultz's video).  I think both draws are important tools for the hunter, so I practice them both.