shoot where you look

[ranger 3]

This is a common saying that I just don't understand, this bow shoots where where you look. Does this mean that anyone could pick up this bow and shoot where you are looking are just for that person? I don't mean to start a debate, it's just don't understand.

[maineac]

I have always tried to understand that as well.  My bows all shoot where I look if my form is correct, and somewhere else if it is not.

[Phrogdrvr]

I have numerous bows in the "stable".  Some of them I can pick up and naturally hit where I am aiming, others don't seem to come so naturally, and I have to adjust my shooting to hit where I'm aiming.  Maybe that's what the expression refers to?  Or perhaps not all my bows are set up properly  

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

I think it is a common term for those who shoot instinctively. (not gappers, point of aim, etc.) It means that the bow is center cut  so when the particular shooter shoots it for the 1st time there are no right/left issues. There is no compensation or learning curve to eventually be hitting dead on.

Different bows I've owned have required me to build out the shelf or take time to adjust to. A bow that "shoots where I look" is on target from the 1st shot.

Hope this helps...I could be wrong but that's always been my interpretation.

[Don Batten]

If you are constantly hitting high, low, left or right, you can tweek your bow to shoot where you are looking to a certain degree. You shouldn't have to change your form to compensate. side plate material and thickness, nock pt location, brace hight all affect pt of impact.

[Terry Green]

Yes...most bows I pic up shoot where I'm looking....I have two that needed the shelf built out but both were given to me...so I MADE them shoot where I look.

Now, if I shoot too light a spine, they fly left....out of any of them.

So, yes, some do shoot where you look....from the 1st shot....if the arrow is right.

This is NOT uncommon for folks with good form.

[nineworlds9]

For me this describes a bow that has a shelf that is well shaped and places the arrow very close to the hand, so that you naturally point with your hand/arrow at where you want to hit, and has a grip shape that allows good repeatability of hand position, also a bow that is well balanced so that you can keep a steady hand without to much effort, also a bow that has a design/tiller that is forgiving to small form errors aka "stable" if you will.  This will vary by person, it's honestly very subjective for the most part.  Some people call Hill style bows 'shoot where you look', but to me they don't do that, not until you learn the hand position/form required, as most Hills are not centershot and also the handgrip places the arrow further away from your natural hand pointing alignment, a typical cut close to center r/d longbow with a locator type grip probably better qualifies as a 'shoot where you look' type of bow.  Now that I'm starting to get the hang of Hill bows they feel more like 'shoot where you look to me', but it takes practice practice.

[ddauler]

X2 when I teach someone to shoot instinctive I tell them to point at something with the trigger finger of bow hand. Explain to them that they didn't have to conciously aim at it. Then shoot a few arrows up close by still pointing at the spot with that finger. Later you do the same without pointing the finger. I learned shooting selfbows to aim the arrow not the bow. I shoot them with elbow bent bow canted and can shoot danng near any arrow out of them. It's when shooting target style upright straight arm etc that trouble seems to sneak in. Bow canted arrow on knuckle any bow shoots where I am looking for me. Good form like Terry say's on top of this and you be a critter killin machine!

[hunt it]

For me this means the bow works for me. All my bows shoot where I look. I have had 2 over the years that did not shoot where I looked - instinctive shooting and one was taken back by bowyer and the other sold fast.

[GRINCH]

I totally agree with nine words comments.

[SportHunter]

If the bow, arrow, and string are tuned (right arrow spine for that bow, brace height and nock point) and the archer does a good job on form shooting where you look is much easier.

[Stumpkiller]

The bows I keep are the ones that shoot where I am looking.      

I "gun barrel" and look down the arrow like a I do a shotgun or a musket.  With both I focus on the center of the target and let my peripheral vison tell my bow arm where it needs to be.  Sometimes I have to thin the pad or build out the riser plate and try different spines, but they will shoot where I look when tuned.

[hvyhitter]

The way the riser is cut and how it fits my hand makes a big difference for me. The ones that fit I can pick up once a year and the first arrow is dead on. Others, like Widows, I have to find the sweet spot on how it lays into my palm for it to hit where I look.........

[ranger 3]

Thanks everyone

[KSdan]

Like to hear from those who have taken lessons from Welch.  I have heard that this is one of the first things he does with his students:  Make sure the bow is shooting where they are looking.

[Bowwild]

Occasionally I look where I don't want the arrow to go....you know the result.  The eyes are slave to your mind.

[S.C. Hunter]

For me I pick a spot and let the arrow go. So for me it means I should not have to adapt to the bow by trying to find a way to aim. I have picked up a few bows that I seem to struggle a little to hit where I look. I have picked up others and picked a spot and hit my mark on the first arrow. I think these bows also give you more confidence when you shoot. If you believe you can you can. If you believe you can't your probably right.

[jess stuart]

If it doesn't shoot where you look probably not set up correctly or improperly spined arrows.  Unfortunately I to often look at the antlers.

[screamin]

I don't think I've ever owned a bow that didn't shoot were I look after I got it tuned.      But I was definitely more accurate with some verses others.

[jsweka]

I never had a bow that didn't shoot where I look as long as I did everything else right.