Clicker accuracy

[Lee Lobbestael]

So I have been shooting with a clicker for about a month and i really like it for the most part. My shots are very controlled. One thing i noticed tho is that when expanding through the shot my groups are not quite as tight as when I shoot with a static hold. The shots are always controlled and always in the kill zone within 20 yards but not quite as tight on the spot. You guys that have been shooting a clicker for a while, will pinpoint accuracy come with time?

[McDave]

I don’t shoot with a clicker or use a pull through release, but I expect this is a question you’ll have to answer for yourself anyway, so i’ll chime in.  There are many excellent shooters who shoot both ways.

I’ve found that any new thing I try with my form gets better the longer I use it, so I would give the clicker and the pull through release a few months before making any decisions about them.  I think it’s possible to over expand and get into a position where you are not quite as stable as you would be with slightly less expansion.  But this might just be my dead release talking, and I’m not sure good dynamic release shooters would agree with me.

To me, the primary advantage of a clicker is the ability to reach a consistent draw length every time.  I’ve looked for ways to duplicate this with the dead release, and I haven’t found anything I really like.  The other advantage is having a non-anticipatory psychotrigger, which I can duplicate using the dead release, but don’t seem to need as much as I need the draw check.

I would say make sure you’re not overdrawing the bow, and after 6 months to a year if you’re still not as accurate as you were using a dead release, then I think you’ve got your answer.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Thanks mcdave. out of curiosity, what do you use for a psychotrigger with a dead release? Riser sear?

[McDave]

I’ve experimented with several, including a riser sear and an interval timer in a sports watch that gives me a vibration on my wrist.  Fortunately, my target panic has been on the wane for several years now, and I find that I can use the subconscious trigger as taught by Rick Welch again, without any ill effects.  I prefer this to any external stimulus, because the ones that work with the dead release seem to take my mind out of the shot.  I don’t think I would have this problem with a clicker, as that seems to be integrated into the shot better than a grip sear or interval timer.  Maybe I should use a clicker just as a draw check.  In other words, not use it as a trigger to shoot, but as a trigger to start my subconscious hold with the dead release.  Might be worth a try.

[Matt Parker]

I have been shooting with a clicker for the past 5 or so years. It took 2-3 months of constant shooting before I really got accurate with it. After I got my muscles built up it really improved my accuracy. It’s the only way I can achieve a good surprised release. You really need a good repeatable anchor point to use a clicker effectively.  I will never shoot my bow without a clicker.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Well that's good news Matt. Got a solid anchor. Do you pull to anchor, stop, And after seeing your site picture expand into the clicker? Or do you hit anchor and continue expanding the whole time?

[Matt Parker]

I pull to anchor and set my gap, then slowly pull until the shot goes off. I hold for several seconds after hitting my anchor. After I anchor I totally concentrate on slowly pulling until the shot goes off. That way each shot is a surprised release.  I shot a compound for many years and using a clicker is the only way I could simulate a surprised release that I get with a mechanical release shooting with my compound.

[YosemiteSam]

Olympic recurve archers are pretty darned accurate.  All of them use clickers.  Most hunters don't need to be that accurate and won't ever use their style of clicker.  But if there are any doubts as to its benefits, look no further than a 70m bullseye.