Quick question about "release"

[Osage61]

I tend to slowly relax my hand to allow my release by having the string slip off my fingers as I continue to slightly draw further past my anchor. Sometimes I have tried "snapping" my hand open as well. Is this a case of: "Whatever works" and going with it, or is there a particular discipline for the releasing of the bow string.

[moebow]

Yes, Relax your fingers and let the string slip away.  You CANNOT open your fingers fast enough and they will interfere with the string.  You may want to checkout the video I posted in the "release tips" thread.  It's on the second page here on the "shooter's forum" or do a search -- See if that gives you any ideas.

[BobCo 1965]

Personally, I consider release part of follow through. After anchor, I try to "transfer" any remaining tension that is in the draw arm including the forearm and hand (but not the hook) into the back. After that point, I am thinking expansion (also part of follow through)which triggers the release.

If I am working on just the release and nothing else, I am concentrating on the release of tension from the fingertips.

[McDave]

Ideally, your release should be triggered somewhere in your back muscles, without a conscious effort to relax or otherwise open your string hand.  After you come to full draw, and as you continue to increase back tension, the release should just "happen."  I've found in classes I've attended that this subconscious release seems to work pretty naturally for about 9 out of 10 people.  For that tenth person, they just stand there at full draw waiting for a release that never seems to come.  Eventually, the instructor seems to be able to coax it out of them, or maybe they just get tired of standing up in front of the class and fake it so they can sit down.

[Osage61]

OK thanks guys...I watched the video Arne thank you. It was quite detailed and informative with many great angles. I went back to my driveway for some more shooting and really concentrated on the release. Dave you are right as well about that subconscious release I think. It almost feels unnatural at times to let something slip from my fingers that I am trying so intensely to hold onto !!!!! Although I have been working hard for some time to get my fingers to "slip away" it still is a weird feeling to let it go like that, but it appears to be improving. Takes a fully conscious effort for me to do it though still !

[moebow]

Osage,  Bob and Dave are absolutely correct about the unconscious release.  I would say though that when you are learning it, close range blank bale (DO NOT TRY TO HIT ANYTHING) with concentration only on the "feel"  of the relaxing fingers is what you want to do.  You should get NO "burn" in the pads of your fingers.  Once you have gotten the feel, the sub-conscious release will happen more naturally and will become a non-event as you "pull through the shot."

[Osage61]

ok Thanks again to all of you. No burn in the pads 'eh? Alright, I'll see how this works out for me. I'll try the close range with no target as well. This is my form and release right now.
 

[moebow]

Todd,  Thanks for posting your video it helps a lot.

First, you have a LOT of really, really good things going on!  One of the steadiest bow hands I've seen for a while.  Really good positioning of both shoulders and good steady posture through the shot.

If you do a start/stop on your video as you reach full draw, to watch the release sequence, there are two things that stand out.  One, as you release the string, watch how your hand moves directly away from your face.  This movement tells me that you are not getting the weight of the bow into your back muscles and are holding it with arm strength.  It also shows that you have stopped pulling.  This may be related to you trying to think or relaxing the fingers but causes you to relax everything else too.  Ideally, your string hand should recoil back keeping contact with your jaw bone and ending up behind your neck or on the top of your shoulder.

Two,  Look at your string fingers after the arrow is gone.  See how they are sticking straight out?  That is an indication that you are still trying to open your fingers to let the string go away and in so doing are trying to help string clearance by moving your hand out away from the string.  If a relaxed release is done well, it should look like an optical illusion where the string has moved through your fingers and the fingers are still curled in just like they were on the string before the shot.

With your shooting glove on it is hard to tell how much "curl" you have in your string fingers but the tips of at least your index and middle finger should be pointed back at your neck -- not sideways toward your chin -- I just cannot see how your fingers are.  This curl is the real definition of a deep hook; not how far the string sits in to your fingers toward the palm of the hand.  With a deep hook it is actually easier to relax off the string than if the string is out on the  pads of your finger tips.This takes patience and practice to get the correct feeling.  If you notice the short clip in my video where I was just pulling the string back a couple inches and releasing, that is a good practice to begin to feel the correct relax sequence.

