Question?? From a beginnner.

[Fleatrap1]

I have had my Bear Super Grizzly since early spring and I have worked all summer on it.  Its a new grizzly 2013 with FF string rated at 45#.  I draw just a hair under 27".  I am shooting goldtip traditional carbons (for consistency of the arrow, someday I would like to switch to woodies) they are 500 spine and I have added 5gpi inserts and 125g field points.  Brace height is at 8" and the bow is nice and quiet.  I have managed to get out to 15 yards with some pretty good grouping keeping my arrows in about a 6" ring.  

This leads to my question.  I consistently anchor my middle finger in the corner of my mouth and have a nice (not to firm) grip on the bow.  Sometimes I walk out and nail 5-6 arrows in the same spot, other times it seems they are all over the place!  Sometimes 8" off target in either direction at 15 yards.  Am I missing something??? Or is this a normal part of progression for and instinctive shooter??  Can I expect to get better as time goes on is really my question??  I am at that point I feel practice is the only answer.  

The only thing I have not done is paper tune the arrows.  I am shooting one bareshaft arrow with my others and it does consistently hit where the others hit however it hit with the nock pointed up each time, which I believe means I need to move my nock point but I have not tried that yet.

thanks in advance for any advice, purchasing this bow has been a great choice for me and I truly enjoy my time learning.

[Charlie Lamb]

Proper back tension is often the culprit with left and right shots. Pull through the shot. Proper back tension will find the drawing hand moving slightly back at release.

Vertical misses are more commonly caused by lack of conditioned sight picture... for the instinctor that means lots of shooting to ingrain where the bow is held for each distance.

[Traditional-Archer]

Practice is the answer but remember good practice and bad practice achieve the same thing, habit.
Starting out I read a lot and talked to everyone I could about form. What worked best for me is having a friend watching me shoot from behind and checking arrow flight and form.
You mentioned anchoring in the corner of your mouth, this is a good anchor point, but take it one step further anchor at your eye tooth, it is more consistent and will not change. Little things like this will make a big difference in performance.
You said you are shooting nock high with the bare shaft, this is an indication your nock point is low. With a bow square what is your nock set at. I shoot a Silvertip and it likes 7/16” high typical for this bow. Take baby steps when changing anything with your setup, write everything down and make notes of what works and does not work.
I said practice is the answer in the beginning, step back at ten yards and practice hitting your eyetooth every time do not worry about accuracy. I still practice this once a week after 7 years of shooting traditional. Remember when it comes to form you are replacing gadgets like sights and releases. You have to replace these things with consistency. Place your anchor at the same spot every time and a good smooth release, Terry Green has the best example of a good release here on the TradGang site that I can suggest. Go to the shooters forum and you will get a lot of suggestions there.
 

[Fleatrap1]

Thanks, I have notice when I hit my mark that my follow through seems automatic other times it seems I consciously think about follow through and I miss.  Back tension is pretty new to me I have a habit of just using arm strength alone.

[Kituwa]

If you are always shooting at the same target, try taking something like a tennis ball or a small stuffed animal and just throw it out at random distances and shoot at that. One arrow, walk and pick up your ball and toss it out and shoot again. I think you will be ammazed at how easy it is to hit a small target like that and it also will help you to instictivlly guess your ranges. Sometimes a bag type target will cause you to think too much.

[Bud B.]

Fleatrap1,

I see what you see and believe me, it's all me when I don't group. That means my consistency has fallen off. Just gotta find out where.

Blind bale shooting helps. Lose your eyes and feel the shot. Feel shoulder squareness. Feel the back tension. Feel elbow height. Feel bow hand steadiness. Feel the anchor. Feel the release. When comfortable, go to eyes-open but with the same intent on feeling the shot.

I'm still a long term work in progress. But I'm enjoying the ride.

[Traditional-Archer]

I used to use what I called the five steps, #1- Stance I put pegs in the ground to insure my feet were in the same place every time #2- anchor, practices hitting the same spot ever time #3- bow- arm and grip Holding onto my bow like a vice. #4 Release fall off your fingers, #5 follow through, follow through, and follow through.

[dougedwards]

I have been shooting for three months and I can tell you that daily consistency escapes me and I do believe that this type of frustration will teach us things a little bit at a time.

I am joyful that I have reached a point that I realize the culprit of the problem when shooting wildly errant shots.  Keep shooting and concentrating.  Things will come together but it doesn't do that in a linear fashion.

 Doug

[VictoryHunter]

Charlie nailed it!

[Fletcher]

Fleatrap, Brad and I shoot at Panther Creek on Thursdays after work fairly often.  Let me know if you want to join the fun.  A little coaching might help.  We're also there on Monday evenings with the 4H kids.

[Rob DiStefano]

what charlie said - incorrect back tension, or the lack thereof, hath ruined many an archer/bowhunter.

[SKITCH]

So....what is THE best way not only to figure out correct use of the back when shooting but also developing the muscles and the proper form. (Without getting a coach or giing to see Mr. Jenkins). Is it easier to use a light weight bow so your not thinking about other issues?
Thanks

[NOMAD88]

Back tension for sure. Imagine your shoulder blades in line and parallel to your arrow. This will probably increase your draw length too

[Fleatrap1]

Fletcher I will contact you in the next week or so as to what time/days you all meet.  I'd love to stop by.  I plan to come by the club I believe next weekend to watch a shoot and drop off my app.  Been a busy summer but this bow is getting in my blood I can't seem to put it down!