Shooting Traditional...

[akdd]

BT I would be interested in purchasing your judgment call video if you have it available. I started shooting a recurve this winter and would like to try your method.

[smj]

BT – Sounds like we’ll all have to get a copy of Judgment Call!

Hopesman, and those of you who are thinking I am nuts or unfair! – Thank you for being gentle! I thought long and hard before posting the above. Understand that I do not mean it as a slight to anyone in any way! It is more like this, I own and have shot a black powder rifle, even killed a nice mule deer doe with it. I have owned this rifle since the early 70’s, and have probably shot it 10 times. The problem is that shooting this rifle does not stir me at my core, does not feed my soul. Archery, on the other hand, does. I would not call myself a black powder shooter, I am just a user, but I would call myself an archer. I may have used the rifle, but archery is my choice throughout the year. I have the archery sickness, someone who uses the gear and then puts it away probably does not have it, but does indeed run considerable risk of catching this sickness!

Back to shooting traditional archery equipment…

As is true with any archery equipment, if you do everything the same for every shot, the arrows will fly to the same spot for each and every shot. When learning how to shoot, I hold that the basis of your shooting well starts at your feet. This is not dwelt on by many instruction books. Also, once you learn how to shoot, you may find that your feet tend to be all over the place based on what terrain you end up shooing from. Kneeling, twisting around a log, standing on a steep hill side, and so forth. The feet can go all over! However, when starting out, you need to learn how to position your upper body with respect to the target you intend to shoot. It is the upper body position that the feet support. Move your lead foot forward or backwards, you will shoot right or left unless the torso absorbs this foot positioning change. Hence, for starting out, cut out some of the variables and keep your feet positioned, relative to the target, the same. Where do we start out? Draw an imaginary line from where you are to the center of the target. You can place an arrow on the ground pointing along this line if it helps. Bring your toe tips up to this line every time you take a shot. Find a comfortable width for your feet to span, determine this width relative to your shoulders so that you can be consistent with your foot placements. This will lock your hips in to a given, or known, position. If there is any adjustment to be made, make it with your waist by subtle twists at the bellybutton. Take note of that twist, if needed, you will need to make the same twist every shot. If it is not repeated the same way every shot, then you end up trying to adjust for it elsewhere in your form. This can lead to inconsistencies in your shooting that can be really frustrating to the beginning archer. They think that they are doing everything the same, yet if you don’t start at the feet, you can not do everything the same because somewhere along the way you have to compensate for what you are not doing at your feet. Again, if you don’t think this is so, put your feet along the imaginary line to the center of the target, then move your leading foot, the one towards the target, 6 inches off the line either way… you either adjust for it, or shoot right or left. I rest my case!

[hopesman]

smj said:

BT – Sounds like we’ll all have to get a copy of Judgment Call!

Hopesman, and those of you who are thinking I am nuts or unfair! – Thank you for being gentle! I thought long and hard before posting the above. Understand that I do not mean it as a slight to anyone in any way! It is more like this, I own and have shot a black powder rifle, even killed a nice mule deer doe with it. I have owned this rifle since the early 70’s, and have probably shot it 10 times. The problem is that shooting this rifle does not stir me at my core, does not feed my soul. Archery, on the other hand, does. I would not call myself a black powder shooter, I am just a user, but I would call myself an archer. I may have used the rifle, but archery is my choice throughout the year. I have the archery sickness, someone who uses the gear and then puts it away probably does not have it, but does indeed run considerable risk of catching this sickness!

Absolutely no offense taken or meant This is one of the reasons that I think that this site is so wonderful One can express an opinion freely without fear of censure. I too love to shoot my bow and am probably addicted even though it has been less than a year since I first held one in my hands I have told more than one of my hunting buddies that I no longer have a desire to carry the 308 in the woods I've even thought about selling it but that would be unwise as I would have to jump through quite a few hoops if I ever wanted to replace it The thing that struck me is that sometimes ones enthusiasm and passion for something, whether it be archery or something else, can blind us or generate a certain feeling that others can only measure up if they feel the same way that we do. I really believe that this isn't the case and I doubt that it exists in few if any of those on this site. When you see and experience the goodness of the folks here, that isn't a difficult conclusion to arrive at However, we must be on our guard so that this type of thing doesn't creep in on us

[stilllearning]

OK I have been wondering how I would respond to this but I think I have it now. Here is my diclaimer as I say all this with no frustration or anger just thoughts that go thriough my head that we can look at and in some cases agree to dissagree on.

