Any Rick Welch Students

[tracker12]

I have been interested to possibly attending Rick Welch's class that he puts on.  Wonder if we have anyone that has taken the two day course and have any comments they would like to pass on.  

If you would rather pass on your comments by PM or email pleas do. Any thoughts on his CD's.

[McDave]

I attended Rick's two day course several years ago, and a combination refresher/hog hunt last year.  His courses are the best thing that has ever happened to my shooting.

The thing is, you really have to pay attention and remember what he says. Later on, I would begin to mix in things that seemed right to me with his method, either because I forgot what he taught me or because whatever I mixed in seemed like it was the "right" way to shoot.  That's why I needed to attend the refresher course

Rick teaches the dead release, and you can't mix it in with what you know about the dynamic release.  To paraphrase Howard Hill: "Boys, make up your minds if you want to shoot the dynamic release or the dead release, because they are two different things."

This is not to say that Rick's dead release is the best thing for all people; it's probably not.  But the worst thing is to try to blend it in with whatever other shooting methods you may have learned.

[McDave]

I think everything you need to know is in his videos; however, I could never have learned his method that way.  There are just too many shortcuts I would have taken, where I needed Rick looking over my shoulder and telling me what I should be doing that was different from what I was actually doing.

[tracker12]

Thanks for the feedback.  I was considering the videos as a start then decide whether to take on the course.

[Friend]

An exceptionally productive learning experience.

[TSP]

This is a little off-topic but it's worth mentioning.  Rick Welch is obviously an excellent shooter, I very much enjoy his videos and his method clearly works very well for him and for many others.  But I don't see how his release can be characterized as a dead release. His draw hand flips out and away far too much for that term to fit.  Certainly can't argue with his results, though.  The man can shoot!

[McDave]

It would seem that way, by the way his hand flops away from his face.  However, I can assure you that he doesn't pull through his release.  Everything he teaches and practices is to cease all movement and lock the back muscles in place during the hold and release.  I really don't know why his hand flops on release.  He's been asked the question many times, and I'm not sure he really knows himself, but it's clear that it's not something he worries about, nor does he hold it out to students as something to emulate.  Like every other good shot I've ever seen, he doesn't try to manufacture any preconceived result, like trying to keep his hand in place after the shot; he lets his body react to the forces that are generated by the shot.

[Caleb Monroe]

Watch his elbow. That will show you he doesn't pull through. He is a master of his style.

BTW Not advertising here just saying. I try to pull through myself.

[Scott Barr]

I'm done with second day of a three day training.  Last day tomorrow. Yep. Rick uses static release. Reminds me of Barry Wensel. Except Barry only relaxes fingers for release. Rick relaxes entire hand to the wrist.  So the hand flops on release. Best two days of training I have ever experienced. He goes over more than just form. Arrows. Bow design. Hunting tips. Technology of arrow penetration.  Some tips I had never heard. Example: he corrects weak or stiff spine arrow flight with hard to soft strike plate material. And so much else. Highly recommend his training to any committed archer.

[MagicBH]

cost?