As I said earlier lots of good things and your form is really looking good.  Getting control of that release WILL reduce that horizontal spread of arrows I see in the video.  You elevation is good and largely due to the great, steady bow hand.  Getting your string hand moving consistently straight back along the jaw will reduce your horizontal spread significantly.

Be patient!  This will take time and practice!

Post again and we'll keep looking!    


With the shooting glove on it is hard to tell how much "curl you

[Osage61]

Arne that was a much appreciated analysis of my video and style. I understand what you are speaking of so I'll get back onto the fingers and the hook. I'm going back to your own video right now to have a look at that little exercise you were doing. I'll post another video after some more practicing. Thank you greatly    

[wtpops]

I was told by an old timer a long time ago that you dont let go of the string you let the string go.

[Osage61]

Arne, here is my first attempt with that hook in the first joint of the fingers and trying to draw all the way through after anchoring. See what you think if you don't mind Sir. Looks like maybe my wrist is bent in towards me even though I tried to have it rotate. As you said, this will take some time.

 

[Osage61]

Second attempt with a closer view from the camera.
 

[Javi]

Looking much better.. try allowing the string to pull from your fingers while you pull with the back.. it's not so much throwing the fingers open... it's about letting the string rip from your fingers.

If done correctly you will fell the fingers brush your cheek on the way to your shoulder..

[moebow]

Todd,  Need to run for a class this PM but.  This looks much better!  Now that you are shooting up closer, if you can, get the target up to shoulder level so you are not shooting "downhill".  See how far down your bow arm is? Look at the angle between the bow arm and spine and try to keep that angle at 90* while you are practicing.  Either that or bend at the waist to keep that critical angle.

As I say, this will take some persistent practice to get to a point where it feels natural but as you get better with it I think it will vastly improve your shooting.

I'll be back "online" later this PM.

[Osage61]

Originally posted by wtpops:
I was told by an old timer a long time ago that you dont let go of the string you let the string go.

I like that advice     . I can visualize what is being said and try to use that. Thanks for the input  

[reddogge]

Your tempo was much slower in the last videos than the first ones. That is a good thing.

[Osage61]

Thanks to all of you guys for your comments and help    It is greatly appreciated. I'll re-read everything and then take another look at my latest videos/form and then practice again later while trying to touch on the things mentioned. Again thanks !!

[McDave]

It's difficult for me to tell from looking at the videos, and I could be wrong about this, but it is possible that you may be torqueing the bow and/or the bowstring.  Torqueing the bowstring means that your string hand is putting sideways pressure on the string, usually trying to get the bow into a more upright position.  Torqueing the bow means that your bow hand is putting a sideways pressure on the handle, like your thumb pressing a little too hard on the side of the bow handle.  There should be a straight back pressure from your string hand and a straight forward pressure from your bow hand.  If your bow jumps forward after release, that is a good sign.  If you come to full draw and hold it for a second, then relax your hands, and the bow tries to change positions, that is a bad sign.

[Osage61]

Originally posted by McDave:
  It's difficult for me to tell from looking at the videos, and I could be wrong about this, but it is possible that you may be torqueing the bow and/or the bowstring.  

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Oh this sounds good! I'll have a look at that and try to feel it. This makes sense that a person could be doing it. Bow canted to the right slightly but string hand pulling perpendicular causing tourque back the other way...correct?

[McDave]

What you describe is the usual problem I have had with torqueing the string: the string hand wanting the bow to be in a more vertical position.  Ideally, you would solve this problem by relaxing your string hand and forearm so that they naturally follow whatever cant you hold the bow in, without having to consciously hold them in allignment.  One of the reasons I suspect you may be doing this is that on some of your shots I noticed some tension in the muscles in your string forearm that should ideally be more relaxed.

When I torque the bow or bowstring, my usual evidence is that my arrow hits to the left of my mark (I'm a RH shooter).  Another key is if my string hand doesn't end up where it should after the shot.  On the next shot, I'll make sure my bow hand thumb isn't pressing against the handle, and that my string hand and forearm are as relaxed as possible by transferring all possible weight to my back muscles.  Generally this solves the problem and my next arrow flies straight, assuming I don't pluck the string or do something else wrong.