help!! with my shooting form

[Swannytheswan]

Well actually I have 2 questions
1st most of my shots are right at point of aim but every so often maybe 1 in every 30-40 shots I have one arrow go wide left like a foot or more just far enough to barely miss my small cabelas target going into the rocky ground and breaking my arrow...so any suggestion what I am doing wrong I am not gripping the handle tight I'm hitting my anchor points on my face I think I am following through with my shot....IDK I can't afford to break any more arrows.
2nd what do ya'll use as a backstop I have my target in front of a dirt banks so its safe but...it breaks arrows like crazy I need something that atleast will slow it down enough so that when it hits the ground it doesn't break...also need to be cheap i will be spending all my money on new arrows.

[mallard79]

Straw bales are cheap. Get 2-4 of them and stack them. Get your target up off the ground in front of the stack. If you do miss the straw probly wont stop your arrows but will slow it down. Or look up any of the home made targets on the web and build one, most are pretty cheap to build. I am getting ready to build a pretty good size carpet target for our long range practice. 

[wormfood]

Hard to say much about form without witnessing it. A cheap easy backstop is 2 chunks of carpet. Set posts in the ground and one running horizontal just about the height you need for a back stop (Kind of look like a section of fencing without the boards). Drape the carpet over the top rail and let the bottom hang loose, do this on both sides. I would not trust standing behind it when someone is shooting but if it is like you say and your back stop is already safe the carpet  will stop the arrow. By not securing the bottom of the carpet it will move when you hit it and it will absorb a lot of the energy from the arrow. I have done this in my backyard and it worked well. At one of the shoots at TSC there is a  target up in the air on a branch and  and carpet is pulled up behind it as a safety backstop and I have helped pull many arrows out of that carpet and have never seen a pass through. Hope it helps.

[Swannytheswan]

I just searched the carpet targets and I might have to make one and have some as a backstop is a great idea all i have right now is a narrow version of this
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-ArrowHawk-XL-Foam-Layered-Target/744808.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Darchery%2Btarget%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=archery+target&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

[RadSav]

Right handed shooter with random wide left arrow usually means punching the trigger while the right hand flies outside the face. Remember the left arm will always do the exact opposite of the right.  On very rare occasions it is caused by a sticky cable guard slide.

Left handed shooter with random wide left arrow usually means collapse of form or "Creep".  Concentrate on back tension against the wall all the way through execution of the shot.

Or if you are like me?  You're just doomed!  Brain Farts happen every once in a while

Good luck

[BOWHUNTER45]

Right handed shooter with random wide left arrow usually means punching the trigger while the right hand flies outside the face. Remember the left arm will always do the exact opposite of the right.  On very rare occasions it is caused by a sticky cable guard slide.

Left handed shooter with random wide left arrow usually means collapse of form or "Creep".  Concentrate on back tension against the wall all the way through execution of the shot.

Or if you are like me?  You're just doomed!  Brain Farts happen every once in a while

Good luck

  Exactly ... as I was reading down I am thinking everyone is talking about targets and backstops .. usually if you are shooting a release and your grouping your shots and all the sudden one flies off high or right or left it is usually puncching the trigger...another thing to try is bending your elbow just alittle at full draw when shooting this will increase accuracy big time ... back in the old day it was keep your elbow straight but that theory is now gone .....

[Swannytheswan]

hmm I knew I came to the right place so I need to focus on trigger control (I am right handed) and I think I do have my elbow bent alittle but I will make sur next time I shoot. I just finished making a wrist strap for it today so I can't wait to see how that works out for me.

[RadSav]

The jury is still out on straight arm vs bent arm shooting.  Most of todays top target shooters are going straight arm.  I still prefer just short of elbow locked. 

The wrist strap should do wonders.  It is far more cosistant to allow the bow to grip you than for you to grip the bow.  Without a sling you will try to catch the bow which you can never do consistantly every time.  Let the sling catch it for you.  Then you are guaranteed the arrow is completely gone before the shape of the muscles in your hand change shape and density.

You'll be winning tournaments in no time!

[Swannytheswan]

You'll be winning tournaments in no time!

lol no tourneys for me just killin stuff!!

[RadSav]

Good to win that game too!

