What's wrong with my shot?

[reagansquad]

So I started shooting bow again for the first time since Freshman year of HS. here's the results of 2.5 hours of shooting:



My groups got pretty dam tight as I started fixing some of my technique (3" at 20 yards or so...), then loosened back up when my arm got tired again. The thing is, the shots were consistently low and left. Are my sites off or is it more likely that I'm screwing up my technique?

[bobcat]

Looks like your shooting fine, just need to adjust your sight. 

[Hunterman]

Adjust your sights.. Then keep on practicing.. Your shooting is looking good

Hunterman(Tony)

[reagansquad]

You guys know that's one of the BIG circles right, not one of the little ones with 5 on a sheet... 


Thanks for the feedback. I'm finding time to shoot 1x a week, and hike 2x a week. I've got a lot of work to do before I kick of my rookie hunting season this fall. 

[carpsniperg2]

It would be your sights for sure. You are shooting pretty solid. You just need to adjust the sights and you will be good.

[shoot-em-dead]

Definitely sights are off. Also- what kind of bow are you using- Your grouping looks fine for just getting out there. If your using an older bow that is what I'd expect to see the first few go arounds until your muscles become stronger. With new technology in the bows made now- they do shoot faster and smoother giving much tighter groups easier. Not saying the older ones can't be dead on. Either way it boils down to practice,practice practice. Good luck.

[reagansquad]

Definitely sights are off. Also- what kind of bow are you using- Your grouping looks fine for just getting out there. If your using an older bow that is what I'd expect to see the first few go arounds until your muscles become stronger. With new technology in the bows made now- they do shoot faster and smoother giving much tighter groups easier. Not saying the older ones can't be dead on. Either way it boils down to practice,practice practice. Good luck.

It's a 2012 PSE Stinger. Much more fun to shoot than the old bear I had when I was a kid. 

[sirfunkeybut]

not that i dont think its the sight either, but wouldn't there be a possibility that it could be the rest as well? has the bow been paper tuned?

[bloodhound]

its always possible that with the amount of time between when you last shot and now your body changes and so did your anchor point. so if your not looking through your peep sight the same way you did how ever many years ago it was, you wont hit the same. but yes adjusting your sight will fix the issue! and of coarse with string stretch from your bow sitting and  limb fatigue it could come out of tune and not shoot right. if i were you i would take it in to a shop and at least have it inspected, and check to make sure its still tuned right and safe to shoot. then if that checks out move your sight. or just take your chances and shoot it the way it is move your sight and have it in the back of your mind ( could i be shooting better if i had it tuned or checked). your choice  

[reagansquad]

its always possible that with the amount of time between when you last shot and now your body changes and so did your anchor point. so if your not looking through your peep sight the same way you did how ever many years ago it was, you wont hit the same. but yes adjusting your sight will fix the issue! and of coarse with string stretch from your bow sitting and  limb fatigue it could come out of tune and not shoot right. if i were you i would take it in to a shop and at least have it inspected, and check to make sure its still tuned right and safe to shoot. then if that checks out move your sight. or just take your chances and shoot it the way it is move your sight and have it in the back of your mind ( could i be shooting better if i had it tuned or checked). your choice  

This bow is brand new... it's tuned but it wouldn't shock me a bit if the sites were a bit off. Top pin was set to the 15 yard range at the bow shop @ Cabelas.

[bobcat]

This bow is brand new... it's tuned but it wouldn't shock me a bit if the sites were a bit off. Top pin was set to the 15 yard range at the bow shop @ Cabelas. 

OK, so you've never actually sighted it in, it's no wonder your group isn't exactly on the bullseye!

[reagansquad]

This bow is brand new... it's tuned but it wouldn't shock me a bit if the sites were a bit off. Top pin was set to the 15 yard range at the bow shop @ Cabelas. 

OK, so you've never actually sighted it in, it's no wonder your group isn't exactly on the bullseye!

Yeah good point. I was just assuming it was my shot since I haven't done archery in a 15 years or so. I'll bring tools next time and adjust my site.

[bloodhound]

yahh that info would have helped! i think we were all thinking the bow wasnt new, and you had it sighted in at one point. youll notice that the farther out you shoot if its off left to right at all, the more it will be off at farther ranges. set the height on all your pins then sight your left to right at the farthest pin out you have. this should make all your pins dead on left to right!

