Jaw bone achor points - upper or lower

[buckhuck]

Which one do you use and why?

[Dave2old]

Look at the pics on this site and elsewhere and you'll see all manner of anchor points. I think you can get used to anything, so long as it is Consistent. Front sight (the "pick a spot" on our target) and rear sight (anchor point). The brain can accommodate and I don't think it matters so much where you anchor. What kills accuracy, even among some chronically target-panicked old-timers, is not coming to full draw on precisely the same anchor point with every shot. If I were in the situation of searching for the "best" anchor point, I'd close my eyes and draw "instinctively" several times until it became evident where my anchor was most comfy ... and then train my eye-brain for accuracy at that "automatic" spot. Why? Because that's where you'll wind up releasing from when the game is close, the pressure is on, and you're truly shooting "instinctively." For this sort of practice, stump shooting has it all over same-distance target shooting in the backyard. d

[Dave Huff]

I anchor with ondex at the corner of the mouth, and web of my hand betweem the index and thumb around the back of the jaw.  My thumb rests under my jaw, my index and thumb line up with my thumb directly below my index finger. Why, cause I always have.  That particular anchor seems to fit my face and it's confortable. I know when I hit full draw, that hand is locked to my face and it's not moving until time of release.  It comes down to just that, consistant and confortable.

[roper]

top because it doesn't move as bottom jaw does.allen

[Orion]

The lower you anchor, the easier it is to bring your back muscles into play and keep your drawing elbow lower and in line.  It's also easier to draw more weight with a lower anchor.  On the other hand, a higher anchor puts the arrow closer to the eye, and probably more in line with it, which aids in aiming.  Not talking about gap shooting here.  There's just less distance between the arrow and your eye for the brain to have to contend with.  A little less margin for error

I used to shoot with the index finger in the corner of my mouth, pressing slightly on the lower jaw.  I switched about 20 years ago and now shoot with the middle finger in the same place.  I like the sight picture better with the higher (middle finger) anchor, but I feel more in line/comfortable with the lower anchor (index finger).

Too, a lower anchor, in lowering the rear sight, points the arrow higher initially, starting it off on a higher flight path, which generally benefits those shooting lower weight bows.  That's why many target archers anchor under the chin.

Experiment until you find an anchor point you're comfortable with that yields good accuracy.  Good luck.

[bmfer]

What Orion said about flight path. I anchor my "bird" finger on the bottom of my cheekbone, right on my sinus cavity. I had a huge wisdom tooth there years ago, and now I feel a slight kind of sinus pressure when I hit the right spot. I'm as comfortable and accurate as ever there, so I ain't changing it. Plus with the higher anchor, it helps me gap shoot.

[kahunter]

I don't feel comfortable or "inline" with the classic middle finger at corner of mouth.  I spent a lot of time close to the target experimenting with different anchors and ended up putting the index finger on the bony "root" above my canine.  For whatever reason this helps my whole body be more inline and makes my line of sight much better.  After watching Masters of the Barebow 2 I realized that Larry Yien uses a similar anchor.

[Steelhead]

What orion said is pretty much right on.I use the index finger on the canine tooth and that is where its easiest for me to be inline and also to get the thumb on the jawbone in the spot where I like it.

[pseman]

I use the first thumb joint anchored on the upper point of the jawbone just below my ear lobe. I guess this is what is called the "point" of the jawbone. I also anchor the middle finger in the corner of the mouth. This is a two point anchor that I have seen many good shooters use to make the anchor more consistent. I am not a great shot by any means, but this two point anchor has helped my consistency tremendously.

[buckhuck]

Good stuff guys, thanks for all the replies!  Just curious what others are doing that works for them.  I have been experimenting between the upper and lower jaw anchored on my second to last tooth.  I am more comfortable with my lower jaw so far, so I'll prob stick with that for now.


BH

[Holepuncher]

Good question and great answers. I anchor with my "Bird Finger" in the corner of my mouth and my thumb is straight up touching my temple.

[SOS]

Middle finger into the corner of my mouth, index finger against my cheek bone.  I pull hard into anchor as I'm ready to relax through the shot.  Hand ends up behind ear.

[Charlie Cole]

I lay the first-joint-to-knuckle section of my thumb along the ridge of my cheekbone. It's a high anchor, but consistent and I like how it lines up close to my eye.

-Charlie