Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Shooters FORM Board => Topic started by: Jehu on March 24, 2014, 07:43:00 PM

Title: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: Jehu on March 24, 2014, 07:43:00 PM
I am new traditional archery, and am pretty much learning by myself as there are very few trad guys in the Pensacola area . When I started handgun shooting , I had the good fortune to be aware of some bad habits I should avoid. So ,guys, what are somethings we new shooters should lookout for?
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: moebow on March 24, 2014, 07:53:00 PM
That's a pretty open ended question Jehu.  You might start here:   https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMoebow1

AND with Terry's Form clock at the top of this forum.  See if any of that helps.

Arne
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: Jehu on March 24, 2014, 08:10:00 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: McDave on March 25, 2014, 10:11:00 AM
In an article that came out in TBM in 2009, which coincidentally happened to be in a period during which I was attending many traditional archery clinics and making a concerted effort to improve my shooting, Dan Toelke was asked to list the three most common shooting problems he saw.  Dan is better known for his bows than for his shooting instruction, but I know he has helped many traditional archers improve their shooting as well as provide some of the finest bows out there.

1. A sloppy or non-existent anchor. Use a tight, multi-point anchor.

2.  Not getting the elbow back behind the arrow by applying back tension at full draw.  Back tension can be an elusive concept for the beginning traditional archer, because we are not aware of that group of muscles in everyday life.  But when you discover it, you will feel like you have suddenly taken 5-10 pounds off your bow weight.

3.  Short drawing the bow, not opening up the bow limbs to utilize the bow's dynamic efficiency.  This would seem to be the same as point #2, and there is some overlap, but it is possible to use back muscles and still short draw the bow, either by using a bow that was designed for a longer draw length, or by using poor alignment that results in a shorter draw length than your potential.  See the permanent post at the top of this section, "Terry's form clock," for more information on this.

Dan concludes by saying that using a bow with too high a draw weight is a major contributing factor behind most of these problems.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: DennyK on March 26, 2014, 01:50:00 PM
DO NOT OVERBOW YOURSELF! That will lead to bad form. The first and foremost thing you need to develop is good form. Do watch Arne's TheMoeBow1's videos, they are very good.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: LongStick64 on March 29, 2014, 11:56:00 AM
Practice smart, don't just shoot the bow. Make it a point to focus on one part of your form and work on that during your practice session. trying to put it all together in one shot is hard to do when you start.
Dont rush the shot, the object is not to release the arrow, but to be in control the entire shot sequence.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: RecurveRookie on May 03, 2014, 11:01:00 AM
Where do I begin?  I've done them all! lol
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: britt on May 05, 2014, 08:32:00 AM
LOW poundage bow and a Rod Jenkins clinic.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: tracker12 on May 05, 2014, 10:24:00 AM
I just finished Rod's clinic and it is a good suggestion.  I have to say that almost everything I heard Rod say was re-enforcement of things that I have read on this site.  

As for a light weight bow I would definitely go that way.  I thought 45# was light enough to hold and check my form.  I was wring.  When I drew that 35# this past weekend I was so much more in control. I am on the hunt for one now.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: jonsimoneau on June 20, 2014, 12:03:00 AM
Save yourself years of frustration and take lessons from someone like Rick Welch or Rod Jenkins.  Once you teach yourself bad habits...they are incredibly hard to break.  Learn from someone who knows what they are doing.  That is my advice.
Title: Re: Bad habits for beginners to avoid?
Post by: Gene R on June 20, 2014, 07:51:00 AM
PROPER form on EVERY shot!  Bad habits can establish themselves FAST. Use proper form and shot sequence religously and read , watch and incorporate everything Mebow teaches on this site! It will save you a lot of frustration and the need to fight the dreaded TP!