Hold bow out so level with your target & pull back with draw arm to wards your draw shoulder (that way if loose off release you won't smack self in face) & when get close to shoulder move your draw hand toward your face to YOUR desired anchor point, now aim & shot the arrow by squishing release till fires.

 

I can't quote a technique. But I would strive someday to be able to just draw the bow straight back. With it on target. In hunting situations this is valuable. Shoot a lot sitting down, and come up with a way that lets you draw both ways comfortably. Sitting and standing up. I would also do it kneeling. If your going to hunt it is best.....to be able to draw from all these positions, and when you are tired, and cold . I do grip the bow firmly when drawing, and then move my hand to the shooting position after I am at anchor, I have a little more pulling power when I fully grip the handle. And its automatic after enough practice to rotate the hand into shooting position.

 

I was able to change how I draw my bow this spring, and had to drop 20 pounds of draw weight... I think you can pull more weight with your back than your shoulder after you build up the muscles, just takes time...

 

I was able to change how I draw my bow this spring, and had to drop 20 pounds of draw weight... I think you can pull more weight with your back than your shoulder after you build up the muscles, just takes time...

so how did you change? im struggling to figure out how to engage those back muscles. or know what it feels like when your doing it right. are you back up to your normal draw weight?

 

I was able to change how I draw my bow this spring, and had to drop 20 pounds of draw weight... I think you can pull more weight with your back than your shoulder after you build up the muscles, just takes time...

so how did you change? im struggling to figure out how to engage those back muscles. or know what it feels like when your doing it right. are you back up to your normal draw weight?

No, I haven't shot enought over the summer to get back to 60lbs.
It was weird, there wasn't like a bunch of exercises I did or anything, I just kept trying and watching videos on how to do it, and one day it just clicked.
Which probably isn't too helpful😏. I guess just keep trying.

 

One thing someone told me was, as your drawing your bow, pretend there's an egg between your shoulder blades and try to smash it with your shoulder blades as you draw.

 

Thread 'How to fix bad drawing form?' How to fix bad drawing form?

 

This is something I've been struggling with myself. Self taught elbow down across the chest draw. I see all these dudes drawing elbow up and pulling heavy weight. I try that and I don't think I could pull 60#. Going to check out the link above.

 

Do you have any videos of you drawing? Both the regular way you draw and the way you think you should be drawing. It'll be easier to give advice with them.

My initially guess was that you're overbowed but you saying you can't draw with your wife's 30# makes me feel like something else is wrong.

 

Do you have any videos of you drawing? Both the regular way you draw and the way you think you should be drawing. It'll be easier to give advice with them.

My initially guess was that you're overbowed but you saying you can't draw with your wife's 30# makes me feel like something else is wrong.

i do have videos. remind me how we get them posted on this site again?

 

Use the camera or picture icons to upload videos and images. If you're on mobile, you might need to click on the gear icon before those options are available.

 

Here is a link to a video you can watch.
Are You Drawing Your Bow Correctly? Here's How to Prevent Archery Shoulder Injuries - YouTube

 

I recently had a shoulder injury, about 14 months ago now.
I have always just held the bow out level with the target and drawn it back, paying no attention to keeping my drawing arm elbow high or anything.
After the injury I found that my way of drawing really aggravated my shoulder. I went down the rabbit hole you're in, watching videos of "proper way to draw".
I find the way the Pros all seem to draw to be the easiest, or at least it felt the best for my injured shoulder. They start with the bow arm raised at about a 30° angle, keep their drawing arm elbow up high, and then draw back by pulling with their drawing arm and lowering their bow arm down to target level as they do so. Kind of a pushing and pulling action. It looks an awful lot like sky drawing, many of them reach full draw as their bow levels with the target, but it for sure is pointed over the target and would send an arrow well over it if the string were somehow released anywhere between 1/4 and 3/4 drawn. I wasn't a fan of that, both for safety reasons and because I'm a hunter and don't want all that movement when drawing.
I've pretty much settled on holding my bow arm in line with my target, but keep my drawing arm elbow as high as I can as I draw the bow back. It feels better on my shoulder than my old method of drawing with my drawing arm elbow low. Keeping the drawing arm elbow high seems to engage back muscles better. The effort to draw feels about the same, I can still draw the same weight I always have.

