Problems with drawing bow

[ArcherDude222]

Ive had this problem for months now and I cant seem to get rid of it.
When I draw up to shoot I can never seem to draw back to the correct chin/nose position I always let go before I get there no matter how hard I try.
Can anyone offer any advice on the problem it would be greatly appreciated.

[geoffretired]

I think you have picked up a bad habit there. Can you draw the string fully back when you aren't going to shoot the arrow?
I assume there was a time when you could get the string onto your face and shoot the bow in the way you wanted.

[AlanT]

Can we assume you are shooting recurve without a clicker?

Alan

[ArcherDude222]

yeah I can pull back without an arrow no problem and yes I shoot a recurve without clicker

[Cimbian]

A quick and cheap method is to make a huge D-Loop from a boot lace or a piece of cord and fit this to your bow string, then use this as practice for finding your anchor. Everything will feel right except for the poundage.

Try doing this with a mirror positioned in your field of view.

Practice, practice, practice.

Once you have something approaching correct and repeatable get a clicker on your bow, set it to your draw-length and learn to use it.

[geoffretired]

I think you have accidentally learnt to let go before reaching your face. It now seems to you that you are unable to pull and hold long enough to reach your face. I know what that feels like and how "impossible" it seems to put right.
The next stage is to learn a "new" way of drawing and releasing. It needs to be new and different enough so that you can avoid slipping into the old habit while trying to learn the new way.
The last person I helped with this problem, it took a few arrows with a clicker and the problem was solved. Put on the clicker. Draw till it clicks and release when you hear it.
There are other ways, but I feel they are more time consuming.

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

I think you have accidentally learnt to let go before reaching your face. It now seems to you that you are unable to pull and hold long enough to reach your face. I know what that feels like and how "impossible" it seems to put right.
The next stage is to learn a "new" way of drawing and releasing. It needs to be new and different enough so that you can avoid slipping into the old habit while trying to learn the new way.
The last person I helped with this problem, it took a few arrows with a clicker and the problem was solved. Put on the clicker. Draw till it clicks and release when you hear it.
There are other ways, but I feel they are more time consuming.

My son had exactly the same, really badly. A clicker has sorted him out. He just shot a PB yesterday (the first time he has shot a round for more than a year).

[paulhuk]

I had exactly the same problem last year and it occurred after I had been shooting quite happily for 6 months. I tried all sorts of techniques including standing 2 yards from the boss and shooting with eyes closed and 'feeling' the shot. This worked fine until I opened my eyes to shoot and it was back to early release again.

In the end it was suggested that I try a clicker and I've never looked back. It sorted my problem immediately. I don't know whether this would work for everyone, but it certainly worked for me.

[BeardedBowman]

Rather than the knee-jerk 'mechanical' fix of fitting the clicker, why not address the real problem of what is going on inside your head causing you to 'panic'??? ( 'panic' is a hateful word to describe this problem).

Tell yourself that you are NOT going to release the arrow until you have established the correct anchor position. Then draw the arrow back until you get to a stage where you feel that if you pull back any further you will loose.

At this stage, let the pressure off the arrow and relax. You have now pulled the arrow back to and not released it. Try again and again, getting closer and closer to the correct anchor position, but never letting go. I also find having a fellow archer or Coach with you to give words of encouragement to you, and to monitor how close you get to the correct anchor position, is very helpful.

Eventually, with practise and encouragement, you will establish the correct full draw position AND be able to control the release without 'panic' (ugh).

This will take several sessions at your club to resolve, but overcoming it will enchance your enjoyment of archery no end.

I can further assure you that simply adding a clicker is just masking the problem, and that at some stage in the future I GUARANTEE the problem WILL RE-OCCUR!

Hope this helps....

[moley101]

Anna had this problem, she was drawing to within about an inch of her face then shooting, was happy to come up to full draw without an arrow however.

We fitted her with a clicker, a couple of dozen later, problem solved.