Just shoot it.

[swampthing]

Longbows and fluid shooting. Only the slightest pause at anchor point, just enough to smooth out any roughness in the draw. Shooting it just like one would a shotgun. Some target shooters may call it the "liar's line," those same shooters have missed the whole point. You almost cannot describe the energetic fluidity that "style" evokes. The only conscious effort is looking at the spot, and then allowing the body to do what it needs to do to hit it. No conscious effort to gap, aim, line-up, snap, be fast, be slow, etc.. etc.. just allowing your natural reaction to be just that. Shooting this way for a while you will give back all the "extras" you worked for to get where you are today. Worked for is the key word in this thread. Just shooting, in a playful, relaxing, natural as walking way, one more very effective way to hit the ever increasing spot.

[BOWMARKS]

I agree!! The longer I concentrate,line up,aim,hold my anchor the worse I shoot.      

[swampthing]

Grew up fishing with spinner reels, never though much about casting, just did it. Did I practice, yup, by just doing it...

[moleman]

Well stated swampthing! After working to achieve proper form  and doing the hold, aim, up, down ,left, right thing it finally clicked for me, JUST PICK A SPOT AND SHOOT IT! been doing it that way ever since. The greatest computer ever devised was the one that God put between our ears, if you learn to just let it take over while making a shot without conscious thought, its amazing how well you can perform.

[Brazos]

When I hold too long my release falls apart.  If I shoot in one fluid motion I don't have time to think about my release and it is good.

[Gregg S]

I kind of have been going through the similar thing. Although I don't shoot in one fluid motion, I have resently changed my shooting back to what I used to do before I started trying some of the advice on shooting form. Maybe I misinterpeted it or just misunderstood it or over did it, but, I just went back to basically what you said and just draw the arrow back to my eye and shoot it. I do hold at anchor for a bit, but, all the other things that I was trying to do I just eliminated. I think that R. Welsh states it in his video to have a steady bow arm and a consistant anchor and "don't make it any harder then it needs to be". Sorry to Rick if I didn't quote him exactly but that is the jist of it. I'm not trying to trash anyone who shoots with the perfect form and follow through. I just could not do it consistantly. Anchor to my eye, steady bow arm and shoot, I can do and very consistantly.

[Richie]

Originally posted by Brazos:
When I hold too long my release falls apart.  If I shoot in one fluid motion I don't have time to think about my release and it is good.

Nicely said    

[Thumper Dunker]

Right on. Too much thinking clouds the brain. Like you said just shoot.

[swampthing]

That's how I roll.

[pcg]

On the other hand, Rick Welch is quoted as saying hold on anchor for a beat or two, "savoring the moment" before releasing. I like that.

[kahunter]

I'm still in the "working for it" stage, so I guess I am concentrating on form more than accuracy right now, but I do know that the "just shoot it" philosophy always worked better for me playing basketball (I still play ball, but nothing seems to work for me now!).  I will probably lean more toward this type of shooting once I figure out my form a bit.

[swampthing]

Different strokes...  if all you want to do is hit paper/targets....
 I like to thread the needle, so to speak. Lining up with perfect form and shooting "at" animals, like turkeys, is a lot different then putting an arrow between twigs and "into" them.

[paoliguy]

I just had this point driven home too. My 13 year old and I were driving to a 3D shoot. As I talked about all of the form things I was going to focus on he said he would do what he always did - "Look at the target and shoot where he was looking". At the end of the day he had the better score card and I was whining about my form... Think it's time to simplify!

[mnxs54]

I let go when I know it's time and feels right. Just like anything else the best way to get better is to shoot more. Stump/leaf shooting in the woods works for me.

[tkytrac]

I have never opened my mouth on the subject cause I don't want everyone to know I have this odd way of looking at "anchor point and hold" but I guess we're on the subject.
Watch the great shooters shoot a target. Anchor and hold and release. Then watch the same shooter shoot an object out of the air. One fluid draw and release. Which is the harder target to hit?

Enough said.

[tkytrac]

I believe the fluid draw and release will get the job done, especially in the field. JUST SHOOT IT! LOL

[Terry Lightle]

You guys pretty much said it all

[Greybark]

I like a slight pause at anchor (a get your S--T together pause) then release . such pause can vary slightly and is deterimed by when you feel comfortable.
  Cheers from the Country that has everything except the Stanley Cup .

[swampthing]

Aggravated body parts from life's overuse. Frustrated mindset from life's, "needy." Convoluted vision as a result. Though you aim, you still miss. Your mind is overworked trying to do more than 1 thing at a time. You can see this when your arrow flies elsewhere than where "pointed." Your body is telling your mind that it is doing too much and it will relax certain functions, {your concentration is a function.}  When we concentrate on one thing at a time, such as "just shooting," we can let go of all the "work" and just shoot.