Need Help

[bruc]

#6565

In the last few weeks I have developed a shooting issue that I am having trouble figuring out what I am doing wrong:cry: I have two recurves that I shoot and I use a clicker on both.
I have been shooting the heavier weight bow half decent. When I shoot the lighter bow I seem to be pretty consistently right about 6-8″ and a little high. At release my bow arm seems to jump inward. When I really concentrate on target and keep good back pressure it is not as bad.
I am left handed with a 27″ draw length and the lighter bow is 48# at 28″ I use 2016 aluminum arrows.
Just came in from shooting and the problem went from pretty bad to “I should have quit a half hour
ago”. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Bruce

[David Petersen]

#52736

Bruce — I don’t know if this is your problem or not, but some folks including me have trouble maintaining form and accuracy when jumping between bows, esp. when the draw weight varies considerably. For most of my archery life I owned only one bow at a time and my shooting was consistently pretty good with no ticks or flaws obvious. Then I took up bowmaking and soon was shooting radically different bows with a wide range of draw weights and my form just went to the bottom of the bucket. So I took a break from that and went back to shooting just one bow and things improved greatly. I now own two near-twin Shrews that draw the same, shoot the same arrows and are readily interchangeable. I also have a lovely osage selfbow given to me by a friend that draws the same as the Shrews but of course shoots differently. Anyhow, a longwinded way of suggesting the perhaps you, like me, are meant to be a one-bow guy. In any event good luck working it out. dp

[new moon]

#53208

Bruce,
I agree with Dave. Switching between bows can be challenging ifvthey are not very similar. In addition if the bows are not very similar you will need a different set of arrows for each. Stick withbone for a while and see if that straightens your shooting out.

Josh

[Stephen Graf]

#53590

I think it is 1 of 2 things… Either the bow hand, or the string hand. For me, it’s always the same answers when I get the shooting results you are:
– I am not “pushing through the shot” with the bow arm
– I am crabbing or in some other way messing up the release.

What I found works is to imagine pushing the arrow all the way to the target with the bow. Like you are directing it the whole way. And to use a “dead release”. Meaning I leave my hand against my face at the release. It should still be on your face when the arrow hits the target.

I know, I know, allowing your string hand to snap back to your shoulder gives a better release in theory. But it also allows for bigger groups if your form isn’t great. I have found that I get better groups (maybe not the best achievable) if I use a dead release.

Speaking to what Dave said, it’s funny how different people are. I find that if I am shooting poorly, if I switch to a different bow, I shoot better. It is only a temporary affect of a few days, but some times it gets me out of a rut.

[SteveMcD]

#56079

I agree with Steve. Seems to me you are unintentionally collapsing on the shot. I have this problem from time to time myself. I have to remind myself the bow arm does not move until I see the fletch in the target. However, if you are not pushing the bow arm out and pulling through with the drawing hand, the force of the bow is involuntarily moving your bow arm in. suspect you may be plucking the string. The practice exercise I do with close bale work every week, 1) as Howard Hill would say, keep a firm steady bow arm,extend or pushing out to the target, 2) pull through with the drawing hand / arm. When my shot is complete the fletch is in the target, and my drawing hand thumb is touching my rear shoulder. Good Luck.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#56447

I also agree with Steve. Whenever I start shooting to the right with a clicker, the first thing I check is my “balance” (i.e. push versus pull). If I pull more than push through the clicker, my bow arm collapses slightly and the shot goes a hair right.

[bruc]

#57621

Thanks everyone! I’m not totally out of the woods but am certainly making some headway.
Sticking with just the one bow has certainly helped! I am also able to see the difference that pushing with the bow arm and good follow through makes.
I’m glad I asked when I did, it has saved a lot of frustration. It’s amazing how life is so much better when you’re shooting well 😉
Bruce

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