push pull method on recurve bow question

[Rick Moss]

I was just on another post and read a comment thanking the bowyer for confirming that the push pull method would not hurt that recurve, I did not want to hijack his thread by asking there, so...my question is this, I have a tall tines as im sure a lot of you have read at some point....sorry, im a little excited, lol...and I shoot my compound with the push pull method and was planning on using the same type of method with this bow....
so, what way could you hurt a recurve using this method, by maybe twisting the limbs or something?
and how would I know if I am okay using this method....? thanks in advance

[Bullfrog 1]

You mean drawing the bow or stringing it?

[Danny Rowan]

Rick,

The "push/pull" method of shooting, ie; pushing with the bow hand and pulling with the string hand when drawing the bow, should not hurt a bow, however, if you are referring to the "push/pull" method of stringing a bow, then you can easily twist a limb on a recurve doing this,not to mention you could loose control of the bow and hurt yourself, always use a stringer to string a recurve bow.

[David Mitchell]

Probably he was referring to the method of stringing called push-pull where you brace the bottom limb tip against your instep and push the top limb away from you while sliding the string into the string groove.

[Blackhawk]

Using a stringer is much safer with a recurve.  

I have seen more than one person have the string slip and get a nasty slap upside the head with the bow tip.  There are even stories of eyes being lost using this method.  If you must use this method, just make sure your head is turned to the side (or wear a football helmet).

[moebow]

I think he is talking about shooting the bow NOT stringing it.  You can't STRING a C bow with the "push pull" -- he mentions shooting that way with the C bow in the OP.

I personally am not a fan of the "push/pull" technique of shooting trad bows!  BUT, at the same time, there is no reason using that technique will hurt the bow.

Arne

[McDave]

I've never heard of the push pull method hurting the bow, but the cautions above should be heeded regarding possible injuries to the person stringing it. Mostly I've heard that the step through method might damage the bow, but seems pretty safe for the person stringing it.

[Rick Moss]

ok, I see. I was referring to shooting. Dave gave me a stringer, and I will always use it to string my bow. my dumb luck I would break the bow AND hurt myself! lol. I think it is easier to achieve proper back tension using push pull method, not sure yet how it will work with traditional gear, but I am a pretty quick study, especially with archery gear, and I am pretty adaptable, so I am sure I will figure out a good method, and I have a pretty great group of guys to help me and enjoy the journey with  

[Overspined]

Push pull method is often misunderstood, Asbell has a good description of his definition and is worth a read in his instinctive shooting series. Keep that bow arm rigid..

[Dan Bonner]

Well if you are talking about shooting it, I have no idea what that even means. I figure we all push and pull to shoot a bow so it shouldn't hurt, right? If you are talking about stringing the bow this is something I know about. I string every bow I own as well as every bow I build this way. It is safe, quick and easy.  Just watch someone who knows how to do it and do what they do. Twisting the limbs is highly unlikely.

Bonner

[centaur]

Originally posted by Overspined:
Push pull method is often misunderstood, Asbell has a good description of his definition and is worth a read in his instinctive shooting series. Keep that bow arm rigid..

G. Fred gives the best description of push pull around. He knows a little bit about shooting trad bows.

[joe skipp]

Use a good quality bowstringer and save yourself from possibly losing an eye if you screw it up.

[Roger Norris]

Rick - Send me your address, and I will send you a copy of G Fred Asbells latest book on the subject. He prescribes and describes the push pull method very well.

[nineworlds9]

I agree, I think we all push pull to some extent on the draw.  Me I like to engage as many muscles as I can, I think the point is, like Asbell describes, not to just lock your bow arm and pull it all with your string hand side.  I think I shoot using a swing draw - push pull kinda style.  Do what works for you to get the arrows to hit where they need to hit.

[Roger Norris]

"Me I like to engage as many muscles as I can, I think the point is, like Asbell describes, not to just lock your bow arm and pull it all with your string hand side."

Bingo!

[Bud B.]

I think the original poster might have been confused and possibly misunderstood the other thread he did not want to hijack.

Push/pull for stringing a recurve? Can hurt it and is not the best way. Use a stringer.


Push/pull for shooting a recurve? Cannot hurt the bow. The bow has no idea how you're pulling the string back to anchor. It just adds weight to the draw the farther the string and riser separate. If you held the string at anchor and pushed out the bow hand to full draw the bow feels no difference.


For you the shooter, it depends on what works for you in the push/pull method and the style you prefer.

I may have misunderstood the OP, but I think this is what he was asking.....

[Rick Moss]

Originally posted by Bud B.:
I think the original poster might have been confused and possibly misunderstood the other thread he did not want to hijack.

Push/pull for stringing a recurve? Can hurt it and is not the best way. Use a stringer.


Push/pull for shooting a recurve? Cannot hurt the bow. The bow has no idea how you're pulling the string back to anchor. It just adds weight to the draw the farther the string and riser separate. If you held the string at anchor and pushed out the bow hand to full draw the bow feels no difference.


For you the shooter, it depends on what works for you in the push/pull method and the style you prefer.

I may have misunderstood the OP, but I think this is what he was asking.....

yep, I was referring to shooting the bow, not stringing it. dave gave me a stringer and I will always use it to string my bow. I am taking a lot of the stuff I learned in 26 plus years of compound shooting and applying it to my recurve. I realize there is a ton different, and they are two different animals, but there are a few things that I can bring over from compound shooting and apply it to my traditional shooting. Thanks guys.

I practice sometimes using a complete push and then pull just the last couple of inches. It is a shot that I have used when in really tight cover. I do it with heavy longbows.  It tried the all push with a lighter recurve and found that the grip angle made an awkward angle at the beginning of the push. Will it twist the bow? Very little if at all. The advantage of a trad bow over a compound is that one can use a number of different draws to fit the situation. That said, I think pushing the bow some at the target is always a good thing.  As a standard shot something with a part swing and part push or spread draw may be a bit more fluid than a flat spread or push/pull.

[Bud B.]

I push/pull or straight arm the bow arm and draw the string arm back. It all depends on the shot taken. And the push/pull is while bringing the arms upward to eye level. I have taken shots through brush and to make sure the arrow gets through the small window I stiff arm the bow arm and draw the string arm back. Both have their place. But Push/pull mostly though.

[Don Stokes]

Dan Quillian used the push-pull method and demonstrated it in his video. No way you can hurt the bow doing it. Dan coached many championship archers.