Clicker Or No Clicker

[Tommy B]

If I find I'm relying too much on the clicker, ie using it as a trigger, I shoot a couple of dozen arrows at 60 yards without it. This makes me concentrate on form instead of using an audible signal to release, and when I've got the "feel" back I start again with the clicker. It's also quite liberating, becoming master of the shot again.

[john rowland]

Originally Posted by maurice70-0

clickers don`t use them. take`s all the fun away. got to enjoy?. and pr who are you talking about?

Im with you i learned how not to depend on them did me no harm my normal portsmouth 575 to 580 ,why use them when you dont need them John

[sandcrab2]

in the same file, i bought a cartel clicker from lancaster archery a while back, it came in the mail, and the thing was too big for my riser (PSE beginner bow ). Should i cut it? Or resell it?

[teknohippy]

Originally Posted by Paper_Arrow

I thought i already had earlier in the thread?

I have a powerpoint slide that explains it but cant find a way to upload it

Sorry, I must have been skimming. All makes sense now

On another note.

On the way back from practice the other day I was thinking about draw length, more specifically about a way to help people spot that they were creeping forwards.

I had an interesting idea, it could only be used as a training aid and not in competition though.

I just wondered whether or not an audible indication of draw length would actually help someone train. Something that measured you draw length and gave a rising pitch based on the length.

You then hear immediately that you were creeping forwards and also you'd learn at what pitch you draw length was consistent. That kind of thing might work on a nicely unconscious level.

It'd have to be built and tested of course and there'd be hundreds of little problems to solve. But all the same I thought it was an interesting idea.

[geoffretired]

I am not being flippant when I say ,"Some already have one."
Some archers have squeaky arrows or a squeaky rest. If that was adapted and made use of it could very well be the thing you are looking for.
Similar things have been tried with clickers. With two or three overlapping(like fanned out playing cards) as the draw increases the clickers click in turn. Creep and you get silence. By arranging the clickers so the early ones are different- sounding from the final one, there should be no problems.

[X10-arrow]

Yes your quite right i do seem to shoot faster without the clicker thanks for your input into this matter..

Originally Posted by geoffretired

If clickers were banned, you would shoot with the rest on an equal footing.
They aren't; so without one you shoot with a disadvantage, in my opinion.
I think you know that already.
I think it is a matter of deciding what you really want. If you want to shoot the way that feels better to you then leave the clicker in the box.
If you want to shoot higher scores,either way you must work hard on your technique.
With or without a clicker, the technique has to be more precisely repeated. The clicker can be a great asset in that learning situation as it lets you know when you get out of shape or out of order/routine.
Refining your technique without a clicker is like working without help;you're on your own.
If clicker shooting seems very slow-tiresome, it sounds as if you normally shoot quickly, the way many longbow archers do.
There are many archers who shoot without a clicker yet they shoot at much the same rate as those who use them. For them the change may seems less tiresome.
I have started several archers on clickers recently. I explain, as much as I can, about the pro's and con's. If they ask, I give them my opinion as to which is better. Those who say they will give it a try,( thinking they can take it off if it doesn't work out) usually take it off in a few weeks. Those who decide it is the way ahead for them, stick with it. Some find it hard work;others find they get into it very quickly.

[dino1300]

If you strugle to shoot with a clicker, then that probably means that you are collapsing forward during the aiming phase of the shot.

The clicker will probably not 'help' correct this, just point it out. You will need coaching or help to correct the poor form that is allowing the collapse to happen.

The reason that people get worse with a clicker, is that instead of being allowed to have a small amount of collapse / creep / settle, call it what you want, they must increase the draw length. This tends to be done by pulling the draw hand using the arm muscles or fingers. This just increases the tension in this hand making the release worse.

The correct form uses the back muscles to pull the lower scapula together, and then the upper & fore arm become levers, hence the movement through the clicker zone.

[Kae]

Can you shoot well without a clicker, yes.
Will you outshoot an archer of a similar level that uses one possibly at shorter distances, but no at longer distances.

A variation of an inch for example will make very little difference at twenty yards, however at 100 yards you will probably fall short of the distance.

I have used a clicker since my third year of archery (I'm mostly self taught, and it took me a while to find out about them, lol) and I wouldn't shoot without one now.

Kae.

[WhitehartFB]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

I am not being flippant when I say ,"Some already have one."
Some archers have squeaky arrows or a squeaky rest. If that was adapted and made use of it could very well be the thing you are looking for.
Similar things have been tried with clickers. With two or three overlapping(like fanned out playing cards) as the draw increases the clickers click in turn. Creep and you get silence. By arranging the clickers so the early ones are different- sounding from the final one, there should be no problems.

Good idea but for the practice ground only the rules dictate one simple device none electronic for competitions.

Clickers are all about good form and getting it set up correctly, most people when setting up a clicker concentrate on the arrow tip and blade positioning and forget to check the archers form i.e the archer is not hunching up, over extending has a poor anchor point etc.

[Dougal]

Many years ago ,as a nearly new archer I shot at a Euronations tournament , the day after the team event.The other three archers on the target with me had shoot the previous day, so knew each other.I asked one of them how his shooting had gone and he modestly replied "yeah ,OK". One of the others then took me to one side and told me that he had in fact come third overall, with a FITA score of 1275 or so.And you've guessed it, he didn't use a clicker.
I've tried to remember his name , but age has got the better of me.I think he was english , first name Paul and it was in 1996.
I have never used a clicker and have made Bowman in the past.I get tremendous satisfaction when I manage to outscore a clicker user, especially at long distance.I can see where they can be beneficial.But for the amount of arrows that I shoot in a week, I don't think that I could use one.I'm normally knackered by the end of a shoot, and don't believe that I could shoot my last arrow in the same way as I shoot my first. I do know that my 30m sight mark is different at the end of a FITA, than if I doing a Frostbite round or similar.
Thats my tuppence worth.Don't knock anything til you've tried it.