What works for you? Im shopping for something a bit more consistent than my thumb knuckle on the corner of my mouth. I shoot a glove. Thanks!
Howard Hill taught middle finger in a comfortable spot near the corner of the mouth with the thumb knuckle coming behind the jaw. One thing to avoid with double anchor points in my experience is to get the feel like you are holding the bow back with thumb knuckle pressure behind the jaw bone. Keep it dynamic and pulling as you release and you should get the best possible arrow flight.
For me I feel comfortable with my middle finger in the corner of my mouth.
I shoot Index finger corner of mouth. I've been doing it this way for 37 years, and it works for me.
Mike
laddy is true, keep it dynamic, keep it moving through.
BD
If you put your thumb knuckle in the corner of your mouth, you aren't getting enough back tension cause your not properly aligned probably, as your elbow will not be pointing back enough to get your energy going directly away from the target....
AND, you are loosing power by having a shorter draw length.
I use a double anchor and slide that thumb knucke base into the corner of my mouth and keep sliding it...my middle finger will reach the corner of my mouth, and I keep sliding my thumb base till it slides in behind my jaw under my ear...and the corner of my mouth, with middle finger still in the corner, it pulled back from it original position.
howdy IW,
I have been dealing with the same thing here lately and finally found what works for me pretty well.
I shoot 3 under and anchor with my index finger tucked into the little pocket above the corner of my mouth kinda under and in front of the cheek bone. Kinda hard to explain but feel around and see how it works. For me it's like 3/4" above lip corner and 1" back towards ear.
It's been working for me pretty consistently. I would think a double anchor would prolly be better but, I just can't find a good one for me. JUST thoughts. Have a great one! HH
Thanks everyone. Im trying different things to see whats comfortable. I would also like to keep my nose attached. It seems when I find a comfortable anchor point, my nose is somehow in the way...
I have been fighting that back tension thing as it is. I will see how it goes with different anchor points.
Again thanks everyone.
If you 'draw the bow to anchor' and don't hit your nose, the string shouldn't hit your nose on the release.
If you draw and 'go to anchor', you may be sticking your nose in the path of the string.
I got the opportunity to see Terry's anchor in action on the Solana Ranch hunt. Made a difference "seeing" how he does it. It has made a huge improvement in my accuracy and consistancy using that double anchor.
I think Mr. Green just nailed it on the head. I think I know what I need to concetrate on now. I shot a bit yesterday with all of this in mind and hit a lot better than normal...I will keep working on it. Again, thanks to all.
I have used my fletching in the corner of my mouth as an anchor. Not saying it is right but that is what i have done.
Terry
I remember seeing a few of your shooting videos before, but I don't remember being able to see your anchor in them.
BTH said that your anchor point in action made a difference.
Is there any chance that you could post a video that would illistrate your anchor?
I have been fighting a floating anchor for years and I know that I am going to have to develop a more consistant anchor before I can go to the next step.
Everything in my sight picture is fine until the base of my thumb has to travel around my face to get to the back of my jaw. At that time the arrow moves to the right. Seeing it happen out of my peripheral vision distracts me and my concentration is lost. As a result I have a tendency to short draw and release as my thumb hits my mouth.
Brad
I think it is best to seek your anchor not on your face, but in your string arm and shoulder. Hold your head and face out of the way and draw to where your arm and shoulder feel best aligned and stable. That is your proper anchor.
Once you have found it you can move your head and face over and lay it against your hand as you would lay it on the stock of your favorite shotgun or rifle. Then you can think about some reference points like maybe a finger in your mouth or a knuckle on your jaw. Such references are important, but they are not your anchor, just reference points. The anchor is in your arm and shoulder. - lbg
Brad....when you say 'travel around' your face, are you saying that you don't drag your thumb base knuckle down the side of your face but are arching out away from it?
Terry
I don't consiously gun barrel the arrow but it seems that I naturaly draw the bow in a way the places the arrow directly under my eye, but when my right hand gets back to my face it must move a bit to the left to allow my thumb to past. When this happens the back of the arrow moves to the right and slightly out of line with the target. At that time my sight picture changes. My thumb is dragging across my face but it is forced to the right a bit in order to draw the arrow far enough to get my midle finger to my mouth or under my eye.
I think what Brad is saying is that when the base (fleshy part) of his thumb hit his mouth he is locking up and not able to get the fleshy part of his thumb back any further to reach his anchor with his finger.
I think that is what he is saying because that is exactly what is happening to me right now. Ironically, I've somehow acquired this problem by working on gaining more "control" at anchor on targets.
I've always been a pull through guy. Hit anchor and away the arrow goes. My hand would move straight back an inch or two. That along with my instinctive shooting style has been great for hunting and stumping, but I was looking to improve on targets so I started holding at anchor.
