Form/Alighnment question

Luckyned · August 29, 2007, 08:48:00 PM

Wish I had video to show. I know I'm not there yet in my form but when the shot feels good, it goes as intended but not during limited lighting. I shoot left when I practice at dusk.
Could it be I have a hard time getting proper sight alignment with my anchor point without the benefit of visually correcting it when I can see the arrow? Just looking for a hint if someone else has run into this before. Thanks ahead~ Ned

Al Dean · August 29, 2007, 09:30:00 PM

Are you shooting prior to dusk? If so it could be that you are just fatiguing.

va · August 30, 2007, 10:26:00 AM

The Consistency thread mentions shooting after a long day at work (a necessary evil OR God's gift?) Anyhoo, I know for a fact I fall apart in a hurry when distracted or tired. Dusk shooting makes it all worse OR on rare occasions i have a storey for a Memorable Shot thread.

Luckyned · August 30, 2007, 06:20:00 PM

Na, I don't believe that it is due to being tired. I'm thinking I really don't have an anchor that aligns with the arrow. I shoot centered when I can actually see the arrow.

jhansen · August 30, 2007, 06:36:00 PM

You say "at dusk". Is the setting sun by any chance off to your right? If so, it may be illuminating the right side of the arrow and leaving the left side in shadow. Your eye is aligning on the side of the arrow it can see and the shot goes left. I know it sounds weird but I've had it happen to me.

John

bgram · August 30, 2007, 09:01:00 PM

Perhaps you are "peeking" trying to see where the arrow is going to strike, causing you to collapse your bow arm to see the arrow. Was doing that this today/evening. I find I have to really focus and actually let go, or better yet, trust that the arrow is going for the target.

Hardhed · September 01, 2007, 12:32:00 PM

I believe if you are accustomed to looking at the tip of your arrow, consciously or subconsciously, dusk shooting can cause you to shoot off. I believe it's due to not being able to see the tip clearly in low light, and imagining the arrow tip is pointing more to the right than it really is, and overcompensating to the left.

I noticed this myself, and eventually cured it by making certain that I fixate on the spot I'm aiming, rather than confirming alignment by also glancing down at the arrow tip- That's what helped me at least.

Luckyned · September 06, 2007, 11:13:00 PM

WTG Hardhed! I do believe you nailed it. I've been practicing more and more at low light levels and seem to have drastically improved by "trusting" the shot will go where I say so. I think I began to 'gap' shoot at my backyard target range. I'm just getting back into traditional gear and laughing at the videos where the speak of 'simplicity'. I guess it can be very simple after you overcome all your own problems! LOL

capt eddie · September 07, 2007, 07:48:00 AM

Try putting a small golf ball size piece of aluminum foil on your target. Go out and shot after it gets so dark you can not see your arrows but can just see some light reflexing off the foil. This is true instincive shooting. I do my very best shooting then. Do you think you can throw a ball and hit a target with out seeing the ball? Bet you can. All you need is to see the target.