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I'm ready to give up on traditional archery (solved)

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Lorchstar

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
No matter what I do I keep shooting to the left. I am grouping 4 inches left. 90% of the time, the other 10% are all over the place. Right now I am only shooting 10 yards.

My limbs are centered and my arrows are a little on the weak side-- I think since I dont trust any of it due to poor grouping. Using tab, 3 under middel finger corner of mouth. Using point of arrow/gap shooting. I need to close one eye due to eye dominance--If I open both eyes I can only see arrow image way to the right.

RH shooter. 37#DW
uncut 500 spine arrows with 100 gn points=arrow left
uncut 600 spine with 100 gn points=arrows left

If I:
Turn head all the way towards target=arrows left
Turn head toward string=arrows left
open stance, closed stance, neutral stance=arrows left
Back tension=arrows left.
Making sure my arm is straight=arrows left
cant bow to right=arrows left
cant bow left=arrows left
deep hook/ not deep hook=arrows left
more hand /less hand on grip=arrows left



I saw a coach a little while ago. I was very disappointed in the session. I dont think the guy knew what he was talking about. Some younger dude that worked there giving coaching.
 
#3 · (Edited)
At 10 yards you should be able to hit the center regardless of tune if you execute well enough.

You mention eye dominance. Are you shooting the same way as your eye dominance?

If I shoot against my eye dominance, I can miss the entire target bag at 10 yards.

Eye dominance has a huge impact (more for some folks like me than others) with how you perceive the target and can result in significant left/right issues.

The arrow could be going exactly where you are pointing, but you are not seeing it correctly when aiming.

Folks with mild dominance issues tend to not recognize this.

Have you tried shooting the other handedness?

This assumes you are actually aiming. If you are shooting instinctive then you may want to try aiming for a while until you can put the arrow where you are looking.
 
#4 ·
Lorchstar said:
No matter what I do I keep shooting to the left. I am grouping 4 inches left. 90% of the time, the other 10% are all over the place. Right now I am only shooting 10 yards.

My limbs are centered and my arrows are a little on the weak side-- I think since I dont trust any of it due to poor grouping. Using tab, 3 under middel finger corner of mouth. Using point of arrow/gap shooting. I need to close one eye due to eye dominance--If I open both eyes I can only see arrow image way to the right. Shooting bow vertical.

RH shooter. 37#DW
uncut 500 spine arrows with 100 gn points=arrow left
uncut 600 spine with 100 gn points=arrows left

If I:
Turn head all the way towards target=arrows left
Turn head toward string=arrows left
open stance, closed stance, neutral stance=arrows left
Back tension=arrows left.
Making sure my arm is straight=arrows left

I saw a coach a little while ago. I was very disappointed in the session. I dont think the guy knew what he was talking about. Some younger dude that worked there giving coaching.
Click to expand...
Alignment or bad release. 600 are still on the stiff side if you are shooting off the shelf, heavier point weight would be reasonable. You are only a month into this. It is a marathon not a sprint.
 
#6 ·
I would suggest a lighter draw weight bow setup with the correct arrows to get your form down. 30 lbs is a nice place to begin. With a consistent form you will achieve consistent arrow flight. This should be a journey so to speak. You need to have a certain mindset and reasonable goals. Most of all you have to have determination too and be able to put the bow down for a few minutes when things are not working well. Starting out I shot at a very close range to develop the consistency I mentioned. I think 37 is way to high to start with personally. 30 is a much better weight. A few arrows shot with good form is worth much more than dozens shot with poor form.
 
#7 ·
L -

You're aiming to the left, get over it.
Deliberately "aim" 4" to the right - and that implies using an aiming method, including a sight if necessary.
Other than getting a (better) instructor, maybe archery isn't for you.
Just reality, if you're not enjoying it or it's frustrating, for any reason, then why do it???
Life's too short.

Viper1 out.
 
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#9 ·
You need to try 700 spine. I was having the same issue until I went even weaker spine then what is recommended. Fact is....your bow setup might just like a weaker spine.

Also, just me. But it should be FUN. If you're not having fun as a beginner, then maybe it just not for you. You seem to be very dedicated and focus. Maybe relax a little and dont care about the result.
 
#10 ·
If you’re wanting help, we need to see what’s going on. Can you post pictures?

Based on what you’ve posted, I’m thinking the main issue is a string alignment problem. Something like this (ignore the sight pin, just consider the arrow tip in relation L-R of the target center).

Image



This would be easy to diagnose from seeing a picture taken from directly in front, showing the bowstring, the full length of the arrow and your aiming eye. Can you post a picture of you at full draw, with a camera on the target a couple of feet above your aiming spot?
 
#11 ·
Stash said:
If you’re wanting help, we need to see what’s going on. Can you post pictures?

Based on what you’ve posted, I’m thinking the main issue is a string alignment problem. Something like this (ignore the sight pin, just consider the arrow tip in relation L-R of the target center).

View attachment 7867435


This would be easy to diagnose from seeing a picture taken from directly in front, showing the bowstring, the full length of the arrow and your aiming eye. Can you post a picture of you at full draw, with a camera on the target a couple of feet above your aiming spot?
Click to expand...
With that high anchor he will likely have trouble getting the string blur over.
 
