Tuning In A Sight

[tiffer]

I WAS SETTING UP SOME SIGHT MARKS FOR A FIELD SHOOT AND NOTICED THAT THE FARTHER AWAY I GOT AWAY FROM THE TARGET
THE MORE TO THE LEFT THE ARROWS WHERE HITTING.
WHAT IS OUT OF LINE ??
IS IT THE ARROWS REST CENTRE SHOT ?
CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE BEFORE I STRIP THE WHOLE SET UP OFF AND TRY AGAIN
CHRIS

[Meddler]

First thing to do would be to check that the sight is vertical. Ie that the sight is in the same position above the arrow at the top of the sight bar as it is at the bottom.

Does it happen no matter which way the wind is blowing?

[tiffer]

Yes
Its As Thought The Arrow Is Moving To The Left
Wind Makes No Differance

[N.Vodden]

it could well be the button needs tuning.

there is a section in the archers reference about button tuning and the effect it has over distance. I used it fine tune mine a while ago because as i backed away they were going right.

[Bald Eagle]

Check your arrow spine is right for your bow poundage!

[King Custard]

the same thing Can happen should you change your stance slightly so that your shoulders are no longer properly square to the target...its something to rule out before you fiddle with your gear...that you yourself are not causing an uneven 'loading' on the front and back of your bow shoulder.

If you are sure that it isn't operator error:
take a turn off the spring pressure on your button...if you are right handed.
alternatively....put a couple of twists on your string.

[Jerry Tee]

Compound or recurve? If compound, finger loose or release aid?

[SLOWHAND]

What you did in effect was a 'walk back test'. All top archers do this to ensure that they do not have to adjust their windage for different distances.

Assuming your'e shooting a recurve,the first thing to check is your sight, your sight pin runs up and down a 'track'. Is this track perfectly in line with the bow? If it isn't it is very easy to adjust.

Are you 'canting' the bow? Get someone to stand behind you when you shoot to check that you are holding the bow perfectly verticle.

If you are not canting and if your sight track is right then it is either your arrows that are not spined properly for your bow, or it is your centre shot/button tension that is not right.

Do you know what your actual draw weight is?, not just what is written on the limbs. Check this against the charts for the arrow you use. Then shoot a bare shaft test and let us know the results.

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by tiffer

I WAS SETTING UP SOME SIGHT MARKS FOR A FIELD SHOOT AND NOTICED THAT THE FARTHER AWAY I GOT AWAY FROM THE TARGET
THE MORE TO THE LEFT THE ARROWS WHERE HITTING.
WHAT IS OUT OF LINE ??
IS IT THE ARROWS REST CENTRE SHOT ?
CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE BEFORE I STRIP THE WHOLE SET UP OFF AND TRY AGAIN
CHRIS

As your avatar shows a compound bow I'll assume you are shooting compound, and with a release aid...

1. As everyone else said, check your sight track runs parallel to the string and that you are centering your bubble and peep religiously every shot.
2. Check your centreshot is exactly down the centre of the arrow. I prefer to use a laser aligner for this, as lining up the string with the cams can be tricky with my eyesight.
3. Next check and adjust for nocking point height with a bareshaft test or paper test.

Now if you can make the release happen without any torque on the string your arrows should only flex vertically and a walk back will show no left to right variation. If you do apply some torque on the string you may end up with a slant or curve on a walk back test as you are introducing some horizontal flex. This will be worse if your arrows are weak.

You can correct this by ensuring the arrows are better matched for spine to your bow, or to a certain extent by moving the centreshot slightly. However better still is to get rid of the torque on the string...

James Park's books are excellent for setting up compound bows. In them he points out that spine is largely irrelevant to a correctly setup compound bow, shot well. However, arrows that are too weak are less forgiving of poor shots and an arrow that is slightly stiffer than 'optimal' is best.

[tiffer]

Thanks for the advice
it is a compound with release aid that l am using
checking the sight is in line with the riser sounds good advice
but could the centre shot being just off to one side have the same effect ?