Plucky to know ya.......don't overlook the thumb.

[Green]

For awhile now I've been using a two point anchor.....index finger under cheekbone, and thumb knuckle behind the earlobe.  About every 5th shot I get a pluck....bad.  Arrow impacts 6-18" right (am RH).  Been trying to solve this once and for all for the last week.  

When I grip the string my thumb is curled so that the thumbnail is perpendicular to the ground and the knuckle lays comfortably behind my earlobe.  I finally realized this puts my thumb in a "spring loaded" position.  As my hand opens at release my thumb is flinging wide open as well, pushing my hand away from my face before, or at the same time as, my string fingers open and release the string. The result is that dreaded wide to the right shot.

Being dense, it only took me a few weeks to realize that when I reach full draw, if I'll just extend my thumb somewhat parallel to the ground inside my hand the pluck is minimized.  I'm working on readjusting my comfort level at anchor this way, and not sure it's going to get there.  

Any coaching suggestions on release drills/tips are definitely welcome here.

[Killdeer]

There is something for me to try. Thanks!

Killdeer

[Green]

Just returning the favor Killie!  Boy have you solved a problem on my end....Thanks Again!

[Killdeer]

Forgot what it was...      

[Green]

Ring finger pain and the high elbow.  Been shooting a tab daily since then and absolutely no pain.

[USAFdad]

I shoot similar to Green, thumb nuckle under ear lobe but middle finger corner of mouth. I was about to change my name to plucky until a friend helped me out. He told me to curle my pinky finger back and put the end of my thumb on top of my pinky finger. It helps to keep you from turning your hand outward after release. It's working for me, although I still have a pluck occasionally. You can also bring that hand all the way back until you touch your shoulder which also helps keep you from fanning your fingers outward after release. Watch Terry Green in his video if you can. It shows the follow thru toward the shoulder and helped me to actually see a proper release. Couple tips I got from some ex target archers that helped me hope they help you.

[Green]

Jeff - I think adding the pinky on top of the thumb will work....try it after awhile.  I do pull through the shot because of back tension, just sometimes the thumb strikes first...lol.  Thanks a bunch for the tip!

[Green]

Can't believe it took me so long to figure this out....but that's life without a coach.  Thank God for TG!

[snakebit40]

I was starting to get a pluck every fourth shot last week. Last night I went back to the blind bale and grabbed my form master. I made the string 1 inch longer than the tip of my middle finger. That way when I release I have to have proper back pressure or my arm will fly forward with the string.

After doing this for about 10 shots my release was ssssssooooooo much smoother.

[Javi]

If you are truly using the correct muscles to draw and pull with those muscles through the shot while relaxing the back of your hand/fingers you should feel your fingers lightly brush your cheek on the way by and the finger tips will usually touch your shoulder…  

One point... You have someone watch you while executing the shot paying particular attention to head movement, I’ve seen several good shooters who claim that they don’t touch their cheek turn their head upon release to better see the arrow flight.. This is not the best way to shoot and all of them improved after fixing the head movement…

[Green]

Thanks for the tip Mike....I'll get the wife to watch for any head movement.  Since realizing the thumb issue things are really coming together. Once I'm aligned there's no way the thumb can fling the hand open, and when the release happens, the drawing arm consistently moves to my shoulder.

[Winterhawk1960]

I thought.......and at least for me......that if you are a right handed shooter, that when you "pluck" the string that it would cause your arrow to impact to the "left" of your intended target ???    Am I thinking wrong here ???

Winterhawk1960

[Green]

Mine seem to go wide right if I pluck Don.  Not really sure what is supposed to happen, just know this is what my experience is.  Maybe one of the coaches will chime in here with some wisdom?  Really need to get some video shot so I can see for myself.

[Green]

Been 10 days or so since I posted this plucking thread and I've got to tell ya, laying the thumb on top of the pinky finger like USAFDad suggested, instead of coiling it up has been a game changer.  Very clean release compared to what happened when the thumb would uncoil from against the back of my jaw bone at the same time my fingers would slip off the string.  Now my hand just jumps straight back to the shoulder instead of flying out and back.  There are a lot of different "why's my arrow hitting here or there?" threads posted, and there are a lot of form/tuning issues that effect these types of shot results, but getting that coiled thumb out of the equation sure solved a lot of puzzlers for me personally.  TG'ers are the best!

[ckanous]

I didn't have a problem with plucking but occasionally I would let a few go so I figured I would give this a try. I can't believe how much better I seemed to shoot, my groups stayed tighter through out a shooting session. I assume after shooting awhile fatigue would set in or lack of concentration and those fliers would appear. Unlike Green my shots would be left if they would stray. After reading about the thumb springing off your face it made me think about it and try it.  This technique kept my shot more uniform and consistent, I LIKE IT!!!! Give it a try might be what puts your shooting over the top. As said before in other threads, here is another thumbs up for this forum!!