 

so i guess if your doing it right, you will really "feel it" in your back muscles right from the start of the draw cycle? like even before you start, you can feel the back muscles stretch or tense up for the draw?

 

I recently had a shoulder injury, about 14 months ago now.
I have always just held the bow out level with the target and drawn it back, paying no attention to keeping my drawing arm elbow high or anything.
After the injury I found that my way of drawing really aggravated my shoulder. I went down the rabbit hole you're in, watching videos of "proper way to draw".
I find the way the Pros all seem to draw to be the easiest, or at least it felt the best for my injured shoulder. They start with the bow arm raised at about a 30° angle, keep their drawing arm elbow up high, and then draw back by pulling with their drawing arm and lowering their bow arm down to target level as they do so. Kind of a pushing and pulling action. It looks an awful lot like sky drawing, many of them reach full draw as their bow levels with the target, but it for sure is pointed over the target and would send an arrow well over it if the string were somehow released anywhere between 1/4 and 3/4 drawn. I wasn't a fan of that, both for safety reasons and because I'm a hunter and don't want all that movement when drawing.
I've pretty much settled on holding my bow arm in line with my target, but keep my drawing arm elbow as high as I can as I draw the bow back. It feels better on my shoulder than my old method of drawing with my drawing arm elbow low. Keeping the drawing arm elbow high seems to engage back muscles better. The effort to draw feels about the same, I can still draw the same weight I always have.

you have to build up to your draw weight? if so, how long did it take you?

 

so i guess if your doing it right, you will really "feel it" in your back muscles right from the start of the draw cycle? like even before you start, you can feel the back muscles stretch or tense up for the draw?

I wouldn't really say I can "feel" my back muscles engaging when I changed the way I was drawing. The only real way I could tell I was getting away from drawing more with my shoulder/arm muscles was by how much better it felt for my injured shoulder during the drawing process.
At no point with changing the way I drew the bow did I struggle to draw my normal poundage, except for the twinge of pain my shoulder would give me that is. Back and side muscles are so much bigger than arm/shoulder muscles, I'm not sure I understand why trying to draw using them has resulted in your not being able to draw barely half your normal poundage.
From your first post, no, you do not start with the bow arm straight and bring it closer to your chest. That would involve letting your bow arm elbow bend and would be letting the bow come back towards you as you're trying to draw the string and actually lose you ground on drawing it back.
Chris Bee draws like how I do now, the bow arm is straight and level at the target, but drawing arm elbow is really high. I'll see if I can get a screen shot of it.

you have to build up to your draw weight? if so, how long did it take you?

No, I did not.
I did drop down to 60 lbs for a while (from using 65 lbs), but mainly because it felt better for my injured shoulder. But I could still draw 65 lbs if I wanted to, it just gave me a sharper twinge of pain to do so.
Let's get down to brass tacks here. What is the purpose of learning to draw differently? Shoulder pain? Wanting to be able to draw more weight? Proactively trying to learn the proper way to prevent future shoulder problems?

 

Here is a good freeze frame of Chris Bee as he starts to draw.

 

I wouldn't really say I can "feel" my back muscles engaging when I changed the way I was drawing. The only real way I could tell I was getting away from drawing more with my shoulder/arm muscles was by how much better it felt for my injured shoulder during the drawing process.
At no point with changing the way I drew the bow did I struggle to draw my normal poundage, except for the twinge of pain my shoulder would give me that is. Back and side muscles are so much bigger than arm/shoulder muscles, I'm not sure I understand why trying to draw using them has resulted in your not being able to draw barely half your normal poundage.
From your first post, no, you do not start with the bow arm straight and bring it closer to your chest. That would involve letting your bow arm elbow bend and would be letting the bow come back towards you as you're trying to draw the string and actually lose you ground on drawing it back.
Chris Bee draws like how I do now, the bow arm is straight and level at the target, but drawing arm elbow is really high. I'll see if I can get a screen shot of it.



