How tuned are you?

[Jumile]

I've done SFA tuning on my bow (as mentioned here), having only done a very basic adjustment on my button. I've spent the indoor season focussing on form, but now that I can comfortably exceed 500 in a Portsmouth, I think I'm about ready to begin the tuning process.

Seemed like a logical progression to me.

[Kae]

Originally Posted by Jumile

I've done SFA tuning on my bow (as mentioned here), having only done a very basic adjustment on my button. I've spent the indoor season focussing on form, but now that I can comfortably exceed 500 in a Portsmouth, I think I'm about ready to begin the tuning process.

Seemed like a logical progression to me.

Sounds good. I never bothered with tuning until I was shooting 560+ Portsmouth's (as stated previously I hate tuning). I lined the arrow/sight/string into a rough line and just shot it with rough Tiller and brace adjustments.

When you do tune the bow, it is "more forgiving" but it won't make you shoot better.

Kae.

[Jimster71]

My bow was set up when I bought it, a few weeks ago. I've not done anything to it since then and don't really need to yet. I will start checking the bracing height, since I don't always know if I have lost/gained any twists in my string between uses.

[Jumile]

Originally Posted by Jimster71

I don't always know if I have lost/gained any twists in my string between uses.

How do you store your string? In case you're unaware, there's a way you can feed each loop into themselves so that they don't change twists in between uses. Then it's just a matter of maintaining the twists and allowing for any stretch.

[Jimster71]

I feed the loops into themselves, as you mentioned. I then store the folded string in the arrow holder part of my case. I find that I may loose a twist or so when I am stringing, so I usually put one back in.

It has been shooting consistently for the past few weeks, so I think I am maintaining it ok.

[SLOWHAND]

I take a fair bit of effort to make sure that my bow is tuned as well as I can get it. Near enough aint good enough. A well tuned bow may give me a few extra points in a tournament but what it also gives me (which is worth a lot more) is confidence in my equipment, and confidence is vital when shooting at a fairly high standard.
I also carefully check all of my equipment before a tournament (particularly the arrows), and make sure I have recent sight marks for the distances I am going to shoot. Anyone who dosen't do all of these things cannot really expect to be competitive with archers who do take the time and effort to maximise their potential.

[chryd]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

I discovered a few years ago that cutting corners anywhere in my archery costs me points. Now I work hard on gear, form and mental side and are seeing improvements. All 3 are as important as each other.

That's pretty much exactly what John Dudley said in his seminar at Quicks earlier this month. He also pointed out that most people put most of their effort into "equipment", the rest into "form/fitness" and pretty much neglect the mental side of things... despite the mental side of things being able to partially compensate (with effort) if the other two parts start to break down.

[Duss]

One really learns the value of tuning and checking on tuning when coaching some teenagers who are growing like weeds.

Every few weeks, one has to make sure everything still is OK. The draw lengths do wonders to significantly alter the arrows' behaviour. And I have seen some interesting growth spurts recently!

Once the tuning is taken care of, the rest is easier to take care of. Concentration and form are capital and the results come from those, unless the equipment comes in the way

Everything is important!

[Jacqamoe]

I have to agree with you there Duss, having a young son who's last major growth spurt saw him gain just over 4cm in height in less than a month, even his minor growth spurt over the winter has seen his draw length increase nearly 1". It's check, check and double check that everything is tuned right and all he has to play with is his sight to correct for his ever changing size and strength. This seems to work as he's been posting better scores than quite a few of our U18 Gents and even some of our Senior Gents and he's only a U12 - this is consistant not just once off good scores too. The question is how long will it take him before he can out shoot both me and his Dad?

[geoffretired]

Tuning can make a difference. I wonder sometimes though, about one small change making so much difference. Was it the tuning change that brought the better results, or was it the form or mental attitude on that occasion? Do archers test that it is the tuning? Do they get someone to reset the tune to the previous settings and see if the results return to the earlier standard?(That someone may reset, or not, so the archer can't know for certain that they are on the previous setting) Like blind testing.