Critique My shooting form

[Cavalry Scout]

I was shooting my Howatt hunter in the video, #45. Normally I shoot a Samick Sage, #50, draw is 28".  Arrows are GT 35/55 at 29.5", 100grn brass insert and 125grn point. I have reasonable consistency out 12-15 yards. 20 and over, well, thats why Im here! Sometimes, I kill it, other times, I do well to hit the target.  Normal miss is low, mostly left but, right too.  I can hang one out high right also.  I feel alot of pinch in my fingers (I think). Looking for any advice or fix I can find! Very frustrating! (hope the video link stuff works???

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K85pybuxzo&feature=youtu.be

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WimZ4hwXuYc&feature=youtu.be

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffgpP10dAdQ&feature=youtu.be

[moebow]

CS,  If we were working in person, here are a few things I'd suggest you try.

First, relax your bow hand fingers - let them curl, this will take a lot of tension out of your bow forearm.  Looks like you are using a sling (very OK! I can't see it in the video but your bow doesn't go anywhere and you aren't "catching the bow" so I assume the sling) so just relax those fingers.

Next, watch your draw motion.  I would describe is as coming "over the hill." You start the draw at a good height but then watch how your string elbow moves still more up then back down.  Try starting where your are but think "around the tree" (spine)in a straight slightly desending line.  The movement is still slightly down but your elbow comes around your spine much more horizontally.  What you are doing now is loading your lats and not allowing your trapezius or rhomboids to work.  This is causing you to get to your facial references from the top rather than lifting from below.

This also is what makes the elevated string thumb to "feel" right; BUT that thigh thumb puts high tension into your string hand making a release more difficult.

By drawing to straight below your references about an inch then lifting to them you can hold your head still and won't have to "hunt" around for anchor the way you are doing now.
Review:
1.  Relax the bow hand fingers.
2.  Draw around the spine to a point just below your anchor.
3.  String hand thumb down and LIFT to anchor.

See if that helps any.

Arne

[S.C. Hunter]

Good advice here. Arne has helped me a lot lately. His videos on youtube are a great help.

[Cavalry Scout]

I really tried to work on those things today.  Drawing around is WAY better than the over the hill thing. I did lay my bow hand around the handle, I dont use a sling.  I also got the string more into the crease of my finger and off the pad.  As for the "string" hand, I cant get my thumb down.  When I do, I cant get the arrow under my eye??  Putting the string in the crease did help to relax my hand. There are some shots that just "feel" right and I watch them go right where Im looking. Others, just dont have the feel. With some practice, I can tell it will help. The thumb, I just cant figure out how to get it down and still be able to see the shot.  Thanks and keep it coming.

[moebow]

You got to do what works.  As far as the thumb, if you get it down, it goes under the jaw bone, not on your face.  Most find that doing that actually gets the arrow under the eye better.  With it up, it tends to hold the string hand out from the face and holds the arrow to the right.

Arne