Women's Shooting Form

[QuailTreker]

Hi. I'm a recent beginning female archer and prospective bow hunter and would much appreciate an experienced female archer either putting up a shooting form video or directing me to a link where I could have a good representation to study. I know the instructions from the teacher are the same to either a male or female student, but it would be helpful to me and my daughter to see an experienced women shooting properly. Thanks so much! I really enjoy this website!

[Weird Donkey]

dont have any video or i cant exactly tell you what to do, but in my archery class we had 2 or 3 girls experiencing problems with their breast size and the bow string. but that was while shooting with an "olympic" style of form. the teacher suggested the use of a plastron or something similar. i dont know if this can be any help for you !

[QuailTreker]

Thanks. That did come up during our first lesson and a similar fix was suggested, plus opening the stance a little more toward the target. Just hoping someone will point me toward a video.

[Trevor]

try this link, click on  Park, sung-hyun.
hope this helps
 http://www.texasarchery.org/L1/HSV.htm

[QuailTreker]

Wow! Great quality video and amazing young woman. Thanks so much Trevor. Very helpful. One question: Her follow-through, with breaking the wrist of the bow hand....is that typical for the bow set-up she's using?

[the Ferret]

Welcome Quailtreker (interesting handle..how'd ya get it?)

A lot of women's bow arms tend to bend in at the elbow towards the string causing string intereference while shooting. It's why you see a lot of women wearing armguards from their wrist to their armpit almost. You can learn to roll your forearm away from the string by holding on to a vertical pole and twisting your foroearm out of the way while keeping your hand vertically, gaining string clearance in the process. Give it a try and you will see the difference.

[Terry Green]

Where's Countrygirl, Killdeer, and Pinecone?

Then gals can fix ya up I guarantee.

[QuailTreker]

'Quail', for game birds, which I'd like to learn to hunt, and 'treker' because I like to hike up here in the Northwest.
Thanks much, Ferret and Terry, for the info and the contacts.

[GameMaster]

Try to keep a 30 to 40 degree angle of your hand on the grip, this will also give the arm more clearance from the sting. My wife and I have been teaching the National Archery Schools Program for 4 years now and run into alot of the common problems. They also have a good DVD out on shooting form. For some reason the ladies with the longer arms will have more trouble hitting the arm with the string on release.

[tamure]

For everyone's entertainment, I can try making a video of myself tonight or tomorrow. I shoot much differently.

Your form will depend a lot on what type of bow you shoot. The "Olympic" style form will not work well if you are shooting a longbow with only a slightly cut-in shelf. The arrow will keep falling off.

When I shoot, my wrist "breaks" at the end, similar to how you see in those videos, but much less dramatically. This is because you aren't just pulling on the string, you're pushing the bow away from you as well. Not just your shoulder and upper arm, but your hand also. You push as if trying to straighten your wrist so the palm would be parallel to the ground. You should feel it in your forearm muscle. When you let go of the string, the bow will naturally tip forward from this pushing motion. The dramatic tipping you see in the video is largely due to the weight of the stabilizers on the bow. Without all that weight, the bow would likely still tip a little because of form. The theory is also that you should hold the bow very loosely, if not with an open hand. The loose grip also contributes to the tipping. I personally prefer a firmer grip. I like to see the bow tip forward just a bit, the string in line with the rest, and the arrow flying, and my bow hand stock still until after the arrow hits the target. Of course, it doesn't always quite happend that way.  

You also see in the Olympic style that the shooters stand just about rim-rod straight. My stance is with knees slightly bent, leaning forward at the waist, most weight on the left foot (toward the target), bow canted. It looks much more like a crouch.

As Weird Donkey mentioned, your body type / shape may dictate somewhat as well. But I certainly haven't the problem he mentioned, so I'm afraid I can't offer much advice there.

