The Release

[longbow fanatic 1]

Since I began traditional archery the proper release, i.e. the subconscious release, has been elusive. Nowadays, I'm pretty close to archiving the subconscious release.

Here is what I struggle with: maybe some of you can relate. When I draw back and hit anchor, I begin to focus on pulling and aiming. While concentrating on aiming, my conscious mind begins to urge me to release. I've learned that if I release the arrow at this moment, the arrow rarely strikes my intended spot. It is usually close, but not exactly where I'm aiming. Now, if I fight through this early release impulse, continue to pull and aim for a beat or two longer, my subconscious mind takes over, and while I'm seemingly more immersed in the process of aiming than thinking about releasing, the string slips from my fingers. It is at this moment that the arrow goes exactly where I'm aiming.

I struggle with this with each and every shot. When I'm locked in and shooting good, I can replicate my shot time after time and stack arrows. Many days, I make good shots, then lose focus and make poor shots. I really seem to struggle with this and with consistency.

I guess since I know what my nemesis is in the shot sequence, I can work on it. What are your struggles during the shot sequence? Is it the release, like me, or is it some other component of the shot sequence? What have you done to correct your shooting flaws?

[fnshtr]

My experience is very similar to yours. If I think too much about my shot sequence, I shoot worse, seemingly from a bad release (collapsing or creeping, usually).

I find  that I shoot best when I relax and just have fun. After aiming I use the same mantra as you; keep pulling, until the release "happens".

Also worthy of note; I do not have a problem shooting at live game, only targets. Again, I think that is due to having my mind focused on the animal rather than the shot.

[KeganM]

I struggled with the same issue, not knowing how to train my brain to release properly. Eventually it degraded into full blown TP.

Joel Turner's methods have worked for me (explained in MBB vol. 4). I use the feather to my nose and it's helped immensely.

[Bvas]

It amazes me sometimes how one action can have such an adverse effect on another.
My "surprise" release has gotten much better and consistent by concentrating on aiming.  Not so much prior to the arrow release, but after the arrow is long gone.  
I try to focus my attention on the spot I want the arrow to impact from the time I raise the bow til the time the arrow impacts.  

I also do a mental checklist before I draw the first arrow back(grip, draw, elbow, anchor, etc).  By going over everything prior to drawing, I find that I can put more focus into my intended target and just let my body do what countless hours of shooting have already trained it to do.

May not be the best approach, but works for me  :D

[McDave]

These are the things I have to watch every shot:

1. Peeking
2. Creeping
3. Rushing the shot (exactly the same as Longbow Fanatic described it)
4. Torquing the string
5. Torquing the bow

Even though it seems like a chore to know that if I don't check on each of these every shot, I will do at least one of them wrong, I'm very happy that I've at least identified my major problems and am aware of it when they happen, so I can correct them.

These are the things that happen occasionally, and I just have to correct on the next shot:

1.  Plucking
2.  Dropping my bow arm
3.  Focusing on the end of the arrow rather than the spot on the target.

As far as the release itself is concerned, a comment Arne made recently really turned the lights on for me.  I, too, tried for a subconscious release, but I think I was kidding myself.  I knew when I wanted to release, and I released then.  I may not have been thinking cognitive thoughts about releasing when I released, but it had ceased to be a surprise release.  Arne said, SLOWLY relax your fingers until the release happens.  I guess I thought if I did that, I would creep for sure, but that turned out not to be the case.  Instead, it turns out to be a surprise release without any of the instantaneous twitching or clinching than accompanied my "subconscious" release.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Very interesting information here. I struggle with the same items on your list too, Dave. As far as my release struggles go, when I fight through my conscious mind urging me to release the string, I hold the string until I feel my fingers begin to slightly fatigue. It's at that time that my fingers just kind of naturally relax and the release happens. This happens without much, if any, cognitive thought. I wish I could learn to slowly relax my fingers to initiate the release because I would have more control over my shot process. Whenever I've tried to do that, it results in errant shots. Maybe over the winter I can work on that process.

[forestdweller]

I struggle with maintaining a clean release as well.

It's odd because I feel like at 35 yards and beyond I can shoot tighter more consistent groups than say at 10 yards to 30 yards.

This has to do with the fletching having enough time to correct any kind of torque that might be taking place from a poor release.

The only thing that works for me is allowing the string to slip off of the fingers gradually.

I'm thinking about giving a longbow a shot, like Hill and Byron I don't think I'm good enough to get to the level of accuracy I want to be obtain shooting a recurve.

[Sam McMichael]

I have concluded that essentially all my accuracy issues result from poor release. Almost all my release issues come from improper back tension. Now, all I try to focus on is a good release predicated upon back tension.

[Scott Barr]

I focus primarily on two things before release: back tension and relaxing the whole hand to release the string. I tend to pluck sometimes if I only think about relaxing the fingers. Not sure why this method is best for me.

[Draven]

I have the feeling that, at the end, the release is not as important as we think. There are thousands ways to release an arrow. As long as the release is REPEATABLE  is not hurting the accuracy. The real culprit in my opinion is the bow arm position. A bit up, down, left or right will do more damage to the accuracy than a 'non-orthodox' REPEATABLE release. That pause before release (1,2 or 3 seconds) for me has nothing to do with the aiming - that was done by my brain before the bow is in the position; it has something to do with the 'stillness' of the bow hand (the entire body structure at the end) right before the shot. I think that form sequence without really embracing and adapting it to the aiming type you use will always screw you up more than you will want to.

[newhouse114]

I find that when hunting, the release is a subconsious action, when target shooting I have to concentrate on a consistant, repeatable action. I believe that punching a LOT of paper, or 3D targets, builds "muscle memory" making the proper release easier in hunting situations.

[flyguysc]

Interesting exercise that works for me is to put a vertical line "tape etc"down the center of the target,and practise shooting. Takes the pressure off of hitting a spot,release stance ect.,ect.Pretty soon my groups come back and the worry over tuning which worked before comes back.The Romans did this and a lot of Gauls suffered for it.My motto is if you are thinking you are stinking. Relax and just have fun.