Good form early on, or sort it later?

[PorlyP]

Hi all,

The more seriously I get into this sport, the more I worry that my form sucks.

I draw as I raise by bow, am convinced I don't use my back enough, draw hand elbow isn't as high as the better archers, and that I line up my shots differently while having a decent anchor point.

Is it better simply to concentrate on one part of my form and fix the rest later, or what?

I don't want to sound impatient, but I am driven to get results through ackowledging my faults and improve by fixing them and remaining consistent.

Scores don't interest me currently, as I'm simply getting used to distances to firstly build my confidence, and secondly to find out early on what my faults are, as of course they are highlighted more the further the distance.

Don't get me wrong though, I am enjoying it all immensely.

Of course, hitting gold still gives me a buzz

Thanks for any advice on how/when to improve.

[Thunk]

Originally Posted by PorlyP

I don't want to sound impatient, but I am driven to get results through ackowledging my faults and improve by fixing them and remaining consistent.

Nothing wrong with the above - it's the only way anybody improves at anything.

As I've stated elsewhere, I'm the last person to be advising others on form. But one thing I have learned - don't do two things at once (drawing whilst bringing your bow up, for example). Break the sequence down into stages, and concentrate on perfecting each stage. The best archers I know can still be seen to do one thing at a time throughout the whole shot sequence. It's how they get good repetition.

I'm sure Geoff will be along shortly with a much better analysis, which I shall also read with interest.

[PorlyP]

Cheers Derik, I'll await further replies to flesh out the rest, but I'll try and section the draw phase a bit better, although I'm only at about two-thirds draw by the time I've come up, so it doesn't mess up my anchoring much.

My loose technique is what I want to sort, as well as head position, as I don't get my string picture anywhere near the riser at the mo, but can still repeat it.

Example: last night, I shot 60 yards with a 26 pound bow for the first time. All the dippers that found the grass landed a few inches apart, max. It was my loose as well as a potentially bad anchor that caused this, as I did hit 7s and 9s in the same session, so I know it's attainable by doing things properly.

Now while I know I'll never be perfect, as perfection is asymptotic to the learning curve imho, however, gains can always be made towards it.

One day I'll be much better, I just wish I had the time to devote to hastening towards that.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Hi Porly

I know where your coming from with this question as I am in the same boat as you.

What I have found to be most useful is 1) run through my little checklist EVERY shot so I get the basics right and 2) when I identify things wrong with my form just work on one or two things at a time.

For example, on Sunday I noticed that my bow hand was incorrectly positioned, i was gripping the bow. I also had been told I tilt my head back slightly as I come to full draw. For the time I shot on Sunday those were the two things I concentrated on and by the end of the day I had definitely improved, my groups were better, and I felt great. Im shooting tonight and Ive been told that when I anchor I dont always retain the tension and the arrow starts to move forward slightly so thats what Im working on tonight.

Every time I nock an arrow I think about the things Im working on plus run through my checklist which is:

Feet
Hips
Shoulders
Head
Bow Arm
Draw
Anchor
Aim
Loose

If I fluff up at any of those stages I let down and start the shot again. I find its the only way to build up any kind of consistancy of repitition.

My form still leaves a lot to be desired but each time I fix something I think of it like tuning a tv - I can see the picture but its fuzzy so by changing something it brings it more and more into focus. I just hope eventually it all comes together and I can get it right!

Hope that helps. And as Dave said to me, dont lower your expectations but do just take it one step at a time

Witchie Poo Cat

[PorlyP]

Thanks WPC!

I'll give that a go

[reckless]

Same boat .
i tend to want perfection and i want it now damnit..
for me i find that if i take one thing at a time i get it, were if i try to impove on say my bow arm and my release at the same time i make a right old mess of it. i have been shooting under a coch from the begining ( about six months) and have really seen improvement if i follow his advise religously.when i dont it all goes pear shaped.
what he does is he will watch me shoot for awhile and then talk me through the sequence, blah blah... at the end of the session he will usually give me one aspect to work on and i have to commit to a minimum of 20 hours on that one aspect.. does it work? well i thinks so,, in the begining there were rapid changes and improvements but as my form gets better things take a little longer as they are often more subtle than the obvious inital techings.
i recon i might just get the hang of it in ohh say about ten years from now.

[Mufti]

I'll have a pop at this one . . .

Watch the videos pf the top archers, they all set their front (bow) shoulder first then draw.

This I think allows for proper front shoulder and shoulder blade setting prior to putting pressure on it.

Only after taking their aim do they really put the pressure on with a smooth draw.

It looks right and seems right to me.

The old classic V draw is way out of date now it seems.

All the above is hearsay and opinion, others will correct I am sure if I am wrong.

[Thunk]

One tip thats just occurred to me; at the last SoSo I bought a DVD of the Athens Olympics archery competition. There's 82 minutes of it for a measly £7.50! Excellent opportunity to study the form of the worlds top archers...again...and again...and again...

[GreenSteve]

i also started out drawing the bow as i raised it
but after developing shoulder pain i was advised to raise the bow
and then draw up so that i have to lower onto the gold rather than trying to raise my bowarm at full draw
by aiming over (not pointing at the sky ) but generally so the long rod is pointing at gold, and lowering into the target it allows the bowarm to relax rather than tense more as the muscles strain to raise the bow that last 1/2 inch
one thing that i found was a saving grace for me was a kisser i persistently wandered along my jawline never quite anchoring the same each shot until i added a kisser

hope that helps porly

[wingate_52]

I have had a break for 2 weeks. Shot a national on monday, shot same today after a fast morning bikeride and improved by 10%. Still not right, or near PB but better. One thing I noticed was that shots would go left. Now I consciously centre the web of my hand to the centreline of the handle. Must mark hand and handle permanently. It made a difference and no wide shots today. So I just worked on 1 technique/point and gained 52 overnight.