[Archer 1]

Welcome QuailTreker,

    In Howard Hill's DVD (Howard Hill's Greatest)
He is teaching a bunch of young women how to shoot, and one of them has excelent form, and shoots very well. It's old, but it still holds true today. If you watch it, I think it may help you.
Good Luck,
Archer1

[QuailTreker]

Thanks so much to Game Master, Tamure, and Archer 1. I identified with all the problems and there are great resources suggested here, all around. Howard, I'll find it. Could be very helpful....especially for my daughter, who I think has great potential!! The more I know and study, the more I want to know and study. Tamure, put up that video!
QT

[tamure]

I find all the posts about women's bow arms getting in the way sort of interesting. I never had much of a problem with it. I still wear an armguard / bracer though, because sometimes I do something wrong and really get slapped. It depends on the bow too. I'd never shoot a Martin Stick without one. I shot my ChekMate Raven (a recurve) many times without one.

I think it also has to do with learning correct form, i.e., keep the elbow straight if not slightly bent, rather than hyperextended. The elbow-turning-in thing I think can also be caused by being overbowed. You "lock" your arm out there (which turns the elbow in) in order to hold the weight.

I didn't have time to make the video last night, but I should tonight!   :D   The weather is finally supposed to be nice too. I certainly don't claim to have perfect form, but I think watching as many other people (male or female) can be helpful for learning new techniques to try.

[Frank V]

Quailtreker, Welcome to the gang!!! Frank

[tamure]

A picture is worth a thousand words (so is a video worth a thousand pictures?)

There's nothing to shoot in my garage, but here's a few pics of me with my new Pronghorn (thanks, CJ!).

You can see how much I lean forward into it. In the first side view, it looks like my arm is locked out, and the elbow turning in. That bump at the top of my elbow is actually just my massive muscles.    
     

In the front view you can see that my elbow is actually a little bent. From the back you can see why I still wear an armguard. A bow with a high-wrist grip (like many recurves have) will naturally turn your wrist/forearm more away from the string.

Anyone else with comments, please post them.  

 
 
 
 

[tamure]

Here's my mom with the sassy hip thing going on. She is shooting a bow with a flipper arrow rest, so she can hold it straight up, more olympic style. I think it is better to keep your back/hips in line over your feet, or else lean toward the target some.

Second picture my mom has just released. It was a good shot. Everything (bow arm, string hand) is just were it was when she pulled back and anchored. Good follow through.    I love my mom.

 
 

[Shakes.602]

PSE has a Video "Holding Steady" that has Michelle Ragsdale Just tearing up the Xs!! It Might be worth a look if you get a chance.
      Welcome to You, and "Good Luck Finding that Special Form, that Works  JUST  for  YOU!!"  Its Great to Watch the Pros and the Not-So Pros Shoot. Everyone has Found, or is in Pursuit of Their Very Own "Groove".
     I am a Firm Believer in Learning the "Have-To-Have Good-Form", but Everyone takes those "Good Habits" and kind of Form-Fits them to what works Best for the Individual.
    Sorry  to be LongWinded, and Archery IS an Individualist Sport.
      And Please Done  EVER  Be Afraid to Ask Any and All Questions!! Glad to Have ya with us!
       

[QuailTreker]

So much great info from so many great folks! It certainly is motivating to hear it and see it!  Many thanks for the input and the great pictures!

[The Whittler]

Have you looked on womem outdoors site. Alan

[Killdeer]

Good grief, Terry, she doesn't need any of MY shooting faults!    

Shanna, you never told us whether you are shooting a recurve or longbow, and what kind of grip it has. It makes a difference in how you hold the bow.

When I was starting out, they just handed me a bow and sent me outside. Later, when I was thirteen, I got a copy of Fred Bear's "The Archer's Bible", which had just come out. There are lots of books out there to learn from now, including some by Asbell and Ferguson.

Maybe I am not adequately proportioned to have the problem that typically gets discussed when the topic of female archers comes up. I have never encountered it. I taught myself to roll the elbow out of the way of the string, and never had any other part of the anatomy get in the way. I never wear a bracer unless I am shooting self bows.

About the only things that I could teach you are;
1)how to move your bowhand when you release and make the arrow "walk" far off target,
2)how to come up with a different anchor for every shot, keeping one from getting bored with consistant arrow flight,
3)making music by plucking the string,
4)how to remove freckles and moles by abrading the side of the face with the string

Care to learn any more from me? (Save yourself!! RUN!)    
Killdeer