Back tension....again....

[GeoffT]

I read a great article by John Dudley recemty that explained that you can't use back tension properly if your bow shoulder is too high. Doesn't sound sensible, but it is.

Without a bow put your drawing arm in the anchor position. It is easy to rotate it backwards with the bow arm out and the shoulder low. Now try it with a high bow shoulder and the range of movement is very restricted.

[ASW1973]

please read again because you have patently not got it by your question.
Follow the steps 1-4 and make sure clicker is set to an eighth to a quarter of an inch from point. When you are at full draw if you have done the above there is no conscious movement to click.

[ASW1973]

geof t
obviously john is writing about compound but the same is true for both disciplines:
Any movement of the front shoulder during draw or any part of execution is absoluteley categorically unnacceptable and must be stopped.

[Marcus26]

Yep agree with ASW.
The bow should must be as low as possible and must not move during the draw or shot.
Do not try and squeeze the back together. The blades do not meet, they rear scapula moves down and in, not towards the bow scapula.
Do not try and feel it in the back. You will feel it at the end of the day if you are doing it right.
Just reduce tension in your release arm. Hold the bow at full draw with your back, don't force it.
I'll upload some video.

[Marcus26]

YouTube - Demo of relaxed release hand

Hope this shows what I want it to. I'm moving my fingers around to show how little tension is in the arm and hand.
You can see my shoulder stays low, and then I move it in, I do not rotate it though.
This also helped me identify a form fault which is good.

[Murray]

Don't think about squeezing shoulders or specific muscles as others have said - work on getting good alignment and then good expansion *through* the shoulder line. The feeling of expansion, providing the arms are relaxed, should allow you to use the right muscle groups.

Much of this requires some hands on to properly explain (as you may have gathered by now), so not an ideal subject for internet coaching.

[pyroarch57]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

YouTube - Demo of relaxed release hand

Hope this shows what I want it to. I'm moving my fingers around to show how little tension is in the arm and hand.
You can see my shoulder stays low, and then I move it in, I do not rotate it though.
This also helped me identify a form fault which is good.

Nice form there Marcus.

[napolienne]

Al - buy/borrow/beg/steal a formaster

[Wrexham Exile]

cheers to all for taking the time to reply on a pretty tiresome topic.

i think i will start by working on and trying to keep the bow shoulder down. (maybe a Jaeger grip for sale soon...)

part of the problem maybe frustration creeping in - which just adds tension straight off.

good vid there marcus - makes it look easy! i know i have tension in the drawing arm as i can sometimes feel my pinky start to move round into the hand.

like many have said trying to feel the muscles is not working but when its what your trying to achieve its hard not to try and do this - vicious circle.

its all so damn annoying as i had an ok outdoors season (i certainly hadnt taken any steps backward ) and then when i go indoors it all seems to go to pot.

[Reg]

Al - buy/borrow/beg/steal a formaster

Ian has one that I last saw Kat using. Ask the little fella.