When you first started to learn or even as you cont'd learning to shoot (instinctively, gap etc), what was the "one" most important thing said to you.
I know for some it might be "always come to full anchor" and to others that might seem obvious.
A buddy Richie Lupo told me "Jim you have to dial in on the target". He raised his bow arm with no bow with a fist and twisted it w/ knuckles canted up creating what would be the "V" window we use to lQQk through to focus on your target and shoot .
Took a while to really understand it and times still find myself wondering but when I do it always works.
"It's just a target, I doesn't care if you miss and you don't either."
Said to me by TUFFHEAD on here, my neighbor and the fella that got me started in to "traditional" archery last year: "If you are shooting bad, put the bow down and walk away for awhile. Never try to shoot your way out of shooting bad."
For me it has been, keep the bow arm still and follow through!
Marty Thomas (Buff) kept me from giving up. I was intimidated by arrow spine work and tuning I was told about by guys on the web. I had decided I couldn't do it and explained any anchor by my mouth clipped my nose.
He told me to go home and get my bow then try different things until I found one I could do exactly the same every time. He said don't worry about my arrows being perfect. Just get three to five yards out and focus on the anchor point, and release. I did that for a few days and sent him a couple pics. He told me when I got consistent like that take two steps back and start over.
His encouragement and coaching got me to the point I felt I had a chance to succeed.
.
Since then Bisch has been a great mentor and friend as well. Without them I wouldn't have gotten through the suck.
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Look at the spot where you want the arrow to go and then put it there.
I was not taught to gap shoot. I tried it for a while years ago and I couldn't hit a thing.
"Pointed end first!"
Back when I first started shooting in 1968 we didn't have bow stringers. So I was taught to ALWAYS check for limb twists and make sure the string was properly in the grooves.
I still check those things today even when using a stringer.
Instinctive, practice, practice, practice!...and make every shot count. If you are tired, angry, or loose concentration put the bow down and walk away until you are in a better mind.
A steady bow arm can make up for a lot of faults
I shot left handed until somebody at the footed shaft circa 1987 realised I was right :knothead:
Actually, the most important thing anybody ever told me about learning to shoot the bow happened long before I ever shot an arrow. The advice was when learning something new, get the best training you can find. Learning to do something correctly from the start will save you years of fumbling around and having to unlearn your mistakes.
Consistency consistency consistency
"Burn a hole in it." - Ken Denton
His way of saying 'pick a spot'.
Close the other eye.
Pick a spot.
Rod Jenkins from his class, make a controlled strong shot. Gets my form and follow thru were it needs to be.
Go in to it with both eyes open. We were born with binocular vision so you should use it to it's fullest.
When I was learning to shoot Dad told me to look at the spot I wanted to hit, it has been working for about 65 years now.
Quote from: manny718 on March 27, 2019, 06:45:29 PM
Consistency consistency consistency
That's the first second and third answers. Good post! Without consistency nothing else remains. You MUST start there. Even the worst shooters form if he's any good has consistency. Now the best way to become consistant is to learn proper form
Quote from: McDave on March 27, 2019, 06:28:09 PM
Actually, the most important thing anybody ever told me about learning to shoot the bow happened long before I ever shot an arrow. The advice was when learning something new, get the best training you can find. Learning to do something correctly from the start will save you years of fumbling around and having to unlearn your mistakes.
Very good post as well!
Push your bow arm toward the target through release and til arrow reaches target.
(Basically, keep a strong, firm bow arm, don't allow it to collapse at the shot)
Seems to be a common response, so must work. :goldtooth:
finding out about Rick Welch, and adopting his method of shooting.
absolute game changer for me- saw my groups halve within an hour of using his system!
Quote from: Graps on March 27, 2019, 05:06:29 PM
Look at the spot where you want the arrow to go and then put it there.
I was not taught to gap shoot. I tried it for a while years ago and I couldn't hit a thing.
This
Start close like feet not yards until you get a nice group.
Biggest single thing I was ever told was by an ole timer I just met by chance when I first got into bowhunting. Honestly didn't think much of it at the time, but as the years roll by the more I appreciate what he said and I think about it every time I hit the timber.
Nobody honestly cares if u get a buck or not. Hunt for yourself just because you want to. Bowhunting is about choices, make good choices and live with them!
Relax
Let the string slip out of your fingers.
The most important for me was to shoot with someone who knows what they are doing. I fumbled a bit trying to figure things out, teaching myself bad habits in the process.
I met some guys in NY who greatly reduced my learning curve and got ahead of major frustration caused by simple easy to fix issues.
2 members here deserve a major thank you! Ron W and Kat. There were more guys as I became more involved but these guys were able to help in a huge way.
Are you having fun yet?