Smj I like what you are doing with the shoot along, teach , and talk through post and I will continue to read.

Now as to the definition of an archer............. I no longer know where I fit in and I do see everyones points. Yes just because I can build a shed I agree It does not make me an carpenter. Just because someone uses a bow to fling and arroww does it make them an archer? I don't know about that.

But having said that having the passion for archery and the will to know and learn does in my mind. I know what you are talking about when you say the use a bow during the season and put it down for the rest of the year person may not be the archer that we think of. I think the ones without that want to know more will give it up in the end and agree they are not truly an archer.

But the guy that has a passion like you said to shoot and does so when they can, who does find relaxation in shooting or much enjoyment with it and constantly strives to get better . Yup he is a true archer.

Now where do I fit in, is the question I have?

Let me show you. I have passion for archery that has grown into a true addiction I think. I want to show the world how fun this can be and want to work on my bow continuously to improve it and me. I want to learn traditional shooting skills in the hope of it makeing me better with the compound and trad bow. I try to help organize an archery group to help people get involved and I try to get my friends and family involved. BUT. with family commitments, volenteer work, my job, my church, my commitment to the arrows 4 Christ archery group and my love of hunting.......... well I don't have the time to do all the things with my bow that I want to.
Look at the fact that I have had a string for my bow now for about a month but have not got in on, or the new drop away rest that I have not got on yet either. I shoot when I can but right now I am not even averageing once a week and I know I am hurting my shooting skills because of it.

so this is were I get the confussion. Am I any less an archer because of all that? I will be up and shooting here in a week or two once I get all these Firearms, Hunter safety, and bow hunters education courses out of way and then the back yard practice begins with up to 4 or 5 times a week shooting arrows< when this snow dissapears, to try and get my form as you say consistant. Doing the exact same thing every time so I can hit the target or deer with confidents every time I shoot. Also try and tell the young kid that shoots once a month when he says, "I'm an archer just like you" that he is not an archer by definiton.

I guess what I think is that I AM still an archer. To tell you the truth I have been physicaly hurting as my desire to shoot has not been being met as of late.

Just my humble two sents worth.

Enough about that though so on wards with the teaching and instruction that is going on here.

Thanks smj.

[stilllearning]

I have come to the realization that I am going to need a lap top with wireless internet so I can read some of this while I am shooting so I can see and visualize it all. wow this is going be fun.
this may also explain why I was all over the place the other night. LOL

[BT]

I don't think that there is any doubt at all that you are an archer.
I don't think anyone has to have all the answers or shoot only a bow or even shoot alot to be an archer.

What makes an archer is the desire to shoot....plain and simple.

If you have desire then you will pursue and if you pursue then you will learn....even if your not trying to learn.
At that point you are an archer

[smj]

When archery is one of lifes motivations, I think you have it! You poor, sick, dude!

So, I was out shooting a couple rounds this morning working on what I want to include in this thread... So, I was focused on hitting the same spot. This does not happen often, but here it is -



If you do it the same each time, the arrows go to the same point, and, yep!, one can Robin Hood carbon arrows with traditional rigs...

[BT]

Actually , in my experience.....it is alot more common for traditional shooters to robin hood as opposed to compound shooters when shooting instinctive.
I have heard from others that they have witnessed the same as well.

Probably due to the fact that traditional shooters generally shoot alot more arrows

[BT]

Now that we have decided what wording applies to us ;D .... lets focus on practice

btreviews.proboards57.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=traditional&thread=1142186746&page=1


My method utilizes a flipper II rest , the end of which is used as a sight pin.
This works excellent as long as you consistently hit the same anchor.
In that respect....this teaches you to anchor perfectly every time in short order

The flipper is either trimmed or extended to cause left and right impacts.
Generally either arrow weight , string walking or gap shooting is the method used to control elevation.
Top be honest....at 20 yards your pretty much on with any shaft give or take a couple of inches.

[stilllearning]

admin said:

I don't think that there is any doubt at all that you are an archer.
I don't think anyone has to have all the answers or shoot only a bow or even shoot alot to be an archer.

What makes an archer is the desire to shoot....plain and simple.

If you have desire then you will pursue and if you pursue then you will learn....even if your not trying to learn.
At that point you are an archer

Exactly what I was trying to say but you have it in a much better and shorter way.