Is this punching?

Next Tangent · 06-02-10, 02:33 PM

I used to punch quite wildly. It was mostly I didn't really know how else to execute the shot. I also had mild target panic in that i would tend to squeeze the trigger when my bow had reached the gold as I felt that was where the shot should go.

Although I knew this wasn't right it was only after watching Alistair Whittingham's videos it was impressed into me just how bad this is for my technique. What I have been working on is trying to place the sight ring within the region of the target where it usual sits. At 18 and 30m this is the gold ring drifting into the 8 at most. At 50m this is more like drifting round the red and gold with the odd movement into the blue (these are the 3 distances I have access to practice on a regular club night). After I have the bow in this position I put all my concentration on simply pulling back my elbow and waiting for the shot to execute.

The reason I ask whether or not this is still punching is because I am still making a conscious movement of my release arm, but it is considerably less tied to my location on the target face. This has given me fairly good results, but I would like to try and get this right sooner rather than later so I don't have to repair months or years of "damage".

Any thoughts? Thanks

BanditMK2 · 06-02-10, 02:56 PM

It does sound like your fighting to avoid punching the release. Drifting into the gold is ok but it sounds like you are "drive by shooting" ie, when the ring crosses the gold you release the moment you feel it's on aim. Ideally I would say you need the sight ring/pin, whatever, to settle on the gold and then execute the aim pull and the shot goes off. ( it's how feel comfortable shooting anyway)

What release aid do you use?

Next Tangent · 06-02-10, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanditMK2

It does sound like your fighting to avoid punching the release. Drifting into the gold is ok but it sounds like you are "drive by shooting" ie, when the ring crosses the gold you release the moment you feel it's on aim. Ideally I would say you need the sight ring/pin, whatever, to settle on the gold and then execute the aim pull and the shot goes off. ( it's how feel comfortable shooting anyway)

What release aid do you use?

I use a Carter

Fits me, the non ITS one so it has whatever spring in it that would be.

It sounds like i didn't explain my self that well, i'll try again.

I now wait for the bow to 'settle' on the gold before pulling back with my elbow. However it doesn't stay steady on the gold, what I was trying to get across is that if it drifts out of the gold i don't worry I just continue pulling backwards until the shot goes off. I have a fairly circular "drift" around the gold so it will stay pretty much central on the target. What I don't do is try to force the sight ring to stay EXACTLY steady round the centre of the target.

BanditMK2 · 06-02-10, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Next Tangent

I use a Carter

Fits me, the non ITS one so it has whatever spring in it that would be.

It sounds like i didn't explain my self that well, i'll try again.

I now wait for the bow to 'settle' on the gold before pulling back with my elbow. However it doesn't stay steady on the gold, what I was trying to get across is that if it drifts out of the gold i don't worry I just continue pulling backwards until the shot goes off. I have a fairly circular "drift" around the gold so it will stay pretty much central on the target. What I don't do is try to force the sight ring to stay EXACTLY steady round the centre of the target.

Ahhh I'm by no means an authority on this but what you describe sounds like an ideal shooting style. And to answer your question it does not sound like a punch at all.

Next Tangent · 07-02-10, 03:40 AM

Thanks guys, I just wanted to check what I was doing wasn't wildly wrong.

geoffretired · 07-02-10, 09:12 AM

I used to trigger the release before I reached the gold and could not prevent that. TP,yes?
Once that was sorted I had long delays before the release would go as I tried to add pressure to the trigger without giving it any sudden squeeze.Hesitation!
That was nearly three years ago. Over that time, things have improved, I think you could get there far quicker than I did, as I wasted a lot of time going down dead ends.
Three things have been very useful.
Make sure you are pulling while you are preparing the release to go.
Make sure you are looking at the gold, concentrating on seeing it until after the arrow lands.It is easy to think you are doing that when you aren't I find.
Trust that the release will activate. If you are wondering when it's going to go or why it hasn't already gone, then things will not go according to plan.
The trust bit is quite difficult as we tend to try to make the shot go.
By trying to let it take its own time, the mind calms down and off it goes as if you had nothing to do with it.

Next Tangent · 07-02-10, 09:17 AM

Thanks, this is very helpful, I shall try this out when I next get down to the range. I have found that if i don't keep looking at the gold after the shot has gone off, my arm swings out to the left and the arrows land slightly left (maybe 9's instead of 10's mostly), so this is something I have been working on as well, as when i keep looking at the gold until the arrow hits the bow just moves forward of its own accord.

