Glad to see this thread is still getting mileage!!!

 

Personally, I see this from a slightly different perspective. But it is really Po-tat-o - Pot-at-o stuff. I see a line through both shoulders to the bow arm wrist. This alignment will be the most rigid and is referred to as the "Barrel of the Gun" among archers. Either way you look at or perceive it though is fine. Great reference tool Terry!

just ordered the DVD; this is gonna help me a lot!

Fantastic site...it's like everything you ever wanted to know about bows is here, or some one knows some one who might know someone, etc...

I like the way the rules are laid out plain, & that no disrespect or vehement arguing is tolerated.

Shot trad as a kid a bit, and still haven't completely kicked the wheelbow, but don't shoot it much anymore...I seem to have too many new (to me)actually old tradbows accumulating that need to be shot...

somehow,...I don't seem to mind...even shot the last round in the rain this evening... I thought it was gonna quit, but as I was dripping with sweat anyway, it felt pretty good...

Well guys and gales this just clicked for me on Saturday. As they say it's a little hard to put into words but here goes, I'm not new to Trad. but in many ways I am. I started shooting many years ago when I was very young and stopped when I was in my early twenties. Then in my late forties ended up going hunting and switched to a wheeler. decided to come back to Trad. a couple of years ago which would make it my late fifties. Had a few set backs ( bypass surgery ) but now I'm good to go. Been reading posts on here and watching a DVD, but couldn't quite figure it all out. Then I saw Terry's clock, and said to myself " oh that's what I was doing all those years ago, back in the 50's through the early 70's. It put my archery shooting into perspective.

Put this together with trying to demonstrate how to shoot a Trad. bow to a friend, and telling him he should really try shooting at a blank bale, and then showing it to him, but doing it myself for the first, that is when it all started to click. I went home and was a little tired, so I did some chores around the house and then relaxed a little. It was getting late and I figured I would go out and shoot a little more, I drew the first arrow back and that is when I realized I am shooting like I did when I was younger, everything that the experienced guys try and explain to the new people to Trad. came together. I didn't have to concentrate on my form because my brain and body already knew what I was asking of them, all I had to do was watch the spot I wanted to hit and it happened. All those years ago I was a good shooter but I knew nothing about the actual mechanics until now.

All I could say is Thank you all, and I will try my best to pass it on.

Ken

Wow just finished reading through this and it all makes sense now.  I am a recent wheel bow convert and was starting to doubt my abilities.  I average about 20-30 arrows a day through the recurve but couldn't seem to improve.  Now I know what to look for and am pretty sure where I went wrong.  I think this is the best form explanation tool I have ever seen.

I have looked at Terry's clock, a number of times and i still can't figure out what the blazes he is trying to say

I just ordered the dvd and am hoping that I can take a lot away from it.

My question is, how to practice? Or better yet, how do I build great form? I don't mean the pieces and parts of a great shot. I mean the regime of shooting. I'm building an arrow stop in my garage so I can shoot all weather day or night. So, if you were starting from ground zero how would you build great form. I'm a hunter and want to be confident when I draw my bow back. Thanks for any tips. I'm studying this thread and learning a ton. Thanks Terry!!!

I just ordered 2 DVD's one for me and one for my son. I seemed to have reached a plateau in my shooting.  I'm OK out to 25yds and on some days 30-35 but, I think I must be having a form issue or I could back up further and get decent results.  I don't know of any archery coaches in Oklahoma.  If anyone knows a coach within 100 miles of Enid, OK please let me know.  Hopefully, the DVD has some longbow form instruction that will help. Great price for 2 DVD's too.

Where can I get the Trad Gang dvd?

CLICK HERE

how will we be able to get hold of it?
regards
wayne

Wow real quick to the point  easy to understand great job that helps us new guys out thank you

just ordered my dvd- may be the best 12 bucks I've spent today!    looking forward to it!


L.R.

Great thread. I just ordered the DVD and will see if this old dog (57 years) can improve his shooting skills as there is always room for improvement...if one is willing to learn. I am ready and willing. Terry your explanations make total sense. I look forward to trying this form. I have always been a split finger shooter (since I was 10 years old) that anchored pointer finger at the corner of my mouth or my middle finger on my upper incisor. I am going to give this a go. Thanks for all of your efforts in developing this style and sharing your skills with us.

The form clock is great!     When I first started looking around in the forum and stumbled on this it was a "light bulb" moment for me. I never imagined I might be under drawing my bow until I stumbled on this thread. I finally understand (hopefully)why I my shooting has been so erratic.

Terry-Great stuff.  When I am shooting alone, how do I confirm that your arrow and shoulders ar parellel?  Obviously I can't look down on myself and check my form....

where can i get Terry's form clock?  is it on the Tradgang video? thanks

Horse....you can video yourself....there's also a lot of info in the stickied video thread....

Daniel...yes, there is a shooting segment on the Trad Gang DVD...and a lot of the form clock stuff is on this very thread....start from the beginning.

I know you shoot from every type of angle and since I started I've tried to never settle in on only one way to shoot so as to imitate hunting conditions. Your form clock is demonstrated with a closed stance I'm assuming that is for demo purposes yet I have moved to a very open stance to imitate conditions in the field. Alignment must take a beating in these circumstances I would guess. I think my adjustment has been not only in a waist twist but also requiring rolling back that rear shoulder further than you might feel as comfortable to achieve alignment. Any thoughts?

Terry, I believe that is as clear as anything I've seen on the alignment of arrow with the bowhand, shoulders, and elbow. You are the man! Thanks!