Thought this was easy

[tracker12]

Well when I started back to traditional I thought it would be easy.  Grab a bow, tab arrow and go shoot.  Well I guess it is easy to shoot a bow but do it well is another issue.  

As I try to perfect my shot and accuracy I find myself reading and watching videos to make sure I am doing it right.  What I have noticed is there is plenty of good advice but trying to take it to the range is very difficult without a coach being there to observe what you are doing wrong.  Like most I struggle with consistency.  One day I shoot lights out and others well you know just so so.  

Today I watched a video of John Schultz that was posted here on TG.  I know I have heard it before but for some reason this time it struck and I was able to take it to the range.  

And the tip was to make sure the shoulders are pointed at the target.  My bow arm shoulder was not in position.  Not sure what caused it but the shoulder was distinctly pointing left of the target.  Pointed the bow arm shoulder where s was supposed to be and boy did the grouping improve.  To test it out I opened my stance more than would be normal and then insured my shoulder pointed to the target. Shots went right where I was looking.  

I was so concerned with my draw arm and getting back tension involved I missed what was going on up front.

[centaur]

My take is that trad archery is simple; very basic equipment, draw, anchor, release. However, simple is not neccesarily easy. Little tweaks may make big differences. Kind of like golf, but more fun.

[KentuckyTJ]

Some days it is, some not so much. That's what draws us all to this way of shooting/hunting. When that target or critter faces you, we never really think this is a sure thing as we do with other forms of shooting/hunting.

Embrace, enjoy and most importantly LEARN from your misses.

The thing about that form and taking it to the fundamental letter by following every detail, is that your entire shot comes together.  Where I have seen many go wrong with it is when they try to work on every aspect of that form at once.  If you work on each part individually, from the grip all the way to the follow through, the learning process is quicker.  The other one is the release, Schulz teaches a very strong release, even though he keeps it in his face.  The release I see fellows quite often do is, they release soft and then after the arrow is long gone they pull their hand past their ear with what they call a follow through.  When you get to that hard short Schulz style release, you will see tighter groups, better arrow flight and increased arrow speed.

[WESTBROOK]

Like they say..."if it was easy, everyone would be doing it."

[Bodork]

An old friend of mine always said "I said it was simple. I never said it was easy!"

[fmscan]

Tracker12,
 Where can I find the John Schultz video? I Googled John Schultz Tradgang and could not find the video. I am always looking for something that will help be improve.

[fmscan]

PAVAN, Thank you, I appreciate it.

[maineac]

If you don't have anyone to watch and coach, setting up a camera, or having your significant other film you  as you shoot can give you a lot of feedback. Sometimes even having someone explain something is not nearly as effective as watching yourself.

[tracker12]

Video is on the list for this weekend.  Might be scary all the bad things I may see:)

[Caughtandhobble]

Traditional shooting is very easy. It's just like being married, sometimes you just ask yourself what's wrong, that's the same thing I did yesterday  

[mike g]

Wow, I did not know Mr. Schultz was that good of a shot....
    Sometimes at the range I'll get mad at myself while doing an aimed shot and miss, and then do the swing draw and hit the bulls eye....It dose work....

If I want to see how tough my garage is, all I need to do is look at my drawn arrow to check my draw length and release.  I have one set aluminums with light points that I left long so I can shoot them with my light recurve, I cannot feel my draw length with that combination.  That is a huge advantage to shooting an arrow and bow setup so you can draw to a familiar spot.  Schulz shot net length and could feel front ledge of point on his index finger, net length cedars also fly very nice out of a longbow.  I shoot either net length or just long enough so my finger tags the back of the point or broad head.  When I do not do this, when I want to check my draw length, I need my wife to check it.  She must have two slow eyes, because if I do not hold extra long she cannot make up her mind.  Which of course will give completely false reading.  Shooting arrow lengths where one can feel either the back edge or the front corner of the point on the index finger is much easier and is the best way for getting a consistent draw length.

Originally posted by pavan:
If I want to see how tough my garage is, all I need to do is look at my drawn arrow to check my draw length and release.  I have one set aluminums with light points that I left long so I can shoot them with my light recurve, I cannot feel my draw length with that combination.  That is a huge advantage to shooting an arrow and bow setup so you can draw to a familiar spot.  Schulz shot net length and could feel front ledge of point on his index finger, net length cedars also fly very nice out of a longbow.  I shoot either net length or just long enough so my finger tags the back of the point or broad head.  When I do not do this, when I want to check my draw length, I need my wife to check it.  She must have two slow eyes, because if I do not hold extra long she cannot make up her mind.  Which of course will give completely false reading.  Shooting arrow lengths where one can feel either the back edge or the front corner of the point on the index finger is much easier and is the best way for getting a consistent draw length.

And of course, I apologize for miss spelling, iPad not same as PC. I need put bow site. On iPad pen.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by maineac:
If you don't have anyone to watch and coach, setting up a camera, or having your significant other film you  as you shoot can give you a lot of feedback. Sometimes even having someone explain something is not nearly as effective as watching yourself.

2X on the video camera. try and place the camera on a ladder shooting down on you from the back so you can see your alignment. The biggest mistake most beginning archers make is trying to establish an anchor point before learning proper bow alignment and correct body position.

I've seen many self taught archers that spent years short drawing their bows before getting their alignment correct and learning about using back tension. I've seen as much as 1.5" increase in draw length achieved, and serious increase in accuracy after getting squared away and spending time on the bail.

Your best bet is to get some coaching and some bail time in.  Kirk

[TonyW]

As I recover from double fusion back surgery, I feel like I am starting over.
Good posts to review and reflect.

There is VERY LITTLE that is easy about traditional archery! That is a big part of what makes successes with a stick bow so rewarding!

Bisch

A cop friend of mine that I taught trad archery to says, if it were easy, I would not be doing it.

[gringol]

If it was easy, we'd call it your mother.