No, I did not.
I did drop down to 60 lbs for a while (from using 65 lbs), but mainly because it felt better for my injured shoulder. But I could still draw 65 lbs if I wanted to, it just gave me a sharper twinge of pain to do so.
Let's get down to brass tacks here. What is the purpose of learning to draw differently? Shoulder pain? Wanting to be able to draw more weight? Proactively trying to learn the proper way to prevent future shoulder problems?

yeah im starting to get discomfort. also i find myself getting tired faster than i would like to, or in other words, i wish i didnt fatigue as fast as i do.

i will say, since i started practicing last night with this new way, my shoulder does feel better after 30+ draws than my old way. granted i am pulling half the weight i was, but i definitely dont feel the binding in my joint anymore.

i just hope that if i stick with it that i can build back up to 60 lbs. im using my wifes bow now just to practice cause i cant safely get my bow that low (30 lbs).

 

Here's a helpful video that just focuses on the back muscles (imo 90% of drawing a bow)

 

I can't quote a technique. But I would strive someday to be able to just draw the bow straight back. With it on target. In hunting situations this is valuable. Shoot a lot sitting down, and come up with a way that lets you draw both ways comfortably. Sitting and standing up. I would also do it kneeling. If your going to hunt it is best.....to be able to draw from all these positions, and when you are tired, and cold . I do grip the bow firmly when drawing, and then move my hand to the shooting position after I am at anchor, I have a little more pulling power when I fully grip the handle. And its automatic after enough practice to rotate the hand into shooting position.

I was doing that when I was new but the right/left misses I was having were driving me nuts. As my strength improved I started doing it this way:
Stance
Grip (thumb and index finger only, hand at 45 degree angle)
Raise draw arm to target
Draw slightly to the side
Bring anchor in to face.

This cured a LOT of windage issues, I suppose from imperceptible torque. Now to get my elevation right...
It never ends, does it?

 

update. so ive been practicing for about 5 days now and im making pretty good progress. the draw does "feel" better. i can now pull back my 60 lb bow. still feels a little akward, but its better.
it truely is teaching your brain to use better muscle groups vs just getting stronger.

 

I’ve struggled with that myself. When I first started using a compound bow, I felt like I was wrestling with a bear, especially at higher weights. I’m still working on it, but I've picked up a few tips that have really helped me improve.

One thing that worked for me was starting with the bow slightly out from my chest, kind of like a bench press and lat pull combo. It feels more natural, and you get the added leverage as you draw back. Practice keeping your shoulder blades squeezed together and your core engaged—it helps stabilize everything.

Also, don't be too hard on yourself about starting at eye level. It takes time to build the right muscles. I took music lessons online at www.artmaster.com, and just like learning an instrument, building that muscle memory and strength with the bow takes practice. It’s all about consistent practice and finding what works for your body.

 

Here is a YouTube video on draw cycle

 

Here is a YouTube video on draw cycle

I know he has a video on the internet but..... There is soooo much wrong with this draw cycle process.

 

Just for starters: bow arm is bent and draw elbow will probably be over his his or the top of it. Totally bad form!
I hold my bow straight out and level on target. I then draw straight back and level to my anchor point.

 

Draw with your elbow. This will engage your back muscles earlier in the draw cycle. Once you reach anchor back tension increases while draw arm tension decreases. Like bleeding down pump.
The draw cycle is radial not linear.


.02

 

I'm self taught but IMHO in time I feel like I'm pretty good at refining things like drawing the bow even though I have never had instruction.

Ironically I'm doing exactly what Dudley is saying/showing. I draw the bow straight back and my shoulder is level and outward.....not up. Draw just a tad off to the side of your face and then as it gets close to the end of the draw cycle you land at your anchor naturally. Which for me is the kisser in the corner of my mouth.

I can't say having your shoulder jacked way up is wrong like the shirtless guy showing off his back muscles or even Chris Bee....but it looks painful and awkward too me. Plus as a bowhunter that lives for close shots it's WAY more movement to be detected.

I know most people can't stand a successful, freedom loving American like Ted but I draw similar to him as well. I just pull straight back to the anchor instead of that last little adjustment to the anchor at the end. It's 1 min in if you want to speed it up.

Ted Nugent and Alex Jones Shoot Arrows (youtube.com)

Old thread and the OP is probably long gone but it's been dug up so I thought I'd post.