Tip to Shoot your Bow more accurately!

[Mayfly]

Hey guys -

I want to pass on a tip that I have learned that has really increased my accuracy and my consistency to group and hit bulls eyes. Hopefully it will help someone.

Your grip is very important. I'm going to try and explain this the best I can. Ok, imagine that you have a bottle of soda, beer or water in your hand, the hand that you hold your bow with. Now take your pointer finger and your thumb and hold that bottle loosely and then close the rest of your hand around it so the bottle is just kinda hanging there but stable. This loose but stable grip is really going to help you. Since I started shooting this way my shot has greatly improved. One thing I noticed is that the bow will move more after the shot and that scared me about this grip. I thought that the lose grip would result in more play from the bow and you'll notice as soon as you release your bow will move a lot more than if you have a tight grip. I have a couple pictures to show you an example:

1st Picture - Ready



2nd Picture - The release. Notice that the arrow is already in flight and has left the bow. Also notice that the bow has not yet moved yet.



3rd Picture - Now the bow begins to move. You can see it better when they these pic are next to each other.




But.. be sure to hold your follow through begin sub conciously you may alter the flight of the arrow through a subtle hand movement before the arrow leaves for flight.

This is so much easier to explain in person and to show someone but I thought i'd try and put it out there. I used to be so rigid when I shot and my groups/consistency suffered. This is one change I have made and it has helped tremendously!!

[Mayfly]

Ok.. Yes i'm a little bored at work this morning. Here is a video clip of the photos put together. You can see how even though you have a lose grip your bow will stay stable until the arrow leaves the bow. Hold your follow through - that is very important.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Great tip!  I hope to start bow hunting again next year.  I will try this out!

[deadeye]

Yes, that is a good tip, now if you could come up with one on how not to go bonkers when a deer aproaches your bow stand.  I can plunk the arrows nicely at targets 20-30 yards.  Put me in a stand (I practice from elevated locations) and have a deer go by and I pretty much fling them anywhere.  I'm never quit sure where I will hit them.  Maybe I need more booze or something.   

[buckbucksaddict]

Good tips..I like to see other bow hunters take initiative regarding learning the proper way to shoot...I know a lot of bow hunters that put limited time in practicing, learning, etc.. This is one of my biggest pet peeves...We owe it to the deer, and to other hunters to be the best shots we can be.  If you are going to continually miss deer and wound deer then you should stick to gun hunting!