[Swannytheswan]

so I'm definitely jerking the trigger on my release do you ya'll know any good drill to cure me I have been trying to concentrate on a smooth pull and I tightened down the trigger a bit so it is much more crisp and that has helped quite a bit but I'm still not where I want to be.(don't know if I ever will be) normally now I am shooting about a 2-3" group at 30yds with maybe one in 10 or so that flies left about 4-5" from POA. I had my wife video me shooting (she thought I was crazy) and I am following through well I think I am just anticipating the release by a split second that is throwing my shot. I don't know if ya'll had any good answers other than just keep practicing but I'd thought I'd try!

[buckfvr]

Try only taking 3 shots at a time, go pull your arrows and think about it/focus, and shoot three more.  Its easier to focus on 3 good shots rather than a whole quiver full......

[RadSav]

Without going crazy on purchasing equipment like back tension releases there are four good practices that may help.

The first is to make sure the trigger is not too far out on your finger tip.  It should be closer to the middle knuckle than the tip of your finger.  It is less sensitive there which helps and it also isolates muscle movement to the base of the finger which is slower and draws straight into the hand rather than across.

Second is to start shooting at the center of large circles rather than small dots during practice.  When trying to concentrate on an isolated area of mechanics you want your mind relaxed as much as possible.  Covering up a small dot tends to put the conscience into a panic where a large dot allows the subconscious to naturally and calmly center the pin in the circle.

Third thing is to shoot with your eyes closed.  I do this at the beginning of each season as a "Return to the Basics" training.  If you have a large backstop you simply walk up to about 5' of the target.  Draw as usual, aim as usual then close your eyes, concentrate on maintaining back tension, smooth release and follow through.  If the shot startles you your doing it perfect!

Many laugh about this last thing.  But as one who has fought target panic most of my career I assure you it really does work. 

Forth is find a "Mantra" that works for you.  This is a phrase you say out loud or to yourself as you execute each shot.  Most use "Aim, Tension, Release".  Mine is "I Am Randy Ulmer!" (hey it's not nice to laugh) The best shooter I know has the mantra "Jelly Beans".  He says it helps him with cadence/rhythm.  The idea is to relax the mind while encouraging your form.

Good luck.  I hope some of this might be of help to you.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Its all about practice practice 7 more practice ... the more shootin you do the more you become relaxed with your bow .. it should feel like it belongs to your body .. I remember when I was a kid we never had much to do after farm work was done so my dad and I shot for hours every evening and I sure wish I was that excited about it today as I was back then ... but once you have shot for a long time its like shooting a rifle , once you learn how you never forget...I pick up my bow a few times a month and it still hits where I need it .... but I do need to start shooting everyday instead of sitting here on this dang computer 

[Swannytheswan]

yeah I know...I've been shooting most everyday even if its just a couple arrows and about 2-3 times a week shooting for 30min to an hr. I can shoot in my yard so some days if I can't shoot alot I'll just step out and sling a couple arrows and be done. I used to shoot a bunch when I lived in TN but when I moved to OH and didn't have a place to shoot and then I moved out here and I would shoot at the nock point but I couldn't afford to go as much as I should so after about 4 years of not shooting as much I am trying to get my chops back and after a bunch of broke arrows its getting better but slowly I haven't broke an arrow in a couple months now

[Button Nubbs]

When I was at my peak of my shooting skills I would spend about 45 to an hour every day standing 3 yards from the target eyes closed really concentrating on a perfect release. I would do that for about 30 mins, the rest of the time I would open my eyes and look at my pins but not aim at anything and focus on the perfect release. Every few days I would break out a 3 spot target and try to shoot a 300, I would start at 5 yards once I shot a 300 move back to ten, then 15 and so on out to 20. the most important thing is not to cheat your self. If its not a true 300 don't move back period! I didn't shoot longer distances than about 15 yards for close to a month. Boy when I went to the range the difference was unreal!!! Yes it is really boring but it will help your shooting like you would not believe.

P.S. Shooting a 300 is tough even at 5 yards. If you don't believe me give it a try.

[jackmaster]

havent read all the posts but if you see any tree guys, they love to find places to dump there chips, and its free and makes a good soft background and you can put a couple feet on the ground incase you hit low....

[Swannytheswan]

Well I'm done shooting till I get a new string it is looking rough I'll try to get a new one this weekend