Now for the cure... I don't have one! I'm still fine hunting and stumping, but it's a most difficult chore to get that last inch back on a target. I can do Jay Kidwell's drills all day long without a problem. I can draw and anchor perfectly if I know I'm not going to release. I can even trick myself by telling myself I'm not going to release, anchor perfectly, and then release, but there is no flow to that and the concentration is not on the target. Bow weight is not an issue. Same thing regardless of a 36# or 66# bow. Yeah, I know....Mental!
Don't mean to hijack the thread but if you guys have anything to add, I'm listening.
Terry, I am a fair shot and work on it year round because I just like to shoot. I have read many books, articles and even a few DVD's and have NEVER heard or read "drawing TO anchor vs. drawing THEN anchoring". That is a key I have been missing. I can visualize perfectly how that is the way to do it. I discovered a while back how key back tension is and how when used properly a nice inline release is the result. My hand just naturally comes straight back when I use back tension. This is another "revelation" in my shooting style. Dragging the thumb nuckle across the face as you come to anchor makes for good alignment and a nice inline draw.I have never been able to understand a "non-static" double anchor but I do now. I can see how this will work. Thanks for the tip !!! I will try it tonight. I have spot lights on the targets in the yard and shoot alot a night after work.
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowguy:
I think it is best to seek your anchor not on your face, but in your string arm and shoulder. Hold your head and face out of the way and draw to where your arm and shoulder feel best aligned and stable. That is your proper anchor.
Once you have found it you can move your head and face over and lay it against your hand as you would lay it on the stock of your favorite shotgun or rifle. Then you can think about some reference points like maybe a finger in your mouth or a knuckle on your jaw. Such references are important, but they are not your anchor, just reference points. The anchor is in your arm and shoulder. - lbg
Interesting thought...I had stumbled across this very thing recently and I tend to agree to an extent. :thumbsup:
What say you, Mr. Green??
I too, did not intend to hijack the thread.
In my mind it has to be a dynamic process. Was it HH that said that drawing the bow was part of the aiming process and that there shouldn't be anything static about it. I'd like to think that I could draw the bow smoothly to anchor while concentrating on the spot I want to hit and release. It seems to me that the draw should slow as the shooter nears the anchor point to all him to maintain control, but should never stop.
Haldir,
There's no 'Mr. Green' here....there is a Terry though. ;)
I say it works best for him, but not everybody...and it aint best for me.
Some folks draw - anchor - aim -release.
Some folks aim - draw - anchor - release. Like me.
WestTnMan,
Keep us posted!
Guys, dont worry about hijacking the thread at all. I have already counted three light bulbs just reading along!
I cant really shoot much now(pinched nerves, compressed dics), but I have taken to looking at others at full draw, and it all kinda makes sense now. I was drawing, adjusting, anchoring and then shooting...thats how the nose took a beating. I know what I need to work on...a few different things actually.
Its funny, but when Im shooting or stumping, and I burn a hole into the spot my arrow is supposed to go, I dont even think about anchoring-drawing...any of it. Next thing I know, my arrow is there. Only thing is that doesnt happen with EVERY shot...and I want it to.
Thanks to ALL who posted. Feel free to add more questions or comments...Im here to learn, and like I said a few comments already got me saying" I do that!".
Ishi, after reading your post, I went through my Hill and Schulz dvds.If you look close and in slow motion, watch how Hill's thumb sometimes has a bit of give in it as it goes around his jaw, and then on other shots his head seems to fall in line just at the right instant. I would also like to point out that his bow on still targets starts out up and left, looking to me like it would almost block out the view of the target, before dropping down and right at the instant his drawing hand is making his anchor point. I used to have a similar problem as you. I would wear out the skin on my thumb knuckle on my beard stubble. I stopped gripping my pinky with my thumb that allowed my thumb to not have so much energy in it. It also helps me to acknowledge my arrow position in my vision. With some of my bows with the bow canted severely it puts the point to the left, with bows that are not so center shot it keeps the arrow less to the right on the canted shots. Right or wrong that gives me a home base for consistency that helps my confidence.
I did get to try it out some last night but it was late. I only shot at about 10' so I could concentrate on dragging the nuckle. It is a definate improvement for me. I noticed that as I approached the time to release,those last 5 or 6 inches, the arrow was being pulled to full draw directly under my eye the entire time. The thumb nuckle was a reference to help keep things inline. I noticed that my release was improved, not that it was all that bad before, because the draw was straight inline and the only way to go was straight back. I'm going to screw on some judo's and go stumpin' Saturday so I can really try it out. There is definately something to it and, for me, this is another small tweek that will make a big difference. This is definately something I will be using. Thanks Terry. Has anybody else had a chance to try it?
