please read about back tension

[nhbuck1]

i have been shooting and lately i am realizing im not using my back, so i decided to try to make believe im closing a door with my elbow while im drawing and man what a difference, anyone else use this method? i would like to hear other methods that would help with this as well, please share what works for you. thanks alot guys and good shooting
kyle

[longbow fanatic 1]

I draw with my rear, shoulder muscles, then transfer the weight to my rhomboid once I reach full draw. I may spend some time working on the J draw to keep my back more involved from the beginning of the draw cycle.

[reddogge]

I imagine my right upper arm and elbow is a screen door hinged at the shoulder and then close it by moving my upper arm and elbow towards my back.

[forestdweller]

I don't even know what back tension is to be honest with you.

I don't do anything deliberate when I draw the bow back and my best shots/groups have come from being as relaxed as possible with the least amount of tension in anything including my back.

To be fair though I think the best way to learn proper "back tension" is to practice drawing back a very heavy bow, they CAN NOT be drawn back with just your arm muscles.

[nhbuck1]

anyone else?

[McDave]

The converse of using the back muscles is relaxing the arm muscles.  My training method for this is to hold for long periods of time at full draw, like 20 seconds, which gives me enough time to become aware of which muscles are tensed and which muscles are relaxed. This is a practice exercise, not the way I usually shoot the bow, which is with about a 2 second hold. I started doing this with a 25# bow, and now am able to comfortably hold for 5 reps of 20 seconds with my regular 40# target bow, so it is also a strength building exercise, as well as an exercise in controlled breathing during the long hold time.

As far as your door closing with the elbow concept, I have heard the same thing recommended by several archery instructors.  If it works for you, go for it.

[nhbuck1]

yes it works well dave but is going to take some practice but you can really feel the grip pressing the correct spot when your using back tension, bottom line i believe back tension is extremly importand to get proper alignment and to make a good shot.

[crazynate]

I consider back tension just another  step in the whole sequence when I am shooting. I think guys get to into this and over complicate it. When I draw and come to anchor I imagine someone has a hand on the back of the arm and is pushing against it as I draw. This helps me to engage muscles in my back. Works fine when I am target shooting but I really could care less when hunting. Just my opinion

[McDave]

Kyle, you might want to review the "How is my form" post that was resurrected from 2009.  It addresses a lot of the questions you have been posing lately.  Answered some of my questions too!

[nhbuck1]

tks mcdave!!! i will check it out

[Terry Green]

You don't need to use a heavy bow to acquire back tension.... the weight of the bow has nothing to do with whether or not you achieve proper back tension.

If you only using your arms to pull the bow then you are muscling the bow which can cause a multitude of problems. Proper back tension helps create proper alignment .... and once achieved it solves all those problems associated with lack of proper back tension and improper alignment

[nhbuck1]

so how do you fraw with your back withouthaving tension in your arms?

[Draven]

Originally posted by Terry Green:
You don't need to use a heavy bow to acquire back tension.... the weight of the bow has nothing to do with whether or not you achieve proper back tension.

You don't need to, but it helps a beginner to understand body-mechanics and how important is the alignment of the elements that at the end define the "shooting form" . Maybe he will understand when he can't draw "muscling" the bow that back tension is the result of muscles AND bones working together in a precise sequence and on a specific trajectory of elements under bow pressure, not independent parts that engage when someone says to do it. And maybe he will understand that back tension is not just rhomboid tension. Plus, it gives him a "target" ("in X months , if I am doing things correctly I will be able to pull that bow"). I believe that training with lighter bow is just a passage toward the maximum poundage someone can shoot correctly, not starting with #35 and moving to #45 and stopping because everybody knows #45 is enough. But this is another subject.