Full draw minus "x"

[geoffretired]

When I look at a group of club level archers, a large percentage display one common feature in their technique.
They draw the bow and reach a position, let's call it "full draw".
At the point where they release the arrow, they are in a new position, full draw minus "x". "X" varies from archer to archer;2mm to 20mm in most cases. Rarely is the X value added to the full draw position.
I was wondering if others have similar experiences or is it only in the clubs round my part of the world?

[grantwomack]

That's why I use a clicker... full draw is always less than draw length at release. For those who don't use a clicker though, I have almost always seen a slow "creep" forward before release. It is usually because they haven't been properly taught about back tension/pressure.

[TJ Mason]

It's very common. I've even seen it happen with a clicker -- a woman I was shooting with at one tournament was coming through the clicker, jerking the string hand forward on release and then faking the follow-through.

[xeonsPWN]

Originally Posted by TJ Mason

It's very common. I've even seen it happen with a clicker -- a woman I was shooting with at one tournament was coming through the clicker, jerking the string hand forward on release and then faking the follow-through.

i see that all the time where i shoot, mostly kids that shoot once a week and dont take it very seriously but have $2000+ worth of kit.

[geoffretired]

I'm not the only one to have noticed this behaviour ,then.
Apart from wondering how common it is, I also wonder what causes it and why so many suffer from it. When I discuss this, face to face, with other archers they don't agree with each other or with me. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I think it's a mix of poor teaching and "over aiming" with the sight.By "over aiming" I mean they are trying to achieve a quality/level of aim they are just not capable of reaching.

[Max]

Maybe just a shifting of forces Geoff, although I think we all agree it should not happen. I've seen it often with Recurve, but also sometimes with compound, and with some good shooters at that. I put it down to push/pulling so hard on the stops immediately after full draw, that the limbs bend slightly. After a couple of seconds as the 'shoot' motor has started, the tension subconsciously eases off slightly and the limbs relax a little, shortening the draw length and you can just see the arrow tip move forward. There may well be plenty of back tension being applied and the shot is often well executed, so in this case it may not matter.

[cliveanne]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

I'm not the only one to have noticed this behaviour ,then.
Apart from wondering how common it is, I also wonder what causes it and why so many suffer from it. When I discuss this, face to face, with other archers they don't agree with each other or with me. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I think it's a mix of poor teaching and "over aiming" with the sight.By "over aiming" I mean they are trying to achieve a quality/level of aim they are just not capable of reaching.

It happens here too. I think that the archer(s) in question hold into the Gold for too long & while thinking of loosing, they subconsciously creep .
Just a thought

[Jerry Tee]

There could be a few polar bears floating around?

[currie1014]

Originally Posted by grantwomack

That's why I use a clicker... full draw is always less than draw length at release. For those who don't use a clicker though, I have almost always seen a slow "creep" forward before release. It is usually because they haven't been properly taught about back tension/pressure.

Grant agree with you there, i look down the shooting line and club or at comp and even at our county squad session and cringed when i see people not shooting off their backs

[geoffretired]

Thanks for the input. It seems that the problem is common and that the aim may be involved and/or poor teaching.
No one, so far, mentioned lack of fitness or being over bowed. They could be responsible but I think over concentration on sighting is the main culprit. That could be poor teaching or perhaps lack of teaching. I feel it comes naturally to want to aim to the exclusion of almost every thing else. It takes big sticks to bring about a change of attitude.