HH bug got me ... Part One!

[mikebiz]

As I understand it from Ekin's description is that Howard concentrated on the target he wished to hit, but also saw the point of the arrow in his peripheral vision.  Here's the description as it is written in "The Man and The Legend":

    Of all the questions asked about Howard, the most common would be: "How did Howard aim?"       Howard used what he called the split vision or secondary aiming method. In order to understand this method, select an object and concentrate on it. Now bring one hand up, with index finger pointing, until you can see your finger in your field of vision. Without taking your eyes off your target, mover your finger up and down and from side to side. You can still see it while never taking your eyes off your target. Once you grasp this concept, merely substitute the point of your arrow for your finger. When you shoot concentrate on your target, but notice were the point of your arrow is aiming. Then if you shoot too high, all you have to do the next time is lower the point of the arrow; if too low, simply raise it. By keeping track like this, you have an excellent guideline to go by to keep you from repeating your exact same mistake again.  

Now I know that Craig shot with Howard when he was a kid, so they must have discussed this method.  However, I believe there is more going on here as this would require you to make multiple shots and adjust accordingly if the first shot missed.  This is where muscle memory and LOTS of shooting practice come into play.  I would be so bold as to say that not using the arrow to aim is about as instinctive as it gets.  Just my opinion, so don't fry me over this one.
   

This is a fun topic to mull over though.  Too bad Ol' Howard isn't here to ask.

[30coupe]

Here is what Howard does in his own words.

"To anyone wishing to learn the split-vision or secondary-aiming method in shooting a bow, here are practical directions to follow: Select any given object to represent the target to be hit, and focus your eye on that object. Using the right hand, closed except for the index finger, bring that finger into your field of vision. At first it will be difficult to keep from shifting your direct vision away from the original or primary object, but after some practice it will be easy to hold fast with your direct vision on the original object, looking at it primarily, while secondarily you will be able to point your finger at any other object inside the scope of your vision, without looking directly at either the finger or whatever secondary object you have selected. Keep both eyes open at all times.

As soon as the eyes have become accustomed to seeing in this manner, you are ready to begin using the split-vision method of aiming an arrow. You merely have to substitute your arrow for your index finger, using only the tip end of the arrow when it is at full draw to aim with.

As a practical illustration of this method, suppose there were a basketball fastened to the side of a bare wall. Around that basketball suppose there were a baseball, a tennis ball, and a ping-pong ball also fastened to the wall. Suppose you choose the basketball as the target to be hit. Take your shooting stance and look directly at the ball with both eyes. While concentrating on the basketball with both your brain and your vision, draw your arrow its full length and bring the tip of it up into your field of vision. Point the tip of the arrow at the baseball and loose.

With another arrow do the same thing as before, except that this time you point the tip of the arrow at the tennis ball and shoot. Then with a third arrow repeat the performance as before, except to point the arrow head at the ping-pong ball and let go. When you are able to do this without letting your eyes shift from the basketball, you are using the secondary or split-vision method of aiming which I employ at all times.

If, however, you allow your eyes to shift away from the basketball to the point of the arrow and back again to the ball, you have not yet trained your eyes enough to use this method of aiming. At first it will seem impossible to aim in the manner directed, but after a few hours of practice, it will be easy to do."

Howard Hill. Hunting the Hard Way.

To be honest, I didn't really understand this until I read the Popular Mechanics article about Howard. The reporter explained the practical application of this method of aiming even better than Howard himself, for me anyway.

It is amazing what one can force his brain to do. I guess it is kind of like thinking about hunting while you are at work, lol.  

[Bud B.]

I guess this is a timely link to the PM article as posted by another TGer.

Some of it is covered on page 350 of this thread.

http://books.google.com/books?id=deIDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA443&dq=howard%20hill&pg=PA443#v=onepage&q=howard%20hill&f=false

This thread has taken it's own life.

It may need an "index" of linked subjects if it keeps going.    


At this rate it may reach 500 pages before it is a year old.

[mikebiz]

Thanks 30coupe.  I am getting a copy of "Hunting the Hard Way" for Christmas.  We should all be happy that Howard wrote so much as many of his stories and techniques would undoubtedly be lost in translation.  I would imagine that many of us miss a man that we never met.  He truly is legendary.  

I'm gonna try that method next time I shoot.

[mikebiz]

Well with all this talk about technique I feel it's about time someone adds a pic of some pretty bows.  Isn't that what this thread is all about anyway?  Who cares if we can shoot them.  They're just so darn sexy to look at.  So pimp as the kids say these days      

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what these risers are?  There are a few clues as to the identity of at least one of them.  

[MT Longbow]

Hey fellas, merry Christmas to all the Hill brothers out there!


By the way has anyone heard from Craig what limited edition he is planning next??

[ChrisM]

Mike i can't remeber the name of the top one but i know its a limited edition one before the robin hood.  I think it was named after Flinn's yact or something like that.  I kow the grip is stingray.

[Nate Steen .]

According to Schulz, hill taught him how to shoot 'bowhunting style'...and made no reference to secondary aiming points....  Schulz concluded by hill's book that the secondary aiming point system was more directed at target shooting....which makes sense.  Schulz said.he watched hill make some fantastic shots where the speed factor alone made it impossible to pick a secondary spot. Wesley teaches the secondary spot system, and if you watch him shoot you will see that he shoots much more deliberately than howard.

