Shooting Left

[DeathBringer]

I'd like help diagnosing why I consistently miss left.  On the shots my form feels perfect I'm dead on, but if I miss it's usually left.

I'm shooting a 70 or 71 Kodiak Hunter, 60" 55# @ 28" and drawing around 29.5".

I've run my arrows through the dynamic spine calculator and I THINK they're slightly weak, but I'm not sure I did the calculator right.

Shooting CE Heritage 250's cut to 31.5 with 50 gr insert and 125 gr point, 3 X 5" feathers.  Also shooting CE Heritage 350's cut to 31.5 with 100 gr insert and 125 gr point, 3 X 5" feathers.

Velcro rug and the 1/16" leather strike plate from the bear hair package.

I just rectently moved from an elevated rest to shooting off the shelf and am not sure if I just need to learn to aim right or if something is off.

Thanks!

Nathan

[Hit-or-Miss]

Try a softer strike plate. I had to use some Bear hair scraps to make a triangle plate for one of my recurves, as the leather plate threw my shot, and it brought the point of impact from the left back to center. Is your grip LOOSE? If you unintentionly grip the bow too hard, it can throw your shot. Also, Ensure that you are not twisting the string as you draw.

[Flingblade]

When I miss left it is usually because I dropped my bow arm.  Recently I was missing just about every shot left by as much as a foot at 30 yards.  I increased my brace height 1/2" and that solved it for me.  If your arrows are slightly weak increasing brace height may help.

[snakebit40]

You would probably get better results in the shooters forum. If you went and did a search in the shooters forum I know you would get results. Good luck!

[59Alaskan]

I agree with all that has been said here.  I am right handed and when I miss, it's a safe bet it's off left.

If you are consistently left I would soften the plate (as previously suggested).  Martin makes a black rug type material that actually has a grain to it.  You can flip it and get two different levels of "hardness" to play with.  "With the grain" it's a stiffer plate than "against the grain".  This material is very nice.  Between this and simple velcro (which is harder than either grain of the Martin material) I can usually work something out.

For me personally, I have found I miss left because I look around the bow and/or drop the bow too soon.  In other words, poor follow-through.  I have to concentrate on not moving my bow arm or head until the arrow hits the mark.  

I typically end up with a weaker plate on my old bears too.  There are no shortage of reasons a right handed person would miss left in terms of set up and form though...therefore I would also check out the shooters forum.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Either your arrows are slightly STIFF, or you are letting your bow arm collapse.  Keep that bow arm on your spot until the arrow hits the target.

[sawtoothscream]

try a little more point weight. arrows might be to stiff.  did you bare shaft tune?

[fullcircle39]

I'm right handed and whenever I miss left and a little high it's always because ai did'nt get to full draw and hit my anchor.Correct the problem and I'm right on. Hope this might help.

[Friend]

Some left shooting contributors assuming you are shooting right handed:

1. Arrow is not directly under your eye at anchor and focusing on the spot. If you can see your arrow moving from rt to left then that is a good indicator. Slightly tilt your relaxed head once at anchor to position your eye over the arrow.

2. Shouders not pointing or square to target at full draw. It is common for many to start square then get out of alignment during the draw. Start square end square. Reference Terry's form clock

3. Having a straight bow arm. Start and draw to anchor with a slight bend and/or unlocked elbow maintaing same bow arm position. Start right end right.

4. Collapsing at the shot - Maintain back tension completely thru the shot. How your bow behaves at the shot can reveal much about your form. The bow should initially move towards the target at release and then move left and slightly down.

5. Peeking is a another possibilty - At anchor and with your head relaxed and postioned over the arrow you should release and follow thru maintaining focus on the spot and not move your head. Be sure to reflect after each shot as to ascertain what went right or what may have gone wrong with the shot. Take your time, relax and work not to anticipate the shot.

These are not all the possibilties but a decent starting point assuming your arrow is not too stiff.

Hope this helps.

[JimB]

The first thing you should do is tune your arrows.The calculator is a great tool but may not get you perfectly tuned.Go to bowmaker.net and read the tuning information and follow it.

Before changing anything about your form,you have to be getting perfect arrow flight otherwise you have no idea what is a form issue and what is a tune issue.

[Rob DiStefano]

aim the arrow.  it's probable that if yer right handed and the arrow spine is reasonably good, yer not getting a good alignment anchor and yer aiming eye is too far left of the shaft.  always look first to form!  

[DeathBringer]

Thanks for all the replies!

I am indeed Right Handed.

I've tried my Heritage 250's with 100 gr inserts and 125 gr points which according to the calculator should make them considerably weak for my setup (IF I'm doing it right).  When I miss even with these arrows it's still consistently left.

I think I'll try a velcro strikeplate tonight as that's the easiest possible fix.

I will aso concentrate on square shoulders, not dropping bow arm, back tension, eye over arrow, and clean release.

There are so many variables in Trad...it's kind of overwhelming when you're starting out.

[Rob DiStefano]

nathan,

humor me a few minutes and try this out with any arrow you have at hand.  

do this at no more than 10 yards for starters.  this is not for snap shooters and you will need to hold for 2 seconds at full draw.  when you come to anchor, tilt your head to the right and get yer right eye (the dominant one, i trust) over the arrow.  do not use the arrow as an aiming device!  it will be in yer peripheral vision but you will totally be concentrating on the spot.  now make a good release.  

[gregg dudley]

Originally posted by Friend:
Some left shooting contributors assuming you are shooting right handed:

1. Arrow is not directly under your eye at anchor and focusing on the spot. If you can see your arrow moving from rt to left then that is a good indicator. Slightly tilt your relaxed head once at anchor to position your eye over the arrow.
 

Good information above, but I singled out this quote because when I am shooting left, this is my problem.  Sometimes shooters (me) overdraw and tilt their head back to the string.  This position turns your face slightly to the right.  If you lean in to the shot this problem takes care of itself.

Simple...right...lol         :D

[gregg dudley]

Rob is basically saying the same thing...

[RockChucker30]

Advice taken and tried tonight.  I replaced the leather strike plate with velcro and noticed an immediate difference.

Then I concentrated on proper backtension which also helped.

The thing that made the most difference was relaxing the thumb on my string hand and holding it below my jawline.  I had been dragging my thumb along my jawline and using it as a secondary reference on the point of my jaw.  I think this caused the nock to travel right and out of alignment with my dominant eye.  Once I lost that reference I never got it back.  Keeping my thumb from touching my face until at full draw really helps.

The leaves in my yard now fear me.  Thanks guys.

[DeathBringer]

Whoops....on a borrowed computer and forgot to logout and log back in.  That was me.