String slapping lip

[longbow fanatic 1]

Why am I whacking my lip? I shoot holding my bow in a very verticle position and shoot three under. I'm whacking my upper and lower lip upon release. My set up, alignment and arrow flight is good. IM not having left/right arrows, but on release I hit my lip. I've trimmed my tab down with no change. I'm at my wits end!

[Flying Dutchman]

I had it for a short while and found out I was plucking my string.  I am right handed and it seemed that upon release I was pulling the string to the right,  which caused the string to hit the right side of my lip.
I took care for a proper, relaxed release and a deep hook and it never came back again!

[Pheonixarcher]

This would be a good question on the "shooters form forum".

I sometimes do this as well, and will be interested to see the theories and recommendations.

[moebow]

In my experience, the tab is the first place to look and that is already mentioned.  

Second, a very common cause is getting to full draw THEN laying your head over to the string and string hand.  That movement will turn your face into the string just enough to have this happen.

Try holding your head still and bring the string and hand to your face, don't go to get it or "cuddle up" to it.

See if that helps.

Arne

[longbow fanatic 1]

Great tips, Arnie and Flying Dutchman!

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Pheonixarcher:
This would be a good question on the "shooters form forum".

I sometimes do this as well, and will be interested to see the theories and recommendations.

Thanks. I did post it there too, but thought I might get some more ideas here.

[njloco]

Make sure your drawing all the way, and that your face is relaxed.

[Jim Wright]

As has already been mentioned a tab is often the culprit. They can be trimmed down much shorter than the length many shooters use. Another thing you can do which is even simpler is to turn your head to the left (if right-handed) just enough to feel slight tension on the left side of your neck. You can still easily keep your eye over the string and it rotates your lip away from it.

[FerretWYO]

You have some good ideas here. When this happens to me or people I am watching two things are happening normally.

1. Failure to expand (back tension) and compensation by turning the head slightly into the string. I guess to hold anchor.

2. Static or dead release. If we pull off the string we tend to come off cleaner that if our hand is still. When still we tend to push the string into our face in order to let it go.

It can also be the tab if it is a bit long. Trim ever so little at a time if you go that route though.

[Orion]

Hey Dennis.  I was one of the fellas who shot with you at Blackhawk a week or so ago.  In truth, I wasn't paying a lot of attention to your form, but I did notice an occasional pluck.

If the suggestions already offered don't work, you might try opening your stance a little, i.e., turn toward the target a little more and/or turn your head more toward the target before you anchor. Each will yield a little more clearance between lip and string. Good luck.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks, Randy and Jerry. Great suggestions!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Have you tried taking your dentures out?  

[longbow fanatic 1]

LOL!

[JD Page 1965]

Duct tape works!

[mcgroundstalker]

That's kinda like the same thing as not having your nose facing the target and the string sending your eye glasses into orbit!   :eek:  

... mike ...     ...

[kevsuperg]

I had a friend with the same problem. Turns out he was concentrating so much, he puckered his lips and then would hit them with the string.  He used to stick his tongue out too. Not anymore tho.

[two4hooking]

This happens to me if I am pressing my hand against my anchor and not using back tension/arm alignment.

[njloco]

Two4hooking hit's the nail on the head, I end up scratching my face with my tab, just above my cheek bone and below my eye if I don't use back tension, but its not the tab. That is why I said to make sure your drawing back all the way.