Need some advice

[Armadillo]

Im an archery greenhorn. Ive basically been shooting my bow really hard for the first time this weekend and have become comfortable with my "form". I dont know if its the tuning of my sight that has my grouping acattered to the left or if its the fact that Im not using a mechanical release and just fingering the string and tweaking it slightly when I release. Im shooting at a distance of 10 yards. Any help or tips are greatly appreciated Thanks

[boneaddict]

First of all I am aweful at this, so the bowman out there like hornseeker or someone can probably help you better.   I was trying to analyze your holes.  One of the big things to look at is how the arrow is tearing your paper.  That looks fairly normal.  For mechanical sites, you canunscrew your pins a bit and it might move your arrow grouping over.  remember its the opposite of how you move your pins versus what you see out there. Hand release vresus mechanical will change it a bit, but if you are going to consistently shoot without a release, you can move your pins to compensate.

[M_ray]

What type of bow? do you have pins? Obviously every step backward at this point will push your group farther high left of the bull, but that is a good group for starters I would just move your pins (if you have them) and get them in the bull and back up and see if you can keep that group going at 20,30,& 40 or more yards and call it good! If your shooting traditional it looks like you'll need help from Bone, not me!

[M_ray]

That's funny I was typing while you posted bone!  I deferred to you and now your saying you are awful at this! your killing me, I was giving you props!

[boneaddict]

 
I suck at the mechanics, I just get it done.   Traditional, its all about instinct.  Just got to move your instinct to the right a bit.  Your grouping looks great.   As you back out, you'll be able to analyze your arrow flight better and then know if you have tuningissues to deal with.  Watch how your arrow smacks the target.....does it fly straight or fishtail...smack the traget sideways.  That sort of thing.

Thanks for the props MRay.

[rougheye]

If you cant figure it out I would go down to the Nock Point in Mt Lake Terrace,They have a indoor range and they will get everything shooting great.

[Armadillo]

Thanks for some input guys. Im shooting a compound. Its a fred bear element with a 3 pin sight. Would shifting the whole sight to the left have a positive effect?

[boneaddict]

Most likely they all should just about line up straight up and down, so I would say YES!

[rougheye]

Yes ,shifting the whole sight is exactly what you should do,just remember to make small adjustments at first. good luck.

[Coasthunterjay]

hum, I dont know how you shoot, but how do you hold your bow, when you shoot? with your fingers clinched, or shut? If you have a wrist strap, rely on your wrist strap to catch your bow after you release the arrow, it should just be cradled in the web of your hand. Sort of like golfing and following through and keeping your eye on the ball. If you try to follow through and watch were the balls going to go, you are going to either hook, or slice.....This is sort of the same but you are hooking your arrows...

I have seen this before and what alot of times happens is the person is inticipating the shot and you are clinching your wrist which is moving your arrows up and to the right......you may not think so because it is such a slight movement on your part, and not as noticable at shorter distances, but like what bone said, the farther your shots are the farther you will realize that you are doing something wrong.....

So recommendation.......

*Make sure you have a wrist strap....

*Shoot with an open v grip on the handle. No fingers just the bow, and the webing of your hand between your pointer and thumb...Nothing else

*And then also try taking your shoots by starting to pull your bow and then when you line up on the target. line up from aiming high to low.....comming down on the target. instead of going up to it.

Alot of people will get in to a repititious movement with there hands by pulling back the bow, starting down low and then pulling(aiming) up to the target they have and Your body gets use to that... and even though you dont notice it(remember these are minute movements), after you shoot your body will get use to naturally pulling upwards after the shot has been released which will make your arrows fly upwards...

But i bet if you take a look at how your holding your bow....you might find out that, fixing your grip might be a problem......But then again it might not be.

I think your group looks fine...it needs to be tuned.....Is this a new bow? or new sites? you said you dont use a release? have you thought of using one ever(just a small way to take some more imperfections out of the loop(a.k.a. human error))? i think the problem is something with after the release is being made, or how the release is being made.....

Theres my .02 cents  hope something helps..............AJ

[Armadillo]

I moved the sight aways and it seems to have helped a lot. Im able to cradle the bow instead of holding it real well. I use a wrist strap also. All my shots are on the paper now but I know there is error on my part. Im sure shooting more often to just build muscle will help but I need to pause and examine how im holding just before I release and at the release point. Its a new bow that I bought all setup to shoot. When you finger the string does it tend to matter where your fingers are in relation to the nock? like if they arent resting against it vs. squeezing it snug.

[Coasthunterjay]

When you finger the string does it tend to matter where your fingers are in relation to the nock? like if they arent resting against it vs. squeezing it snug.

No alot of people have different vies on where to hold your fingers, as long as you do the same thing everytime....EVERY TIME!

[Armadillo]

Thanks for the tips. I adjusted the sight and also found that in thinking about posture, elevation, ect I forgot to regulate my breathing like I should. It shoots great now from both 10 and 20 yards. Ill try 30-40 yards once Im 100% in the comfort zone. Definitely addicted to slinging now 

[bankwalker]

i had that same problem you were having when i first started out. it sure feels good to finaly get everything dialed in

[tlbradford]

Just a couple of basics for a fellow finger shooter, and you may already do this...

1)Your release hand should move backwards when releasing the string, don't just open up your fingers.
2) Do not squeeze the nock of your arrow between your fingers.