Heavy bow form?

[PowDuck]

Here's a video of me shooting my new Arkansas Stick. It's 68# @ 28". When I first started shooting it it was fairly heavy and hard to draw (I'm used to a 56#) but the more we stump shot the better I shot and easier it was to draw.

With that in mind, any critique?

  Shooting Form Video

[Curtiss Cardinal]

You didn't come all the way back to anchor. You released while you were still drawing the bow and it didn't look like you had any back tension at all. I hope that helps.

[PowDuck]

Originally posted by C2:
You didn't come all the way back to anchor. You released while you were still drawing the bow

If memory serves, I think I did hit anchor. My anchor is middle finger tip to corner of mouth. I certainly didn't hold at anchor, though. Heavy bow, remember. If I'm understanding you right I need to hold anchor a little longer. Right? Are you suggesting I change my anchor point?

Originally posted by C2:
and it didn't look like you had any back tension at all.

I'm not real sure exactly what that means. I've heard about it a lot but really don't understand it. Could you (or someone) explain it, please?

Originally posted by C2:
I hope that helps.

Always looking to improve. Thanks.

[Terry Green]

"If I'm understanding you right I need to hold anchor a little longer. Right? Are you suggesting I change my anchor point?"

For what its worth....I didn't read any thing like that from C2's post.


Just touching your finger may not be enough of a solid anchor, you might need to 'dig in' a bit.  It looks like your aren't set, no matter if you hold or don't hold, time don't matter, just kinda looks like you are flinging them.

There's a TON of info right here on this forum about anchor, back tension, alignment etc....do a search and you'll find some good reading.  If your wanting to improve like you say you are, then a little research here will go a long way.

[PowDuck]

OK, here's what I found today after reading the 2 posts, doing a better search for back tension posts, and stringing my 50#, 56#, AND the 68#er again.

The video I posted is a bad one for having you critique my form. Why? Read on.
After reading a lot about back tension and understanding it better I drew my 56# bow. I use back tension and hold anchor steady. I then strung my 50# bow. Same result. When I strung the 68# bow that I'm shooting in the video I found that I CANNOT draw it to full draw. I'm not strong enough. My back muscles give out at that weight and my elbow will NOT come the rest of the way back. I am pushing my head forward to meet my finger and am letting off a half inch before releasing.

So I AM just flinging them, although accurately. The leaf I was shooting at disappeared.      

Thanks for the info. Even though I've been shooting a longbow a long time I still have things to learn.

[Terry Green]

No worries....with time with the heavier bow...the alignment will come!