The Limp Wrist Mantra

[canopyboy]

Earlier this spring I decided I needed to get serious about learning to shoot with good form.  It's been three years since I took archery back up again, and I've come a long way in that time.  But I was happy becoming an "Instinctive Shooter" without really giving much thought to what that meant.  I figured it was that with enough repetition just shooting the bow, I'd get there.  Sometimes I could hardly miss.  Sometimes, well....

Anyhow, long story needs to keep moving:  I've started reading new and old posts here on the shooters form forum for the first time in earnest.  I've gone back and watched Masters of the Barebow again, especially #3 (I need to buy 4.)  I've started trying different things and really concentrating on back tension.  But tonight I put two things together, and I think I might have found my official Step 1.

It starts with moebow and one of his videos that got me starting to relax my wrist in pursuit of good back tension and follow through.  That seemed to help.  I also have been making my way through the giant clickerman TP thread and starting to think about what's going through my mind on the shot.  I tried "keep pulling", "push the elbow", and a bunch of other mantras.  But tonight I tried "relax the wrist".

Once I felt the wrist relax (and I mean fully relax,) the arrow was gone.  How'd that happen?  So look at my spot and draw back to full anchor.  Quickly note that I am really at anchor, and start to concentrate on relaxing the wrist.  Saying "relax the wrist, relax the wrist, relax the....oh there it is...."  

I've kept some concentration on the target as I draw, but I can't say I'm thinking about it at all as I start the relax stage.  But apparently that other part of my brain is still thinking about it.  The flier is where I actually looked down on the target for split second during the draw.  Funny in retrospect.  Somewhere around 18 paces this evening:

     

Anyhow, I'm in a good place this evening and had to share.  I've got the shot sequence running through my mind, burning its way in now.  I do love this site, some good stuff here.

-Dave

[McDave]

Yes, I think you're on to something. It's probably not politically correct, but when I'm shooting particularly well, my friends will say that I'm using my Sausalito wave at the end of my shot.

[ChiefStingingArrow]

I discovered for myself that if I concentrate on releasing the finger tips my release can vary. But when I relax the back of the hand it is a clean release all the time...Thanks for the write up.

[Lineman72]

Mr. Berry suggested that I relax my bicep, instead of relaxing the fingers. I noticed a huge diffeence, thanks for sharing.

[RETARMY06]

Would relaxing the wrist work with a longbow or just a recurve? I have an R/D longbow not a Hill style BTW, if that makes a difference.

[moebow]

RETARMY,

This is a basic shooting form theory that works with ALL styles of archery. No difference between recurve and Long bow and how you shoot them.  Get that wrist and forearm relaxed!

Arne

[Buckwinkle]

Thanks for the advice on form it works!  

[Firstlight]

I to have found relaxing my wrist / forearm has helped. Moebow's youtube video's have been helped a lot as I learn new "form"

[canopyboy]

Yep, Arne's videos have been a huge help, and I've only watched a couple.  I've just been working on relaxing the wrist (and forearm), and my groups have been much tighter and more consistent.  

Before when my shooting started to degrade, I might or might not be able to turn it around.  Lately though, I just concentrate on the wrist with a secondary concentration on my point of impact and I'm back in business.  Needs more time to be fully ingrained, but things are looking up.

Thanks Arne!