back tension - fact or fiction ?

[TJ Mason]

I agree with Erika, a direct technical explanation can lead archers astray because it doesn't reflect the way most of us perceive our bodies. When coaching people, I've had better results from just putting my hand on the archer's drawing elbow and saying "back a bit more" than from any amount of skeletal spiel.

[Furface]

Originally Posted by Erika

'Just move the bones'....

I have to admit, is a description that does my head in. ....

This might be at the core of an aspect of teaching I have been wrestling with recently. I understand the mechanical side of using muscles and bones (well, sufficiently). But I have no idea how to translate that into a particular action other than in very obvious cases. If someone says "wave your left hand", I have been doing that for long enough for me to be able to do it. But instructions like "drop your bow shoulder", "move your scapula round", "take the weight on your back muscles" are not instructions I can readily, consciously follow. They are instructions to use INTERNAL mechanisms, with no external cues. Perhaps it is relevant that I am completely incapable of any form of visualisation. Now, the nearest I can think of is how I learned breath control for singing, as control of the diaphragm is a similar internal mechanism. A lot of the initial effort revolved around a colleague threatening to punch me in the stomach and feeling which muscles to control.
Some lucky archers can translate what is needed in terms of bones, some in terms of muscles. How do we teach those who, like me, are not physically self-aware?

[pHz]

Originally Posted by Chris B

This was an exerpt from only one of three such articles i have, but i can't find them on t'internet. Sorry. Anyone else?

i assume they are the ones linked to at the bottom of this page - Korean Archery ?

slainte : rob

[Munsterman]

Rob, try reading Core Archery. There is quite a lot of print devoted to this.

[hooktonboy]

Originally Posted by Furface

Some lucky archers can translate what is needed in terms of bones, some in terms of muscles. How do we teach those who, like me, are not physically self-aware?

Likewise! and equally, how do I teach myself? And is the formaster type of training aid useful for this?

[Legolas]

Originally Posted by sp220

Its funny what comes around on this forum.

I was talking to a coach who mentionned this term to me only a few days ago... It's interesting comparing what they said to the random array of things people are saying on here...

I have no oppinion on "back tension" - to me it's just two words put next to each other in a sentence...

I've never really thought about it because I never had a coach that used the term like it was gospel.

If the word means that the muscles in the back should end up under tension - the definition of the word tension - then it's utter rubbish completely...

If the words mean the back muscles are used in archery - wayhay! score one for weird unnecessary terms that just happen to be correct...

I suspect it's the latter, but too many people read into it as the former is what I also suspect and take the words far too literally and end up looking for some kind of sensation in the back muscles akin to a tug of war.... when they could just set up a solid shot and get on with it...

This I find is somewhat half the problem when archers asked for advise and we have people who just do not take out the positive. Do you honestly think it is that easy to set a solid shot up and get on with it when the Koreans have spent so much time doing what they do in training. Just because the words back tension where used these are the words of one coach and it is up to the other coaches to use there own words to convey over the same message. I tell you now if the were to use your back correctly like the Koreans you would not want to turn back to your old technique and find yourself left on the line trying to get your last arrow though the clicker.

[Legolas]

Originally Posted by sp220

What makes you think Koreans came up with the words back tension?

At what point did I say the Koreans did come up with that phase. If you were to read it correctly the Koreans where mentioned purely because you made it sound as though all you had to do was pull the bow back and make a solid shot. Let me know how you get on coaching that to an archer.

[geoffretired]

"Back Tension" may not be the best way of describing what was meant when the expression was first used. What seems to me to be more important is the way the meaning has been lost in translation by people who though they knew what was meant, originally.Once the correct meaning is lost,what is left but confusion?
Get it on your back!! Now what can that possibly mean to a newish archer? I have visions of an archer using a bow like a yoke with a bucket on each end.
As with some other terms used in archery, if the expression isn't backed up with demonstrations or explanations of what has to be done, or what is meant by the expression then an awful lot is being assumed. Assuming the listener understands in the same way that the deliverer already does is a recipe for confusion.
Granny of eighty gets a hole in one!! Just think how many ways there are of translating that headline.

[pHz]

i love when a plan (finally) comes together ...

slainte rob

[pHz]

actually sperks - what i was after was a proper debate about what was meant by THAT phrase and whether it meant anything in practical terms

and we finally seem to be heading in that direction

i cant help it if it comes across as 'mischevious' rather than serious can i ?

(i have my own strongly held opinion about all this but i probably arent experienced enough for it to hold any water)

slainte rob