Quote:
Originally Posted by DivingBirdie  
Another one of those questions...
This is what I found in Saggi.
As we don't have a coach now, and nobody wants to shoot this way.. I've got some problems. I'm doing the BEST open stance, trying my best to follow BEST.
I usually twist my bowarm all the way inwards, locking it.
I tried my best to emulate this alignment at training today and ended up with a badly bruised bow arm. What went wrong? What are the details I have to look into with this style?
Does the bowarm remain static without and movement until after the shot?
I'm a LH Archer. My shots pretty much go center if I use a Parallel Stance. My arrows will stray to the LEFT (but grouped) if I use an Open Stance.
My scores have been going downhill ever since I read Total Archery and tried to follow its teachings.
Oh, if anything... I'm in Standard (No Stabiliser, no fancy sights, no live plunger, only wooden limbs, dacron  etc). I feel it is necessary to achieve a good level of consistency before I upgrade..  |
OK a few questions:
1. Why did you change your style?
2. What did you feel was wrong with the way you were shooting?
3. Why have you moved to an open stance? Do you have a clearance problem?
Now to answer some of your questions:
1. Bow arm - Don't twist it all the way in because then you will push the elbow intot he line of the string (as you have found out to youer cost). Keep your arm in as natural position as possible and you should find that your inner elbow will be almost vertical and well out of the way of the string. Also keep the whole arm relaxed, don't lock it, just hold it naturally straight and let the bones maintain the line of the arm and hold the elbow stable.
2. Talking about an open stance - How 'open' is it? Have you aligned yourself or just set an arbitary stance with your left foot further forward than your right? Too open a stance will put additional strain on your lower back as you try to come into the line of the shot. This could cause a reaction when the shot is executed in that the upper body will attempt to swing back into line with the hips. If this happens there is likely to be a horizontal deflection of your arrows.
3. You have said that the your scores have deteriorated since attempting this style. How have your groups changed?
Finally the diagram causes me some concern. It seems to advocate the drawing elbow INSIDE the line of the shot, something I think few archers could emulate. Furthermore it does not show the vertical alignment of the arms to the shot and this I feel is as or even more important. I would be more concerned with working on getting good back alignment and use of the back to maintain the shot.
Colin