When to move to a clicker?

[Miner Willy]

Originally Posted by JohnK

.....Finally, draw as before, pull smoothly through the clicker and shoot your shot. If you've followed all these steps carefully and your helper has done a good job, you can be confident that you can easily pull through the clicker without making a big deal of it.

Gotta agree with JohnK here, you are in control of the clicker and subsequent release not the clicker...

Take your time with it and persevere, especially if you've been shooting for some time without one.

[Murray]

IMO, it's important to combine the clicker with good use of back muscles... some go to the clicker and suddenly go back to using mostly arms or (god forbid, fingers) to get through the clicker - thus the focus of the shot becomes getting through the clicker rather than getting in line and getting the power delivered from the right place.

So with due respect, I'd suggest that Bald Eagle's approach might be more problematic than helpful.

John's suggestions are fundamentally sound, but if you don't have a coach, you can do it yourself in front of a very short boss, and with your eye closed to reduce all of the other external factors. Setup the shot, get back to your reference point, transfer the power and get the line, then check where the point is in relation to the clicker... it should be almost on the end of the point.

All of this requires a consistent draw length, so if you move your head every time, or collapse your shoulders, it may prove difficult, but persevere as it's a good training process. Once you have that down pat, you can experiment with watching the point as you transfer the power, so that you reduce the amount of time you pull through the clicker, or setup short.

Just some ideas...

[wingate_52]

A clicker is a tool. To use it properly, you must practice. We all know that practice makes you better. It is not easy to use, but it enables the archer to ensure that most of his arrows will be on the same horizontal plane. I wish I had installed my clicker earlier, as it is taking some time to use it well.It does not just happen. York and FITA rounds will show an improved score. My groupings at 50 and 60 yards are tight in the red and gold. Put on a clicker and practice.

[Random_guy]

Originally Posted by wingate_52

It does not just happen.

I think this depends on the person. I've seen two different people put a clicker on their bow and take to it right away, while i myself, and others really had to work at it to get it right. It depends on a lot of things, like the individual's style, and what their biggest problem was (in the case of the two who took to it, they both found it difficult to reference consistently without a clicker).

But blank boss is a good idea to get used to the clicker, although i found it only helped up to a point, as i could draw through the clicker easily on a close, blank boss, but as soon as you put a target infront of me i couldn't come through it for love nor money. I had to work through this problem with a target infront of me, as it was the only way.

[Mistake]

i went to a clicker just over a year ago, about 5 months after i started shooting with it. My clubs de-facto coach (we have no qualified ones) helped me set it to a comfortable draw length, and i went from a low E to mid D inside a week. A clicker can help with consitancy of draw length, but it also helps (or so i found) with form, as if i struggle through the clicker, then i know my form is slightly out. I would also view it as a must for when you start shooting 70m, which will show you how consistant you are really.

[Little Miss Purple]

My lovely jubbly coach told me I would get a clicker when my technique was more consistant! This happened in March (after 9 months of shooting), the clicker went on and looking back, it only took me a few weeks to get the hang of it and I've never looked back.

I answered when your coach says your ready, if you are lucky enough to find a good coach, they will know what is right for you and when

[Kevinf2349]

One good side effect of using a clicker is that it keeps the arrow on the rest in the wind

[Barry C]

ASAP before your muscles remember the non clicker form. As soon as a beginner buys their first bow they should be taught to shoot with a clicker. Its the easiet way to get them good fast.

[nfinite]

Quite a few interesting points made on this thread.

I recently came off a clicker until my form is better.

My scores have shot up to bowman level ( or very close ) since I made the decision with my coach.

Will most likely put it back on when i can maintain a solid arm and dont raise my bow shoulder which was and still is my main problem.

But i surpose if a archer can maintain a consitant correct draw length , adding a clicker is the next step.

Dont think I agree with the idea of a beginner starting with a clicker from the start.

Too many other basic things to think about

But thats my thoughts anyway

[robc]

Originally Posted by Barry C

ASAP before your muscles remember the non clicker form. As soon as a beginner buys their first bow they should be taught to shoot with a clicker. Its the easiet way to get them good fast.

In saying this, are you making the assumption that the archer has a good technique - getting in line etc? IMO there is little point in having a clicker until you have sufficient consistency to use one. Once that consistency is there, I would suggest introducing it as soon as possible. Surely the clicker is almost mandatory? Is there anyone out there getting good scores without one? Rob