Shooting form? Can this apply to hunting?

[Lark Bunting]

I memorized the instruction in this thread from AT:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthrea ... light=form

And incorporated it into my son's form today. He went from 4-6" groups to 1-2" groups at 19 yards in an hour.

Of course, he asked the question, "we'll never get to set up perfectly like this while hunting, right?".

How much of this will translate to good form while hunting?

[Swede]

I did not watch the AT instructions on shooting form, but went to the PSE shooters school back in the 1990s. I would say most of what I was taught still applies in a hunting situation. Shoot with good form until it becomes natural.

[Lark Bunting]

I did not watch the AT instructions on shooting form, but went to the PSE shooters school back in the 1990s. I would say most of what I was taught still applies in a hunting situation. Shoot with good form until it becomes natural.

It's a good read if you get a few minutes to check it out. I'm guessing most shooting opportunities are off balance, knee on a rock, pine cone digging into the other, snot hanging from your nose from the climb up the hill, breathing heavy, etc. That thread looks like it would be great for range shooters. I'm wondering if anything could be directly translated to a hunting opportunity. Sure, anchor point, arm position, those may translate.

I'm pobably over thinking it but figured I'd get input from you all.

[ABQ_Chica]

I'll admit I haven't seen that thread either (will check it out), but did start off with archery lessons, and still take refresher lessons from time to time. Maintaining good form is essential, whether for target shooting or hunting. But you've pointed out the big difference: in hunting, you often don't get that ideal situation for stance and form. Your only shot opportunity might come when you're kneeling, off balance, and leaning around a tree trunk. So those are the stances you practice, over and over and over. Shooting at 3D shoots helps a ton, but if you have ANY chance to shoot outside, try shots from every possible position, also taking uphill and downhill shots when you can. All while maintaining your form, consistent anchor point, etc.

Physical conditioning is another difference, too. The better shape you're in, the less recovery time you'll need after the chase/hike up. But it's still good to practice shots after some exertion (and practice calming yourself--and your breathing--down, too).

As for the snot thing, wish I could help...I haven't found a way around that yet! If elk had a "sniffle" call in their language, I'd be an expert.

[jmez]

Very applicable to hunting. Develop muscle and shot memory with correct form. In a hunting situation your sub conscience will take over and make you more effective. As was mentioned do a lot of practicing from odd angles and when tired.

[UtPreacher]

I read through the post on AT. Everything that was talked about is very applicable. Almost all the advice given was to tune the bow to fit the shooter properly. When the bow is out of tune for the shooter it will cause you to create bad habits in your form. The shooter in the thread had to long of draw length and it caused his form from feet to head to be out of balance. So very applicable to hunting in my opinion. Without a bow tuned to fit you, your form will be off and your consistency will suffer.

[Willie makit]

I have never had a formal class or bow shooting school, just shoot till I get ok at it, so I know my form is not "correct".

I had new strings put on my hoyt alpha max this am and learned something today. My top cam has been leaning with the top left and after tuning out the bow the guy had me change my grip. I normally rock my wrist forward on the draw so all the weight of the bow was between the index finger and my thumb. My thought was to do this to eliminate torque on the bow. He had me palm the handle keeping the pressure evenly distributed on my bow grip. The lean in the cam was gone! I'm still at a loss to understand why and how grip directly affects cam lean but I did this several times to make sure I wasn't being fed some bs. Guy spent a couple hours with me tweaking on everything so I'm excited for yard to dry out so I can try this out.

Just a tidbit to think about.

[ctdad]

Willie,

I'm not following what you are describing about grip? Can you post of pic of your old and new grip?

[Willie makit]

Ctdad,

Been working long hours, I'll try to post a pic in day or two when I catch a break. Basically if you take your bow hand (I'm right handed) instead of gripping solidly like a large pistol, just roll your wrist forward/down as If you were aiming the pistol at the ground about 10 yards in front of you with your left arm fully extended. At full draw this puts all the weight of the bow totally off the palm of your hand and between the index finger an thumb in the fatty muscleless part. My pinky and the next finger I kept pointing forward and never gripped the bow at all. Only my grip on the bow was thumb, index and middle finger.

Now, I 'm going to make myself shoot keeping even pressure on the palm of my hand or at least during the draw cycle. I'll have to see about that with practice. The cam lean was so bad while we were setting it up it looked like the string could very possibly jump out of the groove. I've yet to get outside to start Shooting and sighting it in but surely that can't do anything but help.

Next time you shoot Change your grip and draw back, then look at cams alinement with the string, I'm sure different mfg. and cable arrangements are more or less tolerant to this. All I know for sure is my 09 Hoyt 32" alphamax is sensitive to the grip/draw cycle.

[timberland]

I like to liken your bow grip like pushing the bow of a canoe off of shore. The most support will be a diagonal line across your palm. With your wrist cocked back (not forward) this point of support with be in direct line with your wrist and continuing to your elbow. The most support (read "most stable") will result from the straightest line that is achieved from a slightly bent elbow through the center of the wrist, out the heel of the hand between the two palm pads and putting pressure on the bow handle at about the center of the grip, not the upper part where the grip is molded back toward the shooter.

[jmez]

Grip is huge and likely the most prevalent form flaw out there. I shot with a poor grip for over twenty years. Willie were you using a high wrist grip before? Sounds like it from your description. Good for traditional equipment but not so much for compounds.

I fell victim to the open hand articles. Open hand does not mean actually opening your fingers from the grip. If you are physically holding your hand open there is tension in the hand and you are torquing the bow.

[Willie makit]

I have always used that high grip, I never read about it, just looked at it as a way to limit me torquing bow with a full palm grip. Honestly if he hadn't been tuning the bow and trying different grips I would have never gave it a second though. Any expert explain the cam lean from different grips? All I can come up with is the high grip pulls the top cam harder?..?