Problem with middle finger anchor and split finger.

[Silent footed]

Guys, when I started shooting as a teenager, I shot split finger anchor with middle finger to corner of mouth and top knuckle of thumb in jaw "divet" under earlobe. I don't remember ever having problems with this.

Then several years back I began noticing two recurring problems which led me to make some changes.

The first problem was that the string was stinging the tip of my nose with almost every shot.

The second problem was that the middle finger/corner of mouth anchor just seemed like a strain. Just...a strain (even with a lighter bow). However, amazingly, I found that by anchoring with my INDEX finger/corner of mouth, I got that feeling of a let-off as if I was no longer holding bow weight, and on release, hand moved straight back opposite the motion of arrow feeling like a slam dunk. All that by anchoring with the index finger.

To correct these problems, I eventually shortened my draw quite a bit, began anchoring with index, and switched to 3 under hold to fix the change in point-on distance with the index anchor. These changes yielded a loss of a secondary anchor point as my thumb-tip was now also holding my pinky-tip in place; and I've shot for years that way ever since, having no secondary anchor. I have always been very accurate.


Fast forward to now. With the new mirror set-up in the living room, I was looking behind me while drawing and realized with the shorter draw length (25") I just am not getting my forearm and arrow into a straight line, but by drawing to about 26 3/4" my form is just textbook: Arrow and forearm form straight line parallel to shoulders, and arrow speed increases dramatically with the longer power stroke. ALL great things. So, I definitely want to shoot with the longer 26 3/4" draw, since it achieves proper alignment.

For reasons of my own, I also want to return to split-finger with middle anchor and standard thumb knuckle secondary anchor.

BUT NOW,

 I have the same two problems shooting split-finger/middle anchor I had years ago: middle anchor just seems like a strain and the index anchor just feels soooo good. Also, the string just seems to be hitting my nose no matter what I do (I'm actually a bit raw today).

Anybody got any ideas? I've about exhausted myself.

[reddogge]

Do you shoot with a verticle bow? That could be a cause of hitting your nose. I do cant mine a tad and never hit my nose. Also, maybe you are leaning or turning your head into the arrow too much.

I've been shooting split finger, middle finger anchor, with none of the problems you are experiencing. I do admit, it is a compromise on the feeling at full draw, but only a very slight compromise. I have a friend whom I've known in archery for 50 years who anchors even higher with split finger and was at one time a national NFAA bowhunter champion so it does work.

[McDave]

People are usually told to start with a finger in the corner of the mouth anchor just to get them to have someplace to anchor in the beginning.  But it leaves people with the thought that an anchor is someplace you select on your face, which is not exactly correct.  The anchor should be chosen for you; not vice versa. 

You should practice drawing the bow with your fingers several inches away from your face until you get used to the feeling of moving your scapula against your backbone until movement stops.  If you do this correctly, without using your arm muscles, it will be a definite stop.  If you use your arm muscles, you can pull back further than this, but there will not be a definite stop.  When you arrive at this stop, move your hand in to your face.  Wherever your fingers touch your face, that's your new anchor.  Maybe it will be a finger in the corner of your mouth, maybe some other place.  You can raise or lower your anchor by raising or lowering your string arm, but you shouldn't try to move it backwards or forwards on your face.  With this anchor, your drawing elbow should be in line with the arrow.  If it isn't, try closing up your stance until it is, rather than trying to change your natural draw.

As far as hitting your nose with the string, try rotating your head further in the direction of your bow arm shoulder to get your nose out of the way.  As is evidenced by the number of top shooters with tape on their noses, this is a common problem.

[slowbowjoe]

Are you using a glove or a tab? I found that I'd sometimes hit my nose (and thus was flinching), with a tab, but not with a glove - and I shoot a pretty thin glove.
Also. changing your stance a bot to face the target a tad more, as McDave said.