What are some wyas you know you have it and are keeping it? Thanks. BILL
The way I found out I was inproving my back tension after working on it was the increase in my draw lenght. I went from 28 to 29 1/2.
No real secret -- I'd suggest that the use of a form -master or homemade version thereof will:
1. teach you the proper draw and release techniques using back tension.
2. return to the form master frequently to reinforce your muscle memory.
For many, once they have found the "feeling" of drawing with their back and maintaining that back tension all the way through follow through (conclusion) it will stay with you.
I also found that increasing my draw (moving anchor back) just a bit allows me much better alignment and back tension. I believe that proper alignment is the key to good back tension.
Same anchor point doesn't work for all of us I guess. Different physiology; arm length, neck lengths, head size and all that.
This may not be traditional in nature, but I was tutored on back tension by a fellow who had one of those fancy tension releases. It really worked and is a real eye opener as to how it should feel.
As far as keeping it ? ..... I dunno, I'm certainly far from expert, and my shooting form ebbs and flows through the years, but I think if you study Terry's alignment clock, and watch some of the form critique videos you'll be well on your way.
Good luck !
I find that when I apply proper back tension my thumb and pointing finger end up resting on my shoulder at the conclusion of the shot.
Absolutely true Ragnarok. If you end up in the right position, you likely started in the right position and used the correct muscles to get from the start to the conclusion.
I agree with ragnarok :thumbsup:
I read here sometime back that a person should imagine he is trying to hold an egg inbetween his shoulder blades. I tried this and it seems to help me keep the tension in my back through the shot... Nodak
Spend a weekend with my mother-in-law, you'll learn what back tension really feels like oh yes.
Old York, that's very funny. :bigsmyl:
I pull to full draw and when I feel I am there I squeeze my scapula together. This is the way I release also that extra little stretch gives me a cleaner release. In just a few months I increased my draw almost 3/4". I think it was there all along I just found it by focusing on my back tension. My arrows at 29.5" back of point are now no longer safe with broadheads. Just to close for comfort.
Clay nailed it, I am not at the point that it happens with all my shots but when it does it's like "WOW" and I want to do it again.
Old York, I had one of those but traded her in on a much nicer one.
See if this helps (Right Handed Archer):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/BobCo/image204.gif)
Shoulders should be down comfortably from the beginning of the shot.
I use a double anchor to make sure I achieve it. I 'burnt it in' on the bale....so I don't have to think about it anymore.
I feel the same as old york!!! LOL
I have found that when I cant feel it if I open my stance a bit it comes right back.
If I think I'm loosing it I go back to the blank bale and shoot a few with my eyes closed. Still working on it and can't claim to have it down yet.
What are some good videos that show proper technique that you all recommend on this topic?
Masters of the barebow vol.III is a good dvd for this topic.
I have found that if I make sure that my drawing shoulder is down and back when I have about six inches of straight back draw left, it will keep the tension in place without thinking about it. If my shoulder is forward at six inches of draw to go, it stays there, I lock up with a short draw, and get less than ideal arrow flight.
It appears that all the pertinent points of attaining, and using proper back tension have been well covered; but I'd like to add two items that I haven't seen mentioned:
1) There should only be two areas of muscular tension in your drawing arm when at full draw: 1) the muscles holding your hook/fingers on the string must be set. 2) Your Back muscles, specifically your rhomboid & trapezius muscles, are under tension holding your draw wt. The rest of your arm should be absolutely relaxed and simply provides the link between your fingers/hook and your back muscles. There should not be any tension in the muscles of your forearm, nor your shoulder.
2)(RH shooter)If, without a bow in your hand, you assume your full draw position, bow arm extended and drawing arm set in the proper aligned position, you can flex/tighten your right trapezius muscle so that your right scapula (chicken wing) moves toward your spine, you're simulating the back tension needed during shot execution. If you'll rotate your head from the normal forward position to the right towards your shoulder while flexing your trapezius muscle, you can actually watch your elbow move towards the center of your back.
It's virtually impossible to pluck your string if you use this action during shot execution; and your release hand will end up moving straight back to your shoulder, as has been noted by several above.
While it does take concentration to train yourself to use your back rather than your arm and shoulder muscles, you'll find the effort very worthwhile both in more shot consistency, as well as less muscle fatigue. Them back muscles are larger and stronger than your arm muscles. :saywhat:
Never a dull Moment in Trad Archery! :bigsmyl:
I've pretty much given up on the back tension thing. I've tried and tried to do it correctly but it just doesn't happen. I finally got to the point where I was concentrating so much on trying to achieve back tension that I was not concentrating as hard on the shot placement. I wish I could get it right but I finally got frustrated and quit worrying about it. I have found that when I concentrate on my anchor and target instead, I get much better results than when I was concentrating on back tension. I now try to concentrate on making a consistant draw using a repeatable anchor point every time instead. I feel this has helped me more than anything.
Hats off to those it works for. For me, not so much....yet!
Dave
If you get the proper back tension in drawing a 45# bow it will shoot as good or better than you shooting a 55# bow with no back tension . You will increase your draw for 1 thing and your release will be much better.
As has been mentioned, relaxing the arm muscles is as important as maintaining back tension. The combination of relaxing certain muscles while tensing others is a real key to good archery. I don't think there is any other activity in life that requires you to relax and tense the specific muscles that need to be relaxed and tensed at the same time in archery. So there really isn't anything you can do in the gym or any other place to learn this other than by shooting the bow.
One of the things I do when I pause for a couple of seconds before I shoot is to relax any of my arm muscles that got tense during the draw, while maintaining my back tension. It took a while for me to learn to do this, but it sure improved my shooting. I'm sure it would be better form if I could avoid tensing my arm muscles in the first place, but as long as they are relaxed by the time I release the arrow, it seems to work out okay.
Hey Wip, that was a real good example, tried it and it works.
Thanks
I finally built a formaster to use. After using it I think I can say that I do now know what back tension feels like. I actually was pretty close to where I needed to be but now I can repeat it a little easier. My draw hand does not seem to pull foward when I use the formaster but rather stays put on release so I guess I am getting the hang of it. My groups have improved some too. I'm still not as consistant as I want to be but I do see some progress. I think the formaster does help.
Dave