I have been following the Tradgang posts for a while and am amazed at the quality of feedback on shooting form video postings – I have personally learned a lot from them. So, I decided to record my own form video in the hope that I can get some good tips on improving my technique - seems folks are generous with their advice on TradGang.com
I have put together a clip with me shooting on 2 separate days from different angles and have edited out all the filler stuff (nocking etc.) in order to keep it under 2 minutes.
Day 1 - 6 arrows at 18 yards (3 side view and 3 back view) with a focus on drawing with correct back tension, anchoring then releasing. Target is a printout of NFAA target on A4 paper.
Day 2 – same as day 1 but with more focus back tension even after I reach my anchor - pulling my elbow back behind my head at anchor. I am curious to know which is better.
(http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/tradorattle/th_Tradformv2.jpg) (http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/tradorattle/?action=view¤t=Tradformv2.mp4)
Look forward to comments/feedback/advice :)
Thanks
T
Tradorattle, Overall, pretty good. Especially the back tension on day two.
1. I'd like to see you unlock your bow arm elbow and get it turned out or said another way, get the "pit" of your elbow vertical.
2. You are physically opening your string hand for the release as can be seen by your ridged and straight fingers. You cannot open your hand fast enough to clear the string and consequently loose power that should be going into the arrow. Try to relax your hand upon drawing and then when ready to release, just relax your string fingers. Let the string slip away on its own. Your fingers on follow through should still be curled a little and relaxed, not stiff and straight.
QuoteOriginally posted by moebow:
Tradorattle, Overall, pretty good. Especially the back tension on day two.
1. I'd like to see you unlock your bow arm elbow and get it turned out or said another way, get the "pit" of your elbow vertical.
Thanks for the feedback moebow. Can you clarify point 1 a little. I notice that if I do not keep stiff and lock bow arm, my form collapse completely. Anyway to keep that stiff bow are while unlocking the elbow?
I can try. Keep your bow arm straight, just not locked. You have the type of elbow that over-extends when locked, try to keep it straight and don't let it go over center. Also, I'd recommend that you turn the bow elbow so that the boney point of your elbow points to the left, not down. Another way to check this is to hold your bow arm out as though shooting the bow. Now if you bend your elbow, your bow hand will come in front of your chest, not go over your head.
Everyone's body is a little different and if "locked" works for you then so be it. I'd just say that that fully locked position MAY lead to some cartilage problems in the future from the jarring of the joint. Unlocked will help to cushion the joint better.
Your last sentence is a little unclear, hope I answered what you asked.
It looks like you are dropping your bow arm. Keep your bow arm and bow on the target till the arrow gets there.
You have a lot of skills developed. Congratulations!
I don't want to get into a long post but will list just a few things that you'll need to work on a bit.
1. Tension in your bow hand. You need to transfer the tension from your bow arm to your back. This is both a physical and mental aspect. When you do this correctly it is called "stepping onto the chair". Why? Because it takes both mental thought and physical movement to do so. When you get this done, it will look like the string just passes right through your fingers on video.
2. Arched back. In your second round of videos, I can see a large arch in your back. You want to keep your back straighter. How – think constipation. Tighten up the butt muscles a little and pull in the stomach just a touch.
3. Rotate your bow arm elbow just a touch. To me, you're bow arm looks pretty good except for this little aspect. Usually this is done before raising the bow or while raising the bow, not while you're at full draw. Your bow side scapula is forward and I can see the bow jump forward. Can you feel a slight stretch under your bow arm when it is in position? If you can, it's a good thing. :)
Keep up the good work!
I agree with 4point, looks like your occasionally dropping your bow arm. Otherwise looks great to me.
Alignment looks pretty good....only going to ask one thing for now....
Are you 'snugging up' your anchor on your face?
It looks to me like you are not, and your draw hand is floating away from your face.
4point/joshua - I looked at the video again and noticed the bow arm drop. Funny thing is that all my stray arrows tend to go ABOVE the group and not below - go figure
QuoteOriginally posted by BobCo 1965:
1. Tension in your bow hand. You need to transfer the tension from your bow arm to your back. This is both a physical and mental aspect. When you do this correctly it is called "stepping onto the chair". Why? Because it takes both mental thought and physical movement to do so. When you get this done, it will look like the string just passes right through your fingers on video.
Thanks for feedback BobCo. I did not quite understand your first comment on the bow arm tension. When you say transfer to the back are you referring to the bow arm side or the draw arm side. Thanks
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Alignment looks pretty good....only going to ask one thing for now....
Are you 'snugging up' your anchor on your face?
It looks to me like you are not, and your draw hand is floating away from your face.
Thanks Terry. To answer your question, I am neither snugging up nor floating away (I think) BUT.... in an attempt to use my back muscles to draw, I am pulling the string initially at 45 degree angle away from my bow arm then bringing it back to the alignment once I am close to anchor. Otherwise I end up using my shoulder muscles to pull which is causing my some rotator cuff pain. Is there a better way to do this?
Thanks
QuoteOriginally posted by Tradorattle:
QuoteOriginally posted by BobCo 1965:
1. Tension in your bow hand. You need to transfer the tension from your bow arm to your back. This is both a physical and mental aspect. When you do this correctly it is called "stepping onto the chair". Why? Because it takes both mental thought and physical movement to do so. When you get this done, it will look like the string just passes right through your fingers on video.
Thanks for feedback BobCo. I did not quite understand your first comment on the bow arm tension. When you say transfer to the back are you referring to the bow arm side or the draw arm side. Thanks [/b]
You're right! I must have been typing faster then I was thinking or vice versa. :knothead:
Should be:
1. Tension in your draw hand. You need to transfer the tension from your draw arm to your back. This is both a physical and mental aspect. When you do this correctly it is called "stepping onto the chair". Why? Because it takes both mental thought and physical movement to do so. When you get this done, it will look like the string just passes right through your fingers on video.
There is alway some tension created in the forearm, shoulder, upper arm, and hand when drawing. Some people say that they draw 100% with their back, but that is pretty much impossible. When you get close to full draw however, this tension is no longer needed in the areas mentioned (except a slight amount to keep the string in the hook)and should be transfered as much as posible to the back.