Long arms..kinda funny

[Christofolo]

Hey guys!

Was curious I was practicing with my recurve yesterday and I was loosing arrows down my backyard I noticed that when comparing my form to others here I feel like im not drawing back enough? even though I feel my back kicking in and I got the fletchings by my face so I dont know if I should pull back more to get that straight angle I keep seeing lol

Im almost 6'3'' with the grizzly recurve so I dunno how far draw length plays into this :/

[Terry Green]

No way to tell without a pic or video...

Everyone is built different, and height doesn't always equal long draw or short draw lengths.

Get us a pic or video clip....  

[Christofolo]

[Christofolo]

I managed to get my folks to take 2 pics real quick indoors lol...

  http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/311040_276440522383219_100000518190170_1186920_8203346_n.jpg  

  http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/304402_276440569049881_100000518190170_1186922_1394161_n.jpg

I hope the helps! If anything I can take more outside tomorrow and better rested.

thanks!

[TomBow]

From what I see, your drawing arm upper arm needs to be straight in line with the arrow, based on the 2nd picture it appears that your drawing arm elbow is pointing more at an angle to the arrow.  Second, are you anchoring on a hard tissue anchor, 1st pic makes it look like you are anchoring on or slightly under your jaw line.  This is very low compared to the typical which is anchoring with middle finger in the corner of the mouth and pulling with tension in your back as if someone has a string tied to your elbow and is pulling straight away from the arrow.  I would suggest finding out your correct draw length.  If you are long-armed you need to have a bow that will accomodate your long correct draw length.  Watch moebow's form videos on YouTube for more tips and pointers.

Best of luck, I am sure you will receive many good tips to follow.  This IS the trad campfire spot ya know!  And many people will bend over backwards to help you out.

TomBow

[moebow]

Chris,

The first picture doesn't look too bad.  As Tom said, your string hand is kind of low but string elbow in pretty good position.  In both pictures, it is hard to tell what your string arm forearm alignment is. Also you are pulling the bow back farther than necessary based on the location of your fingers in relation to your face.

In the second picture (from the back), your string elbow is WAY too low and your shoulder blades are flat on your back indicating no or little back tension.   That little bow looks to be working pretty hard at that draw length.

Not much more to say with out video to see the whole shot and your reaction to the release.

[Christofolo]

Thanks guys Im measuring my wingspan and individual arm length to see where Im at. My wingspan is 75'' and almost half an inch on top of that. The shop associate at bass pro said I should be fine with my height for the 58'' length of the bow.

Im getting the feeling I'll be heading back to their range and hopefully the trad shop worker is there. Gonna go down now to practice see how I feel pulling up to corner of my mouth and working that elbow, thanks! Will try to get vid up considering someone left the tap on down here and it wont stop raining!

[BobCo 1965]

You are really stressing those limbs out. Personally, I'd be a little leary shooting that bow with your draw length.

[Christofolo]

That is whats freaking me out after I look at myself in pics its almost like the bow is too small for me. I held the PSE longbows my local bass pro had in stock and they seemed to fit my length alot better but had heavier draw weights and I didnt wanna be overbowed you know?

[Terry Green]

I don't know about the bow....but your elbow is at two totally different elevations in those two pics.

Try and get a video of 3 consecutive shots from the string side, from the rear....and overhead if possible.

[Christofolo]

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t308/Christofolo/?action=view¤t=VID_20110904_120449.mp4

I finally managed to put up a video, sorry for the wait! Although at the moment I only managed a few shots as my shoulder is still about a couple days from healed. Yeah bad habit shoulda waited but it was fine for the shots.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Please and thank you!

[Shawn Leonard]

The form is not bad, try and be more consistent on your anchor point, one shot you kind of snap shoot, then the next couple you hold a second but the last one your anchor is more out in front by an inch or so. I would also spread your feet a tad more so they are shoulder width rather than armpit width. Really not bad for just starting, now just stay consistent with what you are doing and use back tension, meaning try and pull your shoulder blades together using your back muscles is the best way I can describe it. Terry will have a better insight than I as I shoot using my arms quite a bit. Shawn

[Kituwa]

From what i can see, if yor arrows are even full length then you are not drawing any over 28".

[Christofolo]

Cool  :D  I see whatcha mean. I've been trying between instinctive and aiming with one eye closed but I feel like I shoot best with holding anchor for like a second before letting go (so far anyways).

The back tension thing kinda worries me though as like kit says, yeah I go far enough to get my shoulder blades together but it stings a bit and it feels like the bow is too far back I don't know how to convey the words exactly but it doesn't feel as right.

As for the arrows all I know regarding them is that the guy didn't alter them in any way by him judging I was tall enough that nothing needed changing.

[Shawn Leonard]

Also if those arrows are full length say 33"s you are only drawing around 28"s. Nocks also sound too tight, you should be able to give the string a light tap and they fall off, not snap on to the string. Shawn

[Christofolo]

Hmm, I didn't think too much of the nocks now that you mention it. They definitely do snap on, They came with the arrows as a set of a dozen already on.

I hope terry can add something for the video I kept him waiting the weekend XD. By the way I know it may sound silly but would my bow be able to handle a 30+'' draw like the one I would need to do? And over a long draw time?