String slap - on my shoulder?

[Sarah]

Shooting my new-to-me 48# longbow (all I've shot in the past was a 36# recurve), I notice that when I release the string, something is striking below my shoulder on my bow arm. It's hitting below my shoulder, in front of my arm pit. It's fairly consistent (enough that I had some distinct bruising there), but isn't happening when I make of point of turning my elbow the same way I would to avoid the string slapping my forearm.

I actually don't think it's the string, as I'm not feeling anything strike my chest at all. It almost seems like it's the nock of the arrow as it bounces away from the shelf, the bruises I have are like little spots.

Just seemed odd - Can anyone explain this?

Also - I shoot left handed, so this is happening on my right shoulder.

Thanks!

[Dimondback]

Completely guessing here....Are you using the same arrows that you were shooting out of the 36# recurve in your 48# longbow? I have never heard of the nock hitting the offside shoulder due to too weak of spine but that is a possibility I guess...that would be some serious deflection if that is the case...maybe some of the folks on here that are smarter and more experienced than I have seen this before? Good luck!

[Sarah]

I thought of that too - the person I bought the bow from was using identical arrows though... 30" GT 3555's with a 175 gn point. They were notably heavy and slow out of my 36#.

The more I think of it the more it baffles me. At the time the nock of the arrow passes my shoulder, it should still be seated on the string, so how could it be deflecting out? Unless for some reason the nock is leaving the string instantly upon release and then traveling faster than the string?

  :confused:

[moebow]

Sounds like you MIGHT be allowing your shoulder to collapse forward (towards the string) with the heavier bow weight.  Concentrate on keeping it "down and back".  It would take a pretty extreme position to get a hit where you describe.

REALLY need pictures or better, a video to see for sure.

Arne

[Big Ed]

Try to open up your stance a bit. Also how is the nock fit on the string? Are you shooting a single nocking pint on the string?

[Sarah]

Arne - I can see that. I've been really conscious of easing up to the higher weight, not wearing myself out and doing exercises with both bows. It's just so much fun to shoot the new one!

Ed - There is are ties above and below the nocking point. I think that answers your question?

Though the bruising really does not appear to be from the string. It doesn't look anything like string slap on a forearm..