Next Tangent · 07-02-10, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizard

yes keep looking at the gold, when aiming, depending on distance, try and actually aim at the 10, not just the gold. When you get to 30 metres or closer pick a mark in the 10 (a previous arrow hole) and aim at that. There is a common phrase in archery..."aim small, miss small". All your focus and concentration should be on aiming at that gold or mark in the 10. You must get your mind off that release, just keep applying the pressure (through the line of force) until the shot happens. Your bow should go forward and then to the left and down (RH archer). If you are getting shots left it could be your straight bowarm is too rigid (it should be straight but not locked or rigid, still enough 'room' for very slight forward movement before it swings off to the left.

I'm pretty sure it's caused by me turning to look where the shot went as soon as the release goes off, someone once suggested this was the reason why, and I can kind of feel it when it happens. I will however look to my front arm next session I get.

Thanks for the continuing advice, it confirms something I have noticed in the previous week or so. The thing about aiming at a previous arrow hole is very interesting, I hadn't thought of that one, It should make life easier to 30 and 18m

06-02-10, 02:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Next Tangent In the Black Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 91 Tournaments Joined: 1 Tournaments Won: 0 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Is this punching? I used to punch quite wildly. It was mostly I didn't really know how else to execute the shot. I also had mild target panic in that i would tend to squeeze the trigger when my bow had reached the gold as I felt that was where the shot should go. Although I knew this wasn't right it was only after watching Alistair Whittingham's videos it was impressed into me just how bad this is for my technique. What I have been working on is trying to place the sight ring within the region of the target where it usual sits. At 18 and 30m this is the gold ring drifting into the 8 at most. At 50m this is more like drifting round the red and gold with the odd movement into the blue (these are the 3 distances I have access to practice on a regular club night). After I have the bow in this position I put all my concentration on simply pulling back my elbow and waiting for the shot to execute. The reason I ask whether or not this is still punching is because I am still making a conscious movement of my release arm, but it is considerably less tied to my location on the target face. This has given me fairly good results, but I would like to try and get this right sooner rather than later so I don't have to repair months or years of "damage". Any thoughts? Thanks Sponsored Links 20 x 60cm Economy Target Faces: £5.00 36 x Plastifletch Arrow Fletchings £3.00

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06-02-10, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
BanditMK2 In the Blue Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 257 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournaments Won: 0 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	It does sound like your fighting to avoid punching the release. Drifting into the gold is ok but it sounds like you are "drive by shooting" ie, when the ring crosses the gold you release the moment you feel it's on aim. Ideally I would say you need the sight ring/pin, whatever, to settle on the gold and then execute the aim pull and the shot goes off. ( it's how feel comfortable shooting anyway) What release aid do you use?

07-02-10, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Next Tangent In the Black Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 91 Tournaments Joined: 1 Tournaments Won: 0 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Thanks guys, I just wanted to check what I was doing wasn't wildly wrong.

07-02-10, 09:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
geoffretired It's an X Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poole uk Posts: 8,334 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournaments Won: 0 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	I used to trigger the release before I reached the gold and could not prevent that. TP,yes? Once that was sorted I had long delays before the release would go as I tried to add pressure to the trigger without giving it any sudden squeeze.Hesitation! That was nearly three years ago. Over that time, things have improved, I think you could get there far quicker than I did, as I wasted a lot of time going down dead ends. Three things have been very useful. Make sure you are pulling while you are preparing the release to go. Make sure you are looking at the gold, concentrating on seeing it until after the arrow lands.It is easy to think you are doing that when you aren't I find. Trust that the release will activate. If you are wondering when it's going to go or why it hasn't already gone, then things will not go according to plan. The trust bit is quite difficult as we tend to try to make the shot go. By trying to let it take its own time, the mind calms down and off it goes as if you had nothing to do with it.

07-02-10, 09:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
Next Tangent In the Black Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 91 Tournaments Joined: 1 Tournaments Won: 0 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Thanks, this is very helpful, I shall try this out when I next get down to the range. I have found that if i don't keep looking at the gold after the shot has gone off, my arm swings out to the left and the arrows land slightly left (maybe 9's instead of 10's mostly), so this is something I have been working on as well, as when i keep looking at the gold until the arrow hits the bow just moves forward of its own accord.