So I've decided to dedicate myself to three under for a year. I was working on finding an anchor today and feel pretty comfortable with the base of my thumb at the point my jaw and ear meet, and my index finger knuckle up tight against my cheek bone. The problem is that it rubbed my cheek raw. When I shot split and it would rub my nose I could just put a piece of tape on it. I have no idea what to do with this but it looks like I've got some kind of skin condition, not a good look. Ideas?
I would suggest your pulling,too far.
Maybe one of your fingers in the corner of you mouth.
Maybe you are turning your head to the side. Like trying to aim with the opposite eye.
Shooting should not rub your face or nose. Would not take long to quit with that happening.
If you are right-handed, just before release rotate your head to your left enough that you feel tension in the muscles on the right side of your neck.
You are pulling too far, put your middle finger in the corner of your mouth. I keep my thumb relaxed, pointed forward....
It could also be your nock, I have the same issue with brass nocks and tied on nocks if the ends aren't burned down and flat. I've even had plastic arrow nocks with sharp edges on the back cut my face shooting 3 under.
change your anchor more forward
find your canine tooth through your upper lip. When you put a little pressure there, you can find it easily without opening your mouth. It is also on your upper jaw so it will always be a consistent anchor pt unlike the corner of your mouth.
the corner of your mouth is soft and flexible and some days you may drag into it deeper than others. Also hold your head straight up and down. If you have a tendency to lean into the string it can get painful.
BIgJim
Thanks guys. Seems like the feedback is consistent.
Jim - I like your comment, the reason I made the shift to my first anchor on my cheek bone was to have a bone anchor that would be more consistent. I'll try the tooth on the upper jaw. I will need to get a three under tab but I'm finding it difficult to "feel" my anchor as sensitively and precisely as I'd like yet.
You might try a double anchor, and keeping the string away from your face. In Rick Welch's class, he had me anchor with my last thumb knuckle right in front of my ear, and my nose on the back of the feather, while keeping the string just far enough away from the face that it wouldn't touch. It really helped me get a cleaner release, and no more face damage.
Does the same to me with brass nock set. I have to use tie on
Are you using a tab now? If so, make sure that it is trimmed shy of the tips of your fingers when they are curled back in place on the string. A too-long tab will really rough up your face.
I agree with mahantango. Also if shooting a tab try a glove beforeI switxhed to a glove I could get a tab to fit right and it always tore up my face, a glove totaly fixed it
before changing anchor points again, You might try having someone shoot photos of you at full draw from above you so you can see your alignment. i've seen folks having that same problem cure it by just opening up their stance a bit. This will often help over extending and pulling the string to close to your cheek.
I kept cutting my nose to the point it was bleeding. Had someone watch me shoot and it turned out the little raised bump on the nock for locating was cutting my nose. I turned them all around to the inside and have not had problem since
QuoteOriginally posted by BigJim:
find your canine tooth through your upper lip. When you put a little pressure there, you can find it easily without opening your mouth. It is also on your upper jaw so it will always be a consistent anchor pt unlike the corner of your mouth.
the corner of your mouth is soft and flexible and some days you may drag into it deeper than others. Also hold your head straight up and down. If you have a tendency to lean into the string it can get painful.
BIgJim
X2
I agree with the consensus that you may be pulling too far. If I overdraw the string catches my face. My anchor isn't far off from yours. The "V" that is formed where my thumb meets my hand settles on the very corner of my jaw with my thumb under the jaw, and my index finger in the corner of my mouth, if that makes sense. Works well for me