Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: NW-GSP on July 09, 2011, 11:08:17 AM

Title: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: NW-GSP on July 09, 2011, 11:08:17 AM: I have been into archery for about two years now and even got a 3x3 white tail my first season ( 25 yards)
anyone have tips for better accuracy
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: D-Rock425 on July 09, 2011, 02:24:55 PM: Buy a hoyt and keep shooting as much as you can.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2011, 02:29:33 PM: Hmmm. You could upgrade your grip to one like a Torqueless. Make sure your bow is tuned perfectly. Shoot a helical fletch with broadheads.

Practice perfect shot sequences. Find a good coach if you are struggling with your shot sequence.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: Kain on July 09, 2011, 02:55:34 PM: I recently got a new bow and decided it was time to fix some bad habits I had developed over 20 years of shooting. Cranked the bow down to 60lbs so I could shoot more and watched a couple of Youtube videos I thought were good. There are links to vids in this post.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77665.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77665.0.html)

I shoot about 60 arrows every night and pick one thing to concentrate on. I now have the bow back up to 70 and the groups are looking good at 20 yards. (that all the range I have at the house.)
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: wayner on July 09, 2011, 03:09:19 PM: get to know your local archery dealer. I've been shooting for about 20 yrs and I still learn something new every time I go in. :tup: practice practice practice. :)
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: RadSav on July 09, 2011, 03:12:06 PM: Impossible to give advise with the information listed. What problems are you having with your accuracy. Is it with both field points and broadheads. If there is one thing you find consistantly off what is it? Are you shooting traditional or compound? Once you post those I will evaluate what I feel I can do for you. I'll then PM you with a phone number and we can try to work it out.

Beware of just practicing for practice sake. Only perfect practice produces perfect results. Practicing bad habits just makes your bad habits perfectly developed.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: NW-GSP on July 09, 2011, 03:51:37 PM: I am shooting a bowtech sniper, I am going to take it into vanwinkles archery in everett this week and make sure its tuned. I am shooting like a five inch group at 20
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: blackhorn on July 09, 2011, 04:05:11 PM: I think a good standard for groups is 2in at 20yds, 3@30, 4@40 and so on and so forth. Don't know if you are familiar but there is a ton of info over on the Archery Talk forums ( http://www.archerytalk.com/ (http://www.archerytalk.com/) ). Try the "nuts and bolts" section, you can even download it for free.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: Kain on July 09, 2011, 04:43:00 PM: Yep at 20 yards you should be worried about breaking nocks and cutting vanes even with target tips. If everything is tight on your bow and arrows are straight you should be getting smaller groups at 20 yards even if it is not tuned properly. You are most likely not consistent due to improper form or release issues. Make sure you work on those before changing out equipment. I have seen a lot of guys upgrade everything and still not be happy because the problem was not the equipment. Having a coach watch you shoot is a HUGE help.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2011, 05:14:51 PM: The first thing I would do is work with someone (pro shop, coach, etc.) on your form. My guess is you have not developed proper form and shot sequence. Is your draw length correct? It may be too long and is causing you form issues. Are you punching the trigger, or do you get a surprise release? Are you maintaining proper follow through?

A five inch group at 20 yards screams form issues.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: RadSav on July 09, 2011, 07:06:47 PM: Quote from: JLS on July 09, 2011, 05:14:51 PM
The first thing I would do is work with someone (pro shop, coach, etc.) on your form. My guess is you have not developed proper form and shot sequence. Is your draw length correct? It may be too long and is causing you form issues. Are you punching the trigger, or do you get a surprise release? Are you maintaining proper follow through?

A five inch group at 20 yards screams form issues.

I would have to agree with that. Even with poor arrow flight you should be seeing more consistancy than that at 20 yards. Form, release or improper aiming would be my guess. Sending a PM now with phone number in case you need to talk it over.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on July 09, 2011, 07:30:31 PM: Make sure the bow is tuned right... and your DL is correct. Then work with an archery coach. Seen way to many bows setup by "proshops" that are just thrown together for the customer, and DL being set way too long (most of the time) or too short... easier on the bow shop than actually taking the time with their customer and getting everything setup right. Even if you have to take it to a reputable pro shop and pay to get it set right it is worth it. Of course it is something you need to learn how to do yourself... not that tough, just need the right equipment. Not sure about the Sniper but on my 09 Captain I used to have, you could pretty much do anything without a bow press... check your manual before trying anything, and if you are not familiar with doing a tune up, cam timing etc... go to a Bowtech dealer and get it done right....
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: MIKEXRAY on July 09, 2011, 08:41:43 PM: After you get your bow tuned it is time to work on your arrows. Spin test them with broadheads, move the broadheads from arrow to arrow till you have six perfect spinners. Then number them and shoot each one to look for a bad flier, if you have one hitting different from the rest then make it a practice arrow and upgrade one of your others to hunting. Pick the one out that hits the most consistant to bull and make that your number one arrow in your quiver. Re sharpen before hunting. Working on my arrows definitely helped my accuracy. Mike
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2011, 09:04:03 PM: Mike,

I think he is talking groups with field points? I agree with arrows though. A Montec ASD (arrow sqaring device) is worth its weight in gold. I build my own arrows, and square off both ends, and then square the insert. Usually, if I have a wobbler with a broadhead I can resquare it and it'll spin true.

