poundage jumps, deep hooks and conversation

[Carpmaster]

Well I am not a long winded kinda guy but am hoping to spark some conversation and am going to try my best...


Topic 1:  Poundage/draw weight jumps....  I am really becoming hooked on this instinctive thing.. to be honest I have been a dabbler with it the last few years, yet I am a bow nut and I shoot all the time.  I shoot thousands of arrows out of a zero letoff wheelie bow bowfishing a year, I shoot a ton with my hunting compound and I shoot my 45# Kodiak daily....  I am infactuated with hunting trad and am leaning towards picking up a 55# Super Grizzly...  Is that too much of a jump in draw weight to be successful and not obtain bad habits or difficult learning curves?


Topic 2.....  Deep hooks....  Since I have shot recurve instinctively I have shot inconsistently but recently I picked up that I shoot off my fingertips with the 'curve yet shoot pretty well with a deep hook when bowfishing with a 40# zero letoff compound....I went deep hook today out of curiosity and my groups became compound tight at 15 - 22 yds...is this typical????  

I am hoping to stir some comments / conversation / reasoning on these topics with high hopes of helping myself as I am a perfectionist and possibly help other guys in my shoes....

[Hot Hap]

Deep hooks are good. Hap

[GRINCH]

If deep hooks work for you then go with it,what ever gets your groups tighter so you have more confidence.

[saumensch]

I think if you arent quite small that jump of draw weight shouldnt be to much with all that shooting practice you do. id say go for it, just take it easy so the joints can strengthen. Maybe after shooting youre 45# for several times for a warm up grab the 55# and shoot, but stop when you / youre muscles etc. start feeling tired.
Youll be at it full time in no time    

I myself shoot a deep hook also becuase after going from 50 to 58# the finger tips didnt feel safe enough to hold the string without slipping or loosing it. But from what youre saying, youre groups are way better than mine so i might not be the best person to ask    

In my opinion the most important thing for trad is to get a feel for youre body and the bow. Just do what youre body and youre bow tell you to and what works best.

[Bowwild]

Deep hook (in the joint of the index and ring finger but just out (towards the palm) of the middle finger, promote a relaxed (flat back)draw hand. This relaxed condition extends all the way through the arm and shoulder unless you do something else with drawhand thumb placement to ruin it.

If you are able to maintain proper form (the bow fitting you rather than you fitting the bow)the extra draw weight wouldn't be too much.

[Green]

X2 what Bowwild has said here about the relaxed hand and forearm.  If you have problems with your thumb popping open on your release there are other issues at play, but to solve this USAFDad gave me a tip that really worked.....cover your pinky fingernail with your thumb inside your hand and as long as you have a completely relaxed back of the hand and forearm things will improve significantly.

[straitera]

10# jump is easy. E-mail & I'll send Mr. Hill's exercises to get you there pdq.

Bowfished instinctive each year w/lighter cmpd prior to season. Too fun & great practice. Eventually, tech became cumbersome (speed wars, losing screws, rattles, prevent mtce checks, oils, & whatever) & lost any magic. Trad is an adjustment; i.e. cant rather than straight up, heavier pull on a longer draw, instinctive fingers vs release & sights, etc. Trad has more advantage from solid simplicity. Long as you;re having fun you;re doing it right. Welcome.

[Carpmaster]

Thank you all for the input.  Green, I tried the pinky under the thumb thing and it feels weird almost crampy for me.  straitera - email sent!

[njloco]

I have a bad habit of shooting from the tips of my fingers but I am making progress as I mostly shoot from the deep hook position now, and have to remind myself much less. I shoot good either way but can notice a tighter group and more consistency with the deep hook.

As far as the weight goes I guess it also depends on one's age.

Good luck.