#12 ·
Don’t give up. I would up your tip weight on both of those arrows. Try 150 grain field tips, as I think are still too stiff. I think you will see that a 600 spine with a 150 grain tip will work better. Try increasing tip weight before buying new arrows. Keep your bow arm up and on target until your arrow impacts the target.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
c_m_shooter said:
Alignment or bad release. 600 are still on the stiff side if you are shooting off the shelf, heavier point weight would be reasonable. You are only a month into this. It is a marathon not a sprint.
Click to expand...
I went out and played with the 600 spine some more. Initially I added a 50gn insert to a couple arrows and it helped a little bit. Then I turned my limb bolts all the way in to eek out another 2lbs DW and grew my brace from 7 5/8" to 8 1/2". Those changes moved my group over just to the right. So, I backed my limb bolts out a bit and took a couple twist out of the string. I seem to be right on the money now. I shot way too mamy arrows today and need to stop. I'll check it out again tomorrow.

My bow is 68", so I'm guessing a 8.5" brace is acceptable?
 
#14 ·
I feel your pain. I have been shooting a trad bow for about 8 months now. I shoot an indoor 3d, it's just a fun shoot, every Monday night targets from 8 to 20 yards. I do decently well in this scenario.

I shot my trad bow at an outdoor 3d range for the first time yesterday. Talk about a humbling experience. I'd question my hit ratio to be somewhere around 20%.

I shoot compound also. I am thinking I don't have or am not willing to put the time in to be good enough with a trad bow to ever consider hunting with it. I have a real problem with the possibility of making an animal suffer by not making a good shot. I am considering ditching trad and shooting even more than I already do with my compound. I love the thought of traditional archery. I hate the thought of making a bad shot on a live animal.
 
#16 ·
What kind of bow, if it's an ILF bow a stabilizer can really help, I would also go buy an ethics archery tip test kit, I'm shooting 500's from a 40lb bow but had to put 200gr on the front to get a bare shaft flying right. I really love my trad bow even though I'm mainly a compound shooter, the trad bow is so fun to shoot.
 
#17 ·
Viper1 said:
L -

You're aiming to the left, get over it.
Deliberately "aim" 4" to the right - and that implies using an aiming method, including a sight if necessary.
Other than getting a (better) instructor, maybe archery isn't for you.
Just reality, if you're not enjoying it or it's frustrating, for any reason, then why do it???
Life's too short.

Viper1 out.
Click to expand...
Was going to say the same thing…. If you are grouping arrows left then aim more to the right. You’re far too new to this to concern yourself with tuning.
 
Discussion starter · #18 · (Edited)
Viper1 said:
L -

You're aiming to the left, get over it.
Deliberately "aim" 4" to the right - and that implies using an aiming method, including a sight if necessary.
Other than getting a (better) instructor, maybe archery isn't for you.
Just reality, if you're not enjoying it or it's frustrating, for any reason, then why do it???
Life's too short.

Viper1 out.
Click to expand...
I am not aiming left. This is the target I have been using (I draw on brown paper bags) I put the tip of my arrow right on the black dot at bottom. I am about 8" of a point gap at ten yards.
Image
 
#19 ·
Lorchstar said:
No matter what I do I keep shooting to the left. I am grouping 4 inches left. 90% of the time, the other 10% are all over the place. Right now I am only shooting 10 yards.

My limbs are centered and my arrows are a little on the weak side-- I think since I dont trust any of it due to poor grouping. Using tab, 3 under middel finger corner of mouth. Using point of arrow/gap shooting. I need to close one eye due to eye dominance--If I open both eyes I can only see arrow image way to the right.

RH shooter. 37#DW
uncut 500 spine arrows with 100 gn points=arrow left
uncut 600 spine with 100 gn points=arrows left

If I:
Turn head all the way towards target=arrows left
Turn head toward string=arrows left
open stance, closed stance, neutral stance=arrows left
Back tension=arrows left.
Making sure my arm is straight=arrows left
cant bow to right=arrows left
cant bow left=arrows left
deep hook/ not deep hook=arrows left
more hand /less hand on grip=arrows left



I saw a coach a little while ago. I was very disappointed in the session. I dont think the guy knew what he was talking about. Some younger dude that worked there giving coaching.
Click to expand...
The bow you are shooting, or bows? Are they equipped with shelves? If so, are the shelves cut to center or past center? If no shelf then I presume you are shooting off the knuckle. I shoot all of the above. Any bow with no shelf or one cut to center, but not past center are going to angle the arrow to the left or right depending on the side of the bow from which you are shooting. With these bows your shots will always travel on that angle unless you set your point of aim to the left or right or utilize a type of khatra. Khatra being a technique used to clear the bow from the path of the arrow. NuSensei on YouTube did a very informative video on khatra, typically affiliated with thumb draw shooting. I actually use a form of khatra when shooting Mediterranean style with my non center shot bows.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
spookyrat said:
The bow you are shooting, or bows? Are they equipped with shelves? If so, are the shelves cut to center or past center? If no shelf then I presume you are shooting off the knuckle. I shoot all of the above. Any bow with no shelf or one cut to center, but not past center are going to angle the arrow to the left or right depending on the side of the bow from which you are shooting. With these bows your shots will always travel on that angle unless you set your point of aim to the left or right or utilize a type of khatra. Khatra being a technique used to clear the bow from the path of the arrow. NuSensei on YouTube did a very informative video on khatra, typically affiliated with thumb draw shooting. I actually use a form of khatra when shooting Mediterranean style with my non center shot bows.
Click to expand...
Shooting a White Feather Lark.
 
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