With field points, even crappy arrows should group pretty well. I've had problems with Gold Tip Hunters, only being able to get about half of a dozen to spin a broadhead true. I've had much better luck with Carbon Tech Whitetails. That may be due to the fact that the Gold Tips came with the inserts installed and I didn't have a chance to square them before glueing in the insert.

Even if you're shooting Blazers, you'll still want a helical fletch. I just built some arrows with 3" Fusion vanes. They are really stiff, should fly well. I've read really good stuff about them.

NW-GSP, once your bow is in time (cams), download Easton's Tuning Guide and it will tell you how to bare shaft tune and broadhead tune. I don't even mess with paper tuning. If my bow is tuned with broadheads that's all I need.

How long have you been shooting?
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: MIKEXRAY on July 09, 2011, 09:38:47 PM: Sorry. I didn't read the whole topic , I was just throwing my 2 cents in on how to improve accuracy. 5 inch groups at 20 yards does sound like a form issue or something lose on the bow. Maybe punching the trigger instead of having it surprise you ? Let us know what you do find NW-GSP. Hope everyone has a great season. Mike
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2011, 09:50:37 PM: You're dead right on the choosing arrows. I always have my #1, 2, 3, and 4 and keep them in that order. I've found with the Carbon Techs that the difference between the four is almost negligible.
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: Button Nubbs on July 09, 2011, 10:45:49 PM: It has probably been mentioned but a PROPERLY tuned bow will give you better accuracy provided you do everything right. Properly tuned is not shoot through paper and call it good. :twocents:
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: NW-GSP on July 10, 2011, 09:48:26 AM: thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate the help, I will take my bow in this week and get it tuned and get some new arrows, then I will see how its doing and update you guys.

I also have a buddy that is newer to archery then I am so if someone would want to meet at a archery range sometime that would be awesome!
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: Recurve-Elk on July 10, 2011, 11:09:45 AM: Well after you get your bow all tuned up, have the proper arrow spine, and you know shes shooting strait. If you still are having issues, focus on some of these tips:

Relax your bow hand. You want the bow to hold itself in the meaty portion between your thumb and pointer finger. You want the tension of the bow to keep it in your hand, not the grip of your fingers.

Shoot on the exhale.

No punching of the trigger, you want to slowly squeeze. Maybe look up the back tension release technique. (ill be honest I still have problems with my release. It's my biggest flaw right now.)

Don't rush. (my other issue.)

Stop shooting if you get frustrated, come back to it when you have had time to cool off.

I have found that I shoot my best when I am happy and relaxed. Keep in mind nobody is perfect, so there is no such thing as a perfect group. There will always be an arrow that doesn't go exactly where you plan. It took me awhile to realize this.

Shoot less arrows, but focus more on each one. Quality over quantity is actually pretty darn important.

For hunting, practice shooting in awkward positions, sitting, kneeling, squatting, uphill, downhill.

After you release, hold your bow up and your release arm up until the arrow has hit the target.

Shoot several days a week, to instill proper habits and muscle memory.

Most importantly enjoy shooting. Like I was saying, the moment it goes from enjoyable to frustrating its time to take a break.

Do all of these and you should see improvements in accuracy. I would say these are the most important basics to a good shot. There is plenty more on form, but if you can master all of these you will have absolutely no issues being deadly accurate to 40 yards. ( no guarantees though ;))
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: blackhorn on July 10, 2011, 02:49:51 PM: Here is the link I mentioned before. http://archeryhistory.com/archerytalk/The_Nuts&Bolts_of_Archery.pdf (http://archeryhistory.com/archerytalk/The_Nuts&Bolts_of_Archery.pdf)
Title: Re: tips for better accuracy with compound bow?
Post by: NW-GSP on July 11, 2011, 05:43:15 PM: Quote from: blackhorn on July 10, 2011, 02:49:51 PM
Here is the link I mentioned before. http://archeryhistory.com/archerytalk/The_Nuts&Bolts_of_Archery.pdf (http://archeryhistory.com/archerytalk/The_Nuts&Bolts_of_Archery.pdf)

wow that is a really good write up, thanks man, allot of it is way over my head but really good info in there