Index finger in the corner of my mouth, thumb knuckle under the jaw bone.
This is a great thread. I'm not a great shooter but competent when I practice and for the last 43 years
(since I was 9 years old and someone showed me)
my anchor point is the one thing that's never changed. The base joint of the thumb against the corner of the jaw gives consistent bone on bone contact and your natural draw length. The three main things I need to remember to shoot well are keeping bowarm shoulder down and locked with elbow a little loose, drawarm elbow straight and finishing the pull by drawing my shoulderblades together.
Errr... please ignore all my last post except base of thumb against corner of jaw.
Thats a good idea longbowguy it makes since
ishiwannabe,
Glad its working out for ya.
I was taught to shoot a gun much like you also find an animal in your binos. You bring the equipment to your line of sight, and you don't go to where ever the equipment is pointing. You become familiar with your gun by bringing it to shooting alignment over and over so that you can bring it close in line with the target in one smooth motion. I was never taught to bring the gun to shoulder with head held 'out of the way' as I pointed in the vicinity and then lay my head over and find out where the gun is pointing.
When you bring the gun up, its one motion and you are in position for final calibration. You don't raise the gun an point it in the vicinity and then try and find the animal in the sights. Same with binos, you look straight at the animal, and bring the binos into your line of sight, and the animal will be in the field of vision.
The definition of anchor in archery is a reference point that is used to be consistent....and you also need proper alignment with your arms and shoulders, and that's how I shoot by bringing it all to my line of sight in one step. I feel that's best suited for the bowhunter that has a very narrow window of opportunity as it saves time and it creates less movement.
Not sure if the video will show my anchor very well, but it will show my shot all in one step with proper alignment reached and a double anchor....
Shooting Clip (http://tradgang.com/videos/tg/m27.wmv)
Terry, that video brings a lot of things to light for me. Thanks for taking the time to do that(and thank your wife too!). One heck of a group too.
I experimented a little bit with my draw and anchor today....I have been drawing in front of a mirror-dont know if thats good or bad. I draw, slide my head over to anchor, and then aim...just like you thought I might. Time to get close oand work on form AND anchor. Thanks again.
Keep us posted.
Here's one of the greats that brought the equipment to him....
Howard Hill Isolation shot (http://www.tradgang.com/videos/hill/hillshoot2.wmv)
Compared to either video, Im floppin around like a tuna on charter! Its nice to strive for something though. I will keep everyone posted....as soon as I can shoot. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Some folks draw - anchor - aim -release.
Some folks aim - draw - anchor - release. Like me.
Well how about a bingo! Funny how the simplest solutions elude you. Terry you inadvertantly solved my problem!
I am an aim - draw - anchor - release guy too. After reading this, reviewing the videos posted, and going out and paying attention to what I was doing, I discovered I was creating this anchor problem by changing my focus back and forth between aiming, drawing, aiming, anchoring. Nothing fluid about that at all! Worrying about what I was doing to myself just made it worse.
Makes sense now because on game or stumping, I never think about any mechanics of the shot, it justs happens, and I wasn't having an issue under those circumstances. Under the static environment of the target, I've been trying to focus on too many things at once. Should've known better! Now I can fix it.
Thanks Terry.
:thumbsup:
Terry
Thanks for posting the videos. They have helped a lot.
I will be shooting a little tomorrow with some of the best. I hope they can help me out a bit with my anchor.....I will report back in.
No worries guys.....I like to see folks improve, and if I can help, then I'm glad to.
Well I managed to shoot a bit today, pinched nerves and all. Took a few tagets to get back to feeling comfortable after a few months with 0 shots.
I was a mess at first, dropping my bow arm, not anchoring, not picking a spot...
Then I calmed down, stopped thinking so much, and focused on the target and feeling that anchor...I started hitting pretty good(for me) in a Muzzy type enviroment. Didnt hit my nose once.
I think if I learn to focus a bit more, and think less, I will be well on my way to shooting better. Waiting for that middle finger to hit the corner of my mouth took forever, but after a few shots, felt pretty good.
Now that I know I can survive shooting without curling up on the couch and whining to my heating pad, I will be working on it.
Oh yeah...I shot a Shrew.....and yes, Im twitterpated.
I guess that I have been using the double anchor technique all along but not consciously feeling my thumb nuckle on my jaw. Interesting
In baseball I was taught to run through the bag. I apply the same principle to my anchor points( I call them my release points).
I have to post an addendum to previous post I made. I went back to anchoring the middle finger in the corner of my mouth and my release/shooting has improved greatly.