[stik&string]

Nice collection Mike!

I'm about to head to work for the weekend so I want to wish all my Hillaholic brothers a Merry Christmas!

[Nate Steen .]

According to Schulz, hill taught him how to shoot 'bowhunting style'...and made no reference to secondary aiming points....  Schulz concluded by hill's book that the secondary aiming point system was more directed at target shooting....which makes sense.  Schulz said.he watched hill make some fantastic shots where the speed factor alone made it impossible to pick a secondary spot. Wesley teaches the secondary spot system, and if you watch him shoot you will see that he shoots much more deliberately than howard.

[ChrisM]

I was wondering about that Nate as Hill said you have to decide if you are a hunter or target shooter that you can't be both.

[frank bullitt]

I'vs stood beside Shulz, Wesley and Ferguson,and enjoyed watching them shoot.

Wesley does shoot delibrately as does Byran. But when needed, they could make a"controlled" quick fluid shot! I'm not sure about John, only seen his fluid shots.

Howard was great, wished I could have stood in attendance, at his appearances!

What about Ande Vail, Wilhem boys? Great shots, too!

My opinion of Howard is his shooting was great, but where he succeded, was the ability to adjust and excel, without coaching, video, within himself. Who was out there to compare or learn from, in his day?

[mikebiz]

Originally posted by ChrisM:
Mike i can't remeber the name of the top one but i know its a limited edition one before the robin hood.  I think it was named after Flinn's yact or something like that.  I kow the grip is stingray.

Yep the top bow is the HHA "Sirocco" Limited Edition #48 of 50.  

Here's the list from top to bottom:
1) Howard Hill Archery "Sirocco"
2) Pete George "The White Mountain"
3) Pete George "Safari"
4) Pete George "Highlander" named  Yew Bet  
5) David Miller "Old Tom"

#6 is on it's way.  I'll post another pic when that one arrives.  It's a special one (not that the others aren't).  I love them all.

Happy holidays to all you Hillbowholics out there.

[Ari]

Nate, do you know why he related the secondary aiming spot to target shooting?
I tried looking at one thing and shooting another, it kind of works but why do target shooters want to be looking at something and shooting another spot?    

[Overspined]

These descriptions of Hill's shooting style are always fun to read again.  When he hunted, or was trick shooting, he really never seemed to be "indirectly aiming", so maybe as stated that was more for target archery.

One fella said to me that Hill was one hell of a great shot, and from the descriptions, it reallly wasn't clear that he even really knew exactly how he did it....

I thought that was humerous, and it could apply to a lot of the greats in many sports.  Some folks, through natural talent and hard work, just plain excel in some cases beyond what would ever be thought possible.

[swampthing]

Curious as to where you all have been gripping.... lately.  I have been doing some stumping and have found that just grabbing where it is natural, not emphasizing any thing, just grab and go, let the bow pull it self in to "time" working great so far, quiet too.
The dynamic fulcrum on the bow is at the upper 1/3 of the riser. So it seems that forcing "heel" pressure would be counter productive. Just grab it, wrap hand around it where it naturally feels right, stare at spot I want to hit, spread draw/release.

[30coupe]

I think Howard used the secondary aiming more when he was attempting really long shots. I can't recall just were it is in the book, but he mentioned picking a tree or rock or something several feet above his quarry as his aiming point.

Like Pope and Young, he also shot an arrow at distant targets, watched where it landed, then adjusted his point of aim on the next shot, and connected. On closer targets he simply "shot right at it." How he did that so accurately is what I'd like to know.

One thing I think guys like Howard Hill and Byron Ferguson have that many of us lack is incredible vision. When they coupled that with excellent hand-eye coordination, the results were nothing short of amazing.

I don't know, Hill in Hunting the Hard Way was pretty specific. He did say one cannot be so dogmatic about it, he also said that it gets to be very fluid and fast.  Although, picking an imaginary spot can get real analytical, for someone that has not had a feel for pointing a bow developed, it is kind of what your own hand/eye coordination would eventually do anyway.  He basically is explaining how he developed his own.  No matter what, you are going to see that arrow out there. Knowing that you are using what you are seeing and how not to get your brain in a tizzy doing it, seems to be the question.

[Overspined]

Swampthing,

I see you have been enjoying the Miller!  It's very nice looking.

One thing I found...was that extra piece of leather on the rest that sticks up to keep the arrow in place was hitting my arrows upon release and making them fly erratic. A couple good ones, and a bad one or two, and so on... I pulled that piece out and BINGO.  I don't think I've shot a quieter bow.

[Overspined]

One thing I am jealous about...is that Hill shot such a heavy bow. All you guys that can handle the heavy draw weights have such a great advantage for general shooting. Speedier heavy arrows that you can "mis-judge" distance with and still hit the mark. I used to shoot my friend's Hill style bow at 64#, and I could only shoot it a few times, maybe 12, but it really sent an arrow down range in a hurry. Injuries keep me from shooting the heavy weights on a regular basis, and lately I just stay away from them.