HH bug got me ... Part One!

[tradlongbow]

Nate-

I'm glad you chimed in. I thought the picture of the bow was interesting because it looks like the nodes are somewhat raised on the back of the bow and as noted by Kelly the bamboo seems to be stained.

This is the first time that I have noticed Howard's fingers exposed while drawing the string. It must be just for the photo.

Darren

[Mudd]

Here's "The Mirkat" and Wilson with one of Snags beautiful 4 fletched arrows.

 
 
 
 

"Mirkat" is 66" and 55@28.
Cheetah with diamondback skins.

God bless,Mudd

He was probably practicing his Jay Kidwell technique on his wife's favorite chair. Like Mudd apparently does in his backyard. He would never let go without an arm guard on, his bows had really low brace heights.  I would enjoy hearing some trad gang style analysis of that form.

[Ricker]

[Mudd]

Pavan"Like Mudd apparently does in his backyard."

Huh? What" Did I do something?...lol

God bless,Mudd

[coyote1956]

when Howard's Eye got big lookout!!!   now thats funny

[Rob DiStefano]

"correct archery form" always has, and always will be, the form that's most consistent for you, not me, and not anyone else.

with that said, if you truly have a 30" draw length that works yer deltoids, don't hunker down, lean forward into the bow, and shoot a 28" arrow - what, you think yer a howard hill???     :D

aim however ya like, but do consider and try "aiming the arrow" - it's a very positive alignment process/method.  you don't directly look at the arrow, it's part is strictly to get your "gray bow sight" (brain) centered on the mark for left/right.  then set the trajectory with yer bow hand.

[Blueridge]

[Blueridge]

That face was for Howards "big eye"

[Blueridge]

maybe he did that to be able to shoot 90-100lbs for as long as he did? It sure did work for him though.

Hey Mudd that couch cushion has the same pattern as ours did.  I offered to turn it into a target, but my wife insisted that we give the couch away to someone that needed it. It would have made a fine target.  If it worked for Hill, there is a strong possibility that the same form could work for someone else as well.  It did for me.  
99 pages

[Ben Maher]

"aiming the arrow " as Rob puts it is sort of how I do it . a very quick way to get the arrow consistently where it needs to be ... as long as your bow hand is solid . I think of it is a sort of pre shot aiming combined at the shot " bore a hole through it " instinctive .

as for the dominant eye ... i grew up shooting right handed , killed a lot of animals as a youngster doing it that way until i began competing with sights . The guy at the pro shop giggled as i drew back my first new bow with sights on it ... "you can't close your right eye if shooting right handed " he giggled ...
I went home with a brand new useless bow, too embarrassed to tell him about both my lack of archery knowledge and my near completely blind right eye !
Been left eye dominant ever since !!! haha

Hills form is great !
great pic by the way ... i have never seen that one before.

[far rider]

Well, I sure have poor form, now if I could just start hittin' em like Howard I'd be set!

Originally posted by sunset hill:
Great Photo!

Howard adapted his form to the equipment of the day, but more importantly, he adapted his form for the needs of a hunting archer...meaning he was very fluid and not 'locked out'.  This helped him make moving shots as well as stationary shots and all the trick shots inbetween.  He was not a static target archer in the sense of the term.  You can see photos of Larry Hughes and others at that time who have what is commonly termed today as target form.  

Howard also was left eye dominate, which blows away the concept that your dominate eye has to be over the arrow and lined up with the string.  This photo shows how large and intense his left eye would stare at the target.  Schulz commentated on this fact quite a bit.

Nate, interesting to read your take, especially to differentiate between a fluid (personal, adaptive) form and a highly tuned form for competition.  Makes perfect sense to me.

And that does not negate what Rob has taught me recently. Howard is "aiming the arrow" (Jim Ploen)which is apparently the foundational  principal for good shooting no matter what the flavor.

Originally posted by far rider:
Well, I sure have poor form, now if I could just start hittin' em like Howard I'd be set!

Tim,
I just tried to figure out how to forward you the shooting form stuff Rob sent me via PM...I'm not smart enough...lol

I am sure he will be happy to shoot it to you.  He's been a great help to me these past few weeks..    

**********************
LongbowBen

Ben,
Will be looking for pics of your new bow!!  I think mine will be ready to ship tomorrow.
     

[Tique]

Allllllmoooooooost 100 pages!!! Who would have thought that would ever happen?

[far rider]

Hey Rob! Could you please send me the shooting form info you sent to Tony? Uh, please!

[Rob DiStefano]

Jim Ploen's two part article on "Aiming the Arrow", taken from the Spring and Summer issues of Instinctive Archer Magazine.  Jim was a champion archer and avid bowhunter back in the 60's and 70's.  He was one of the first, if not the first to shoot a perfect 300 indoor round. Jim & Buddy teamed up to form the original 21st Century Longbows and their "ringer" Edge hybrid "D" longbow was cutting edge technology that won many tournaments around the world including the classic FITA Championships.

3.7 meg PDF file ...

Aiming the Arrow

[OP-archer]

Note the back muscles - WOW...

[2treks]

That pic is cool!