Todd Cook
Senior Member
I've never been as happy with my shooting as I would like to be. I've killed quite a few critters over the years and even posted some fairly decent scores, but I've often felt that I was not in control of my shot.
Lately it's gotten worse, and I've got the scores to prove it . It's not affected my hunting to much, but only because I usually only take very close shots. But I've let one too many arrows go before I wanted to.
Let me say right off that I'm certainly not a good enough shot to give lessons, nor do I claim to have discovered something new. But I learned something that I want to share.
I started shooting traditional in 1995. I was full of enthusiasm( still am ), but I had 2 things working against me:
1. I had no one to teach or help me get started( all my friends at that time shot compounds), and
2. I was 26 and strong as an ox.
Strength is a very good thing to have in archery, but it hurt me because I never learned truly proper form. I could shoot heavy bows by just horsing them back, using my arms and hands.
I've always just pulled it back, stared at my spot, and let her rip. When my concentration was really good, it worked great. But other times I would release too soon, or peek, or drop my bow arm, or pluck the string.
I know I'm being longwinded here, but I'm getting to a point, I promise.
I've always heard people talk about back tension, and I thought I understood, but I was wrong. I talked to a good friend the other day at the state shoot, and he gave me a pointer that I believe will improve my shooting permanently.
Between what he said to me and a couple of video's I watched, I tried something called the rotational draw. This is certainly not new info; you can read about it on other websites, but it is helping me so much I had to write this.
Instead of pulling straight back on the string, the idea is to start the draw by pulling the elbow back and around the spine, ending up behind the head instead of to the side of it. Both hands are relaxed, string hand wrist is allowed to bend naturally.
The results are amazing. Like anything, it will take time for me to ingrain the muscle memory. It's only been a few days, but this is what I've found:
1. Release hand and elbow goes back at release, same each time.
2. I've usually had pretty good arrow flight, but never like this. All I see is a ball of feathers racing toward the target.
3. I can hold for a long time if I want to. I actually feel in control of the shot.
4. No shoulder soreness. none. zero. This was starting to happen in the last couple of years if I shot too much.
5. The bow feels 5-10 pounds lighter. Honestly.
I can't believe I'm just now figuring this out. I figure it will take a while, but I believe I'll be a better shot for it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sorry it's so long, but I got excited
Lately it's gotten worse, and I've got the scores to prove it . It's not affected my hunting to much, but only because I usually only take very close shots. But I've let one too many arrows go before I wanted to.
Let me say right off that I'm certainly not a good enough shot to give lessons, nor do I claim to have discovered something new. But I learned something that I want to share.
I started shooting traditional in 1995. I was full of enthusiasm( still am ), but I had 2 things working against me:
1. I had no one to teach or help me get started( all my friends at that time shot compounds), and
2. I was 26 and strong as an ox.
Strength is a very good thing to have in archery, but it hurt me because I never learned truly proper form. I could shoot heavy bows by just horsing them back, using my arms and hands.
I've always just pulled it back, stared at my spot, and let her rip. When my concentration was really good, it worked great. But other times I would release too soon, or peek, or drop my bow arm, or pluck the string.
I know I'm being longwinded here, but I'm getting to a point, I promise.
I've always heard people talk about back tension, and I thought I understood, but I was wrong. I talked to a good friend the other day at the state shoot, and he gave me a pointer that I believe will improve my shooting permanently.
Between what he said to me and a couple of video's I watched, I tried something called the rotational draw. This is certainly not new info; you can read about it on other websites, but it is helping me so much I had to write this.
Instead of pulling straight back on the string, the idea is to start the draw by pulling the elbow back and around the spine, ending up behind the head instead of to the side of it. Both hands are relaxed, string hand wrist is allowed to bend naturally.
The results are amazing. Like anything, it will take time for me to ingrain the muscle memory. It's only been a few days, but this is what I've found:
1. Release hand and elbow goes back at release, same each time.
2. I've usually had pretty good arrow flight, but never like this. All I see is a ball of feathers racing toward the target.
3. I can hold for a long time if I want to. I actually feel in control of the shot.
4. No shoulder soreness. none. zero. This was starting to happen in the last couple of years if I shot too much.
5. The bow feels 5-10 pounds lighter. Honestly.
I can't believe I'm just now figuring this out. I figure it will take a while, but I believe I'll be a better shot for it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sorry it's so long, but I got excited