instinct or arrow under or over

[54calLEADballs]

Trying to get a general consensus of how people aim and how they draw. While watching videos and stuff on the net I see people use two fingers under and one over then I see three under. Any advantages to either? Also, I hear that people focus on the arrow and aim down it. Others just stare at the target. Which is right?

[gringol]

There's no right way.  Do what is comfortable for you.

[Bud B.]

Try viewing the John Schulz videos of Hitting 'em Like Howard. In the video Mr Schulz speaks about aiming. And drawing while aiming.

You'll have to search Schultz instead of proper spelling of Schulz.

Start at close range, 10 yards or so, and back up from there after you develop your way of aiming.

[centaur]

They are all 'right'. Numerous variations in drawing and aiming can get the job done. Just as I shoot split finger and concentrate on a small spot rather than using the arrow as reference, others will use other methods and will accomplish the same goal; to get the arrow where you want to put it.
Drawing and aiming variations are like the 'recurve/longbow', 'carbon/aluminum/wood', 'camo/no camo' preferences in trad shooting; they all work, but personal preference will dictate what you decide to use.

[Ron B]

Part of the fun and challenge of this style of archery is finding what works for you.With the expection of a few formal competitions,there is no right or wrong way. As stated above, do what is comfortable for you.

Most important,have fun with it.

[57HOP]

I've argued that nearly every "instinctive" archer aims off his sight picture, and uses a combination of the bow, the arrow, and his target to home in on what he wants to hit. The only wait to test this, that I can think of, is in a completely black room with a red laser dot for a target. I'd bet money that everybody would lose accuracy!

[nineworlds9]

I'm in the 'instinctive' camp...it involves muscle memory and proprioception--the same technique that lets you throw a baseball to your pal's glove or knock over the pins at a carnival game.  It takes practice, an understanding of the object's trajectory, and knowing how it feels to do it right.  The reverse applies- when a ball is being thrown to you how do you know where in space to put your hand to catch it?  Now are people shooting 'instinctive' much past 25-30 yds?  Prolly not.  But that's prolly starting to get past what most consider common trad hunting ranges anyway.  It is silly to argue semantics, otherwise we might as well debate why most of us call this archery 'trad-ish-uh-nal' and not barebow or Stickbow hunting or what not.  Do what works for you and your hunting style.

[RedShaft]

I will tell you this in my findings. There are many who say they hold at full draw a few seconds. But when it come crunch time. They either snap shooting(not a bad thing) or end up short drawing.  

But as far as the  3 under 1 over thing, it don't matter try for yourself. But I have seen quite a few got to 3 under and love it and be more accurate.

[Echatham]

i aim by placing the arrow under my eye, and the tip somewhere under, on, or over (usually under) where i want to hit.  i know how much gap should be there based on how far the target is, but i don't really ever think of the gap in terms of inches or any set measurement, and i don't much think of the target in terms of yds.  so, kinda like throwing a baseball.. where you don't think of how far away the other guy is in yards, or how hard to throw the ball in any measurable form, but you still know how hard to throw to get it there.  i kinda set my "gap" the same way.  i don't care what the "name" of my aiming method is... it works for me.... and maybe it will evolve into something else that works better later on.  i do have to seperate drawing, aiming, and releasing into 3 different processes.  if i try to aim while i draw... i snapshoot.  and i shoot much better if i can aim for a second, find my sight picture and hold it for a second, and then start the releasing wheels in motion.  sometimes i get what they call target panic and i release as soon as the sight picture gets there... causes me to flinch or drop my bow arm or any number of things.

[Shawn Leonard]

Echatam, that is gap shooting, I shoot split vision so I am aware of The arrow In relation to The target but do not use it to aim. A lot of 3 under shooters are gunbarrelers, mean looking down The arrow and putting it On The target. I will say this, I can teach anyone to gun barrel and have them hitting a softball size target At ten yards everytime within 5 minutes if they listen and do as I tell them. Shawn

[Shawn Leonard]

Originally posted by Shawn Leonard:
Echatam, that is gap shooting, I shoot split vision so I am aware of The arrow In relation to The target but do not use it to aim. A lot of 3 under shooters are gunbarrelers, mean looking down The arrow and putting it On The target. I will say this, I can teach anyone to gun barrel and have them hitting a softball size target at ten yards everytime within 5 minutes if they listen and do as I tell them. Shawn

[Shawn Leonard]

Echatam, that is gap shooting, I shoot split vision so I am aware of The arrow In relation to The target but do not use it to aim. A lot of 3 under shooters are gunbarrelers, mean looking down The arrow and putting it On The target. I will say this, I can teach anyone to gun barrel and have them hitting a softball size target everytime within 5 minutes if they listen and do as I tell them. Shawn

[Echatham]

Shawn yeah i switched to 3 under a few months ago and i like it alot better. i cant manage to find an anchor point i like thats higher than index to corner of mouth and thumb under jawbone, so my gaps were huge with split.  with split i could only see the last few inches of the shaft, with 3 under i see alot more... so i guess its like gunbarreling.

[VictoryHunter]

No right way! Just have to find what works for you. I shoot split finger, and totally instinctively. Just pick a spot, anchor I the corner of my mouth, and as soon as I hit anchor I release.

It is helpful to shoot with a technique that matches the bow. As example, if it is a longbow look at Hill or Schulz. If it is a 44" or 48" recurve, a static style with three under would be more useable for most. Hill said 'imaginary secondary aiming point', I take that to mean exactly that, imaginary not actual.  I think it is what our "instincts" tell us whether we acknowledge  it or not. That level of acknowledgement in the mental process is about all that is different in the hunting aiming methods. The finer points are up to the individual.

[RedShaft]

Find what grip you like and you can use instictive at close range and gap further out. Because of the high held bow due to trajectory you can go with gap. I know at longer ranges instinctive is not nearly as accurate as an aiming method.  I'm sure some guys do that. Just a thought too.

[Caleb Monroe]

I have shot both ways. Instinctive is alot like a baseball pitcher for me I have off days that would last for weeks. I have practiced a gapping method that allows me to be more consistent on days when my focus is off. There is nothing like simply watching your arrow hit where your looking. But when its not going where your looking its discouraging. I would say gapping is easier shooting 3 under. Just my 2 cents.