"secrets" for back tension

[Wapiti Bowman]

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.            

Never a dull Moment in Trad Archery!    

[dbishop]

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

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

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.

[McDave]

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.

[njloco]

Hey Wip, that was a real good example, tried it and it works.

Thanks

[dbishop]

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