How do you shoot?

[PaulDeadringer29]

I know there are some guys on here who can shoot, and some who can really shoot. Without having to single out a few certain archers, I'm curious to know....how do you shoot? How do you draw (split or 3under or...)? Where do you anchor? How do you aim? For me, I'll play around some with 3under and gapping and changing up my anchor. But when I gotta make the shot count (and how I almost always practice), it's a split finger draw, anchoring my middle finger to the corner of my mouth just past the cuspid tooth, with the base knuckle of my thumb in the dip below the earlobe as a second anchor(and hold anchor while aiming). I use a split vision type aiming system where I look at the target (both eyes open), and in my peripheral, I point the arrow straight at the target and judge the gap. Sorry for the long explanation, but that's how I do it and I'm curious to know how the rest of y'all do it. Thanks.

[T Lail]

split finger,corner of mouth anchor, concentrate on a spot, shoot.....just that simple

I shoot split finger and anchor with my bummed up pointer finger on the front of my chin. The "V" between my thumb and pointer finger is tight against my jawbone. My aiming consists of focusing on the bullseye and letting my little pea brain compute the rest. I pull through and let go when the pea brain says it is time to do so!

Bisch

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I take my time with every shot. Make it count....

Split, anchor at mouth, try to follow through with release.  I focus on what I want to hit  but try to gap the 45+ yard targets.

[Cwilder]

Split finger pointer to corner of mouth

[Gordon Jabben]

Paul, I shoot pretty much as you do with the split vision aiming and split finger. My only conscious anchor is the knuckle of my thumb in the pocket under my ear lobe.  I have a problem of freezing on target so I practice shooting quickly.

[The Whittler]

Shooting a bow is very simple, we seem to make it harder then it really is.

That's why women and kids shoot good, they have fun. Thay know what to do and just do it.

[Archie]

Split finger, index finger anchors on a tooth towards the middle of my upper jaw.  I have a sort of split-vision gap-shooting style of aiming.  Sometimes I can consistently shoot very well, such as calling the shot and shooting an aspirin at 10-15 yards.  Other times I really stink it up.  The biggest factor in my shooting -- now that my form is usually OK -- is a cool head and focus.

[RedShaft]

All the best shots I have personally ever seen held at ful draw for atleast 2 seconds or more

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Originally posted by The Whittler:
Shooting a bow is very simple, we seem to make it harder then it really is.

That's why women and kids shoot good, they have fun. Thay know what to do and just do it.

X2, I'm sure glad I don't have to work that hard to shoot a bow and I wouldn't. So much overthinking anymore just to have some fun.  Split finger, corner mouth, brain does the rest could care less were my elbow or anything else is at.  

Tracy

[Scott E]

Three under, middle finger corner of the mouth. I use a split vision/ sub conscious aiming. I anchor and apply pressure with my back then the shot goes off. It's all about finding what works for you.

A lot of the really good shooters practice form more than aiming but they do aim.

[riverrat 2]

Three-under,middle finger tip just sort of "dug into" the corner of my mouth. Make certain I'm drawn fully and square with a sort of imaginary line that is from my bow hand,down bow arm,across chest,and follows through to my drawing arm elbow. Use arrow as flight path guide. Tip and gap per distance. While drawing bow already picking spot,line up all aspects....hold,concentrate just a second until...it just goes.   Follow arrow fletching till it hits target to ensure good follow through. I like Chartreuse caps&fletchings for this. And all this I honestly do. It works very,very,nice for me.   rat'

[PaulDeadringer29]

Shooting is simple....so is answering a question, please take no offense, I'm just curious how everyone else shoots their bow. My explanation was drawn out, but I bet yours would be too if you really explained it. My shooting is actually simple and happens as fluid as any. I guess I should have just taken a poll, lol.

[Bowwild]

I draw, anchor, aim and follow-through. That's the conscious part after thousands of arrows.

This is what actually happens:

I shoot 3 under and I string walk. I anchor with the index finger tip at the corner of the mouth. I focus on the spot I want to hit with the point of the arrow out of focus but on that spot.

I keep my bow hand and draw hand relaxed. I raise the bow, undrawn to the draw position keeping my shoulders level.

Once I see my aimpoint I concentrate on keeping the bow arm and drawing arm back muscles active. Then I think follow-through and drop the string.

The bow arm jumps forward, drops slightly and to the side. The draw hand immediately moves along the face, under the ear and my draw hand thumb ends up on the shoulder.

If my bow arm remains level until the arrow strikes the target or my draw hand remains at my anchor, I have failed to use my back muscles to execute the shot.

Yep, the subconscious part is complicated until it becomes a habit.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Two finger under (index and middle). Middle finger to the corner of my mouth. String hand thumb joint buried in the back of my jaw. Cock feather touching my nose.

I use a gapping aim.

[Stixbowdrew]

Pick a spot bring the bow up pull it back lock my back muscles in and let it fly, no over thinking here. The best archer I know never has the same anchor twice. Over thinking is the down fall of some guys. Find what works best for you and stick with it.

[Brianlocal3]

3 under , feather to nose , cup my jaw , hold, hold release
This is how I approach my. 3d targets

 

 

 Here's my anchor
 

 Another view from a couple years back
 

[Brianlocal3]

I'm a gapstinctive /become the arrow shooter.

[halfseminole]

Thumb style, anchor behind ear, wait till the bones lock and fire.  I'm learning to shoot aiming with a shelf, having never had one.

[lbshooter]

Originally posted by RedShaft:
All the best shots I have personally ever seen held at ful draw for atleast 2 seconds or more

 

I have experienced the much the same, but mostly with paper/3D shooting.  Many of the really good hunting shots I have been with seem to have a very brief anchor, aiming during the draw and releasing the instant they touch their anchor. The difference seems to really show up when wingshooting and rabbit hunting. My hold varies with the circumstances but generally my arrow is gone at anchor if my eye is burned in on the mark. There are occasions, like hunting deer from the trees and turkey hunting when holding is may be necessary due to the games approach or position.  I think that the type of shooting a person does most frequently  tends to dictate their shooting style.  And once the style is burned in, it's all about concentration on the mark.