[CplRaines]

yahh that info would have helped! i think we were all thinking the bow wasnt new, and you had it sighted in at one point. youll notice that the farther out you shoot if its off left to right at all, the more it will be off at farther ranges. set the height on all your pins then sight your left to right at the farthest pin out you have. this should make all your pins dead on left to right!

What he said.
 

[RadSav]

I agree you just need to sight in the bow.  It's not like a rifle - you can not expect to take that much time off and expect 1" groups immediately. 

I hear over and over people suggesting more practice, more practice!  The truth is that only "Perfect" practice results in near perfect shooting.  Repetition of poor practice will only result in consistently poor shooting, target panic and a host of other undesirables.  To avoid many of these bad habits stop shooting after you become fatigued.  Nothing positive will result from it. 

You don't go out and practice for a marathon by running a marathon first day out.  Same is true in shooting a bow.

[bloodhound]

and dont go and shoot 12 arrows as fast as you can down range one after the other. shoot 6 take your time between arrows  so your not wearing yourself out real fast. youll never find yourself in the woods trying to shoot 12 arrows one after the other at a animal so why would you practice that way. take your time, and practice holding your bow back for longer periods of time before you release.

[coachcw]

Now that you have shot a bunch of arrows , I would check the paper tune in case it settled in a bit . close your eyes while you draw to establish a consistant anchor . dont grip the bow , sight it in and your groups should be fine . then a week before the season have it checked again just to be sure everthing is looking good.

[buckfvr]

Make sure you keep your bow arm up ( follow through ) allowing total execution of the shot......low and left can be a sign of doing the peekaboo thing trying to see your shot.  I tell guys to try and see their shot through their peep...not possible, but helps keep the bow up after the shot. 

Was it set up by a pro shop ?  Center shot and nock point can give the same results.

[throttlejocky20]

Its all ready been said before but dont shoot too much too fast. Its hard to stay syeady if your tired. One thing I always do is rip a regular playing card in half and shoot at that. I use this out to 60 yards then switch to a full card. Aim small miss small! 

[Matt]

Well if you are aiming at the X then you aren't doing too bad.  Remember that when you move your sight that you follow the arrow.  So according to your target move it left and down.  Once you get your 20 down then it's time to move back and check out your center shot.

[Matt]

Here is a great guide to tuning and shooting.

[WAcoyotehunter]

2.5 hours is a LONG time to be shooting.  I would not recommend making any sight changes after a dozen or so arrows...as you wear out your form will change and your groups will change. 

Go shoot a few fresh groups with time in between and see how they look.  If they're consistantly patterning one way- make the change. 

Remember- your first shot is always the most important.

[JLS]

Make sure you keep your bow arm up ( follow through ) allowing total execution of the shot......low and left can be a sign of doing the peekaboo thing trying to see your shot.  I tell guys to try and see their shot through their peep...not possible, but helps keep the bow up after the shot. 

Was it set up by a pro shop ?  Center shot and nock point can give the same results.

Your follow through would be the first thing I would check, especially after shooting for that long.  Honestly a 2.5 hour practice period is probably going to do more to develop bad habits than good.  You'd be much better served by shooting 10 arrows a day, focusing on making each individual shot sequence absolutely perfect.  Concentrate on grip, anchor, breathing, surprise release, and follow through.

I don't shoot year round (although I should), and I usually find my first few days my groups may be off slightly.  As my form settles back in the groups will come to zero.  If not, then I move my sights.

If this is a new bow, your string is still settling in (stretching) so don't worry about tuning for about 2-300 shots.

[WSU]

I found that it helped to shoot fewer shots per session when I was just starting.  Your muscles aren't used to shooting a bow.  In my experience, I developed form problems from shooting once I was very tired.  After you get your muscles in shape you can shoot all day, but it might be worth easing into it.

[Matt]

Like some have said if you are tired your form can suffer and develope bad habist.  But continuous shooting is the only way to build stamina.  If you are getting tired and maybe frustrated that you aren't hitting the X then take the target down and keep shooting a blank bale focusing on your form.  By all means if you want to keep shooting then keep shooting.  When I am getting ready for a tournament I will shoot for 4 hours a session if I can.  And like I said if my arrows aren't punding the X like I want then I work on form and stamina.

Remember that in practice quality over quantity is the key.  That means don't get up there and just fling a dozen arrows as fast as you can at the target.  It takes your muscles at least 30 seconds to recover from each shot.  That being said take some time between each shot and analyse it but don't over think it.  Take a breath then shoot the next arrow.  Somewhere between 60-80 arrows an hour is a good pace for quality practice.