I discovered my cure for creeping

[longbow fanatic 1]

I have struggled for years with creeping (losing back tension) as I pulled through my shot. This winter I've been working on form. I've discovered that if I draw the bow string until it touches my chest, along the edge of my pectoral muscle, and hold the string there, I don't creep at all. In fact, it helps me pull through my shot. I love when I have an epiphany moment like this!

[McDave]

I had a similar epiphany by finding out that I could avoid creeping by holding the string against the bone under my eyebrow.

[Terry Green]

I've said it time and time again on here....you NEVER stop pulling...THAT solves creep.

Rod Jenkins will tell you that he and I shoot the exact same way....I just do it faster is all.

Anchor is NOT a destination...but an evolution to execution.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Well said, Terry!

[swampcrawler]

I'm a very new newbie around here, but I've yet to experience trouble with creep. It just seems that when I get to anchor everything kind of locks itself into place.

Plus I'm fat so I'd be afraid to rip my nipple off doing the string to chest thing.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Swampcrawler, LOL. I didn't know I was creeping either. I felt like I was solid in my form until I posted a video and an archery coach picked up on it by looking at the very tip of my bow string elbow. He could see I wasn't pulling the bow back the same every time and was creeping ever so slightly.

[soap creek]

My new montra is ANCHOR AIM PULL. I am aiming as I draw but not real intense. When I reach anchor them I aim or focus more intensely on my spot, then I just continue pulling until my release just happens on its own. This goes along with what Terry said. It helps me reach full anchor and not get a premature release. The continued pull has also helped with my string hand going straight back after release. I have suffered with TP for years and this seems to help as much as anything I've tried. I definitely don't consciously think about when I will release. I just let it happen.

[Mint]

My friend pointed out to me that I was creeping about a 1/2 inch to a full inch on Sunday. I've been shooting great so this was an eye opener. I was concentrating on my release and I guess I was letting up on the tension. Have to really work on this and I'm going to work on the pull through release. Any pointers?

[McDave]

Originally posted by longbow fanatic 1:
Swampcrawler, LOL. I didn't know I was creeping either. I felt like I was solid in my form until I posted a video and an archery coach picked up on it by looking at the very tip of my bow string elbow. He could see I wasn't pulling the bow back the same every time and was creeping ever so slightly.

I think your archery coach has it right: focus on the bow string elbow, particularly in slo mo, to identify creep.  Focusing on the string hand or the arrow tip may confuse the issue, because relaxing the string fingers to initiate the release may be misidentified as creep.  Relaxing of the string fingers, particularly when they are held in a deep hook, is not instantaneous, and may result in the arrow moving forward slightly before release.  Efforts to stop this, such as using a shallower hook or forcing the fingers open, are counterproductive and detrimental to the shot.  Better to focus on the bow string elbow, where there is no question that any forward movement prior to release is actually creep.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Mint:
My friend pointed out to me that I was creeping about a 1/2 inch to a full inch on Sunday. I've been shooting great so this was an eye opener. I was concentrating on my release and I guess I was letting up on the tension. Have to really work on this and I'm going to work on the pull through release. Any pointers?

My recommendation would be to make sure you have at least a double anchor. Also, if you can find a way to verify that you're not creeping, such was having the string touch your chest, feather of the arrow touching your nose..., that will help. Once the string is pulled back and your anchor is achieved, then keep pulling with the rhomboid. Ive learned that if I'm truly pulling with my back correctly, it's impossible for me too to creep. Hope this helps.

[Mint]

Thanks guys, I'm going to film myself and see if it is indeed a creep or if it is my release like mcDave points out.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Mint,

When you take a video, try to make sure your background has contrast from what you're wearing, and the camera is not too far away from you. In other words, we get a full string elbow to bow hand shot but not so far away that its difficult to see your string hand elbow. When the coach pointed out my slight creeping, it was because on video, and in the background, was a banner. You could easily see my string hand elbow against the banners graphics, making the creeping more easily identifiable.