Arrow Watching

[300rum]

When I shoot I rarely can tell you where my arrow went.  I can tell if the shot was good or not by how it felt but I have a hard time picking up the arrow flight as I concentrate more on the site picture/release.  When I shoot with other folks they watch their arrow.  The only thing negative that I can tell is that I have a hard time knowing if I sent one through the boiler room or am a little far back, etc.  I guess that I am willing more to concentrate on the shot?  Any thoughts, can you shoot consistently and still pick up the arrow?   

[Timberstalker]

I have the same issue.   I think it is good, dont start looking.  if it is good you will know it. 

[300rum]

That is what I am thinking too.  It is tempting to cheat and watch the impact though.

[demontang]

A good archer shouldnt see the arrow at least thats what I have heard.

[Ray]

I focus on the target until my arrow impacts or misses.

[bow4elk]

In short, BAD HABIT - don't do it.  You should be focusing on follow through not trying to see your arrow.  You will develop very a bad and hard to break habit if you aren't careful.  Shoot bright fletching and dip/crest your arrows for better visibility.  PM me if you need help with a good shooting routine to develop good form and habits.  The last thing you shoud be focusing your attention on is trying to see your arrow.  If you have good follow through, your arrow will drop right into your sight window, and if you're shooting a pin sight - and the pin is on target - you will see the point of impact.  Like I said, PM me if you need/want some help.

[1bowhunter1]

I never try to watch my arrow....like they say its a bad habit!!  I got into doing that and I focused more on watching arrow and not my sights.....I was all off!!   I had to start all over from begining like I was new 2 it.

[tlbradford]

I have a question for you guys shooting with a sight.  Do you have your sight pin in focus and the target is a little blurry, like when you shoot handguns?  Or do you have your target in focus with the sight pin slightly blurry at the moment of release?

[MIKEXRAY]

I was watching a hunting show three months ago and the hunter said he went to the " two eyes open" style of shooting and it made him more accurate. This sparked my curiocity & I tried it. It actually improved my accuracy alot and with my left eye open I can watch my arrow flight. I close my left eye & aim with my right, then open my left eye while maintaining my right eye on target. I'm focused on the target with both eyes and my pin is kind of out of focus but still bright on target. With both eyes open I can see the target better, maintain better balance, watch the arrow, check bubble level ETC. I've been shooting like this 3 months and now it is natural. It definitely improved my whole shot process. I see the arrow all the way to the target, and if any problems with arrow flight I correct my form to improve the shot. Give it a try, you will be amazed. My    Mike

As far as follow through, I don't move until I hear the impact.

[300rum]

I would like to try that but I am left eye dominant and am right handed.  I will give it a go though, with a good backstop.   

[WDFW-SUX]

I shoot with both eyes open Always have really helps me

[NoBark]

Interesting.   I think I need some definition here. When you say you don't see your arrow, does that mean in flight? I assume if you hit were you are looking, you would see your arrow at least at the impact point.  But you said you can't tell weather you hit the animal or not. So, it sounds like maybe you don't even see it hit or miss?

I don't use sights so I'm odd, but I focus on a spot and release but I do see my arrow as it comes into the spot I have picked (most of the time. haha) and can tell where I have hit the animal.

When trying to determine arrow flight I always need someone else to 'watch the arrow' to see how it flies because I miss most of the flight.  It's the last half of the shot where I can see the arrow in my peripheral vision

[tlbradford]

Interesting.   I think I need some definition here. When you say you don't see your arrow, does that mean in flight? I assume if you hit were you are looking, you would see your arrow at least at the impact point.  But you said you can't tell weather you hit the animal or not. So, it sounds like maybe you don't even see it hit or miss?

I don't use sights so I'm odd, but I focus on a spot and release but I do see my arrow as it comes into the spot I have picked (most of the time. haha) and can tell where I have hit the animal.

When trying to determine arrow flight I always need someone else to 'watch the arrow' to see how it flies because I miss most of the flight.  It's the last half of the shot where I can see the arrow in my peripheral vision

That is why I thought this was interesting as well and it didn't make sense to me because I was initially thinking about target shooting. But on pass thru shots on an animal, it is tough to tell where you hit, especially at compound speeds, even if you are concentrating on a particular spot. 

[300rum]

I wasn't trying to get too technical with the question.  You did bring something up though, I shoot a trophy ridge site, with the vertical pins it probably does hide some of the arrow in flight.  I shoot black arrows on a black target background.  On shots 40+ yards (practice) is where I have a hard time picking the arrow up.  I would probably switch to something like white fletching if it wasn't for the snow.

The reason for the question in the first place is that for that last 3 years I have passed up numerous bucks but this year I am feeling the itch to fling an arrow.  This is the longest streak in 20 years!     A guy can only go so long!  I am going to shoot and not even be sure where I hit him!  Too many years of shooting pistols and concentrating on the front sight, I guess. 

[PA BEN]

From day one I have had no problem seeing my arrow in flight, or on impact. Never thought about it before. I don't have a bad habit, I hit what I shoot at, and I see my arrow Shoot bright colored fletching.