Revolution Back Tension Release

[Neo]

I have bought a Carter Back tension release and shot it for the first time friday night. The results were not what i expected. I didnt expect my scores to go up and expected them to drop as i was trying something else and learning new techniques.

At 60 yards where im normally shooting at least 5 or 6 gold ends i was only managing 2 with reds and blues.

Moved up to 80 to check my sight mark still using BT release and scores increased slightly 3-4 gold ends still some blues

Thought sod it and tried 100yrds with it and still getting 3 gold ends.

I know it will take time to perfect using a new style of release but does anyone have any tips on how i could speed up the results of using back tension release aids.

I have the release set quite light with very minimal tension required to set the release off. I shoot a Bowtech guardian set at 56lb at 27.5 inch.

Any comments appreciated. Cheers

[geoffretired]

Many archers on this forum have a stiff trigger rather than a light one.
The reasons they give are usually that a light trigger can lead to hesitation in case it goes off too soon; or leads to punching as it can seem to go off as soon as it is touched.The heavy setting means you can rest the finger on the trigger and add pressure slowly but confidently, till it goes off.
I found a stiff setting allowed me to rest and increase the pressure, but not always as confidently as I would have liked. I feel I needed to be more dedicated to the learning process. Perhaps I was too impatient.
As the trigger settings got stiffer, I found I had to work harder and longer on each shot. The results improved the harder I worked. When the trigger was too stiff, I started to shake at full draw like pulling 100lb not 22lb!It's a confidence thing.

[Neo]

this is what i have found, If it is not light i get the shakes. Ive never had the shakes before using my trigger release. I started with it heavy and took a turn off the spring every end until i felt more comfortable. After an hour of shooting i felt physically and mentally drained. My back and arms were starting to feel like i had been pulling a bus.

[geoffretired]

When there is no trigger, you have to pull to execute the shots. When you have a trigger, you may or may not be pulling when the trigger is activated. I think that difference can result in feeling mentally drained as it is a new experience and there is no hiding place. Every shot feels like work.Another aspect could be that in trying NOT to pull too soon, the opposing muscles are fighting those in the back making it more of an effort. It feels similar to pulling through a clicker when the arrow pile is sawing through the rest and the arrows are growing longer as you hold!!
Please note;I used TRIGGER in the earlier post where I should have said SPRING SETTING.Sorry.

[Neo]

The whole reason i went and bought a BT release is cos i know i was punching my trigger. And i hate knowing im doing something deliberatley wrong. The only problem is i was shooting rather well when punching. as i explained earlier. I know i have to get out of a bad habbit.

I think you have got something there when you talk about not pulling too soon. I was mentally concious as my release is set light not to pull and was trying to keep the tension minimal as i set up the shot. but from the point of begining to execute the shot and begin to push and pull it is all very strange.

I had many many shots that felt perfect and the pin was bang on the gold. yet the arrows were outer redeither high or low. not really much deviation left and right.

[Marcus26]

Last year I got sick of freezing on the trigger in tournaments so bought an Evolution. I also sold my trigger off at the same time.
Here is what I found.

• The first 3 days were annoying. At 50m I went from around 336-338 range to 324. My shots were not great and I was not holding well.
• Suddenly halfway through a 50m round I got it. 342 and then 345. I needed to lightly push towards the target.
• Timing is crucial. You need to have it fire within about 2 seconds.
• The shaking is caused by you tensing your muscles and not pulling. Relax your arms as you pull. If this doesn't help, set it lighter.
• After about 3 months I was done with it and needed to go back to a normal release.

[Neo]

thanks marcus i am gonna print all this stuff out and try different things on monday night. I think i have a problem with my grip as when using a trigger release my shots are fine but with the back tension im sure the pushing forward and pulling back is causing me to heel some shots.

[kato]

Maybe you could try shooting lots at 5/10 yds
I think its a mistake to try and work out all the permutations at long distances
Its really important to get properly comfortable with your shot execution first ... then increase range

[geoffretired]

Neo, you have changed more in your technique than you imagine, probably.
I had target panic that meant I was triggering my wrist release before the sight could reach the gold. I knew that was wrong just as you knew punching was.
Marcus sorted me out with a simple retraining programme, part of which was to use a stiff trigger and learn to squeeze until it went off as a surprise.
An important difference that could have been misunderstood, is the fact that the old bad way felt incredibly smooth and the new right way felt bumpy, for want of a better word. You may be feeling something of that sort at present.
My reasoning is that with the punching, you KNOW when the release is about to go,yes? Often, that allows anticipation too, but unknown to the archer. That anticipation can iron out the bumps, by taking action at just the right time, and the results are a smooth shot.
With the revolution there can be no anticipation so none of the bumps can be ironed out.
Odd high arrows could be the final PUll is downhill taking draw hand down off the reference.That final pull, could be a new experience for you, it will take time to get that fine tuned; it will take time if you start using a trigger set stiff, too.

[mk1]

Make sure you have rock solid form - shoulder down etc etc so that you ARE actually keeping the pressure on.

Set the release so you can increase the pressure before it goes off.

Watch for the release hand position when pulling, if you turn the release then you end up pulling against the hook near the relase aid instead of near the end of the hook and it won't go off easily from there.