Coaching Problem - Form Issue ?

[SVL]

I need some advice for a form problem (?) one of our junior archers (16) has.
Basically when he shoots he kicks up his bow arm bending it at the elbow.

Now during the indoor season the string hand was droping right down to under his armpit. We worked on that and he has improved a bit. The drop is not so pronounced now, but still needs work.

I am sure both problems are related and I have been trying to work on good shooting form with him. Focusing on correct body alignment and using the right muscles. Also trying to get him to let the bow react in his hand rather than him making the bow react. When I am with him you can see the improvement but once left on his own his form goes back to ???????

I sometimes wonder if he just forgets what he is working on and I don't want him to get stressed out over this as he has exams this year.

Could anybody give me some advice. Maybe I am missing something?
Have you ever had something similar and what solutions did you find.

I will see if I can get permission for some video footage. But it could be a while.

[Mufti]

I suggest you remind him/her to recall the basic 6 lessons which should have included "aim at the gold and keep aiming at the gold until the arrow hits its target".

Hope this helps and isn't too simplistic - I find simple is best, try looking at most olympic champions, they keep it simple and get results.

[Tropicalshot]

i was told to look at the hand and not look at the arrow, do not move until you hear it hit the target,
if not tape a broom stick along his arm lol

[Marcus26]

Well he simply is not using back tension.
First up. The sight WILL move off the target if shot correctly. If you continue to aim with the bow after release then you are forcing things, just as bad as what this kid is doing.
Make sure he is using a clicker.
Then make sure he has a straight arm and is pulling through the clicker in a continuous motion. Train him to avoid arm usage.

[Meddler]

@SVL

It's all connected - because the drawing hand is pulling down, the bow hand moves up on release.

Drawing hand tends to move down because the drawing side lats are being used.

The muscles to be activated are the ones across the top of the back which allow for a backwards pull.

I suggest you go on to a lighter weight bow / clini band and work on that area of the technique just to get the hang of it.

[geoffretired]

Does the bowarm kick up because he is bending the arm at the elbow, or throwing the arm up but keeping it straight?

[King Custard]

I understand that this may be difficult to do considerring he has less than perfect form - but I would suggest checking tiller (and also for mismatched limbs).
Should the tiller be out somewhat, as he comes to full draw, the bow could be pulling down - if he is compensating for this by trying to pull the bow up to gold...this could result in both bow arm coming up and draw arm coming down at release...showing itself as a form problem.
I agree it seems a form issue as you describe it..........but a 2 minute check may make many hours of frustrating/frustrated coaching unnecessary.

As a for instance -
If a pair of 'matched' limbs ( like Borders ) are set up with a slight negative tiller difference, then you may well see the same thing happen.

[SVL]

Thanks to everybody for the good advice.
I will check the tiller on his bow and limb mismatch first.

He does not use a clicker and I have been trying to get him to use a lighter club bow ..... but he was not happy doing that and went back to his own bow.
(He is a teenager)

If it is not a bow issue I will try and get him using the cliniband to work on feeling the right muscle usage. I do agree he is not using back tension properly, even though he says he feels it on hs back he sometimes says he feels tension in the upper arms as well.

@geoff
he is bending his elbow

I will keep you all updated with any progress.

[GeoffT]

If it is a bow issue, it will make the bow react differnetly not his arms.

It almost sounds like a back to basics alignment problem.

IMHO I would suggest:

- Light bow to get the form right
- Don't shoot with a bent arm
- Use a clicker (a clicker is a form aid, as described by Marcus, not just a draw length checker)
- Is he using a bow sling?
- a "form master" will quickly see if he is using his back.

[geoffretired]

I have seen the bowarm bending thing before with grownups and youngsters.
I think it is just a habit they pick up and I suspect it feels better than the bow jumping away.
A video playback may help. Once seen,he may decide to get rid of the habit!