I need some help

[Buckwheat]

I bend my arm ever so slightly and rotate my elbow out. Relaxed bow hand.

[enewman]

Here read this

http://www.mfaa-archery.org/Tech-Support/Archery_Form_Handbook.pdf

[Mike Javi Cooper]

That is a good pic for draw.

Thanks... I used to be an archery coach...

[enewman]

Thanks... I used to be an archery coach...

Used to. Looks like you need to get back in.

[SwampRabbit]

I think some of the trouble comes with the difference between "bending" your elbow, "locking" your elbow, and "hyper extending" your elbow.

A lot of folks recommend a straight bow arm. The goal is to "lock" your elbow so you are bracing with your bones and you have a consistent draw length. However, some folks will hyperextend their elbow in an attempt to force the lock, rather than hit the natural locking position. Doing so can cause pain to develop in the elbow. I know... I've done it. If I get tired and lose focus, I tend to fall back into doing it. I am sitting here with a sore bow arm from shooting a lot when I was tired and not paying attention to form. (3 solid days of chasing small game from 8am till midnight.)

For those who develop pain, you will get folks to recommend that you bend the elbow. You may find it comfortable, but it can be inconsistent and you are prone to collapse. With compounds, it may not be as noticeable, because with the help of letoff, you can hold it longer... but when you are holding all your bow weight like on a on a recurve/longbow, you will fatigue really quick because you are bracing with your muscles and no aid of the your skeletal system.

So I personally have come to the conclusion, that when people say to "bend" they really mean to stop hyper extending and get your elbow back into a neutral lock position.

Note, when you hyperextend, your arm starts to come back into the line of the string.

That is just my $.02 for what it is worth.

[bowhuntntxn]

Thanks... I used to be an archery coach...

Understatement of the century. Mike has probably forgotten more about archery than most will ever know, myself included.

[Mudslinger]

Listen to mudslinger. He's been shooting since before bows where made. Haha.

Mike Javi Cooper nailed it with the pic of the stance and Eric, I may be old, but I ain't that old!

[muddyfuzzy]

Mike and Eric both posted some good information with visual aids on here already. The only thing I will add is pertaining to what Doug said about the stance. You will also find that with the stance slightly open the bow shoulder will find it's natural position and set. Starting with the grip, running up through the elbow and ending in a relaxed set shoulder is the only way to truly go "bone to bone". Which really promotes holding rock solid steady.

[Razorback01]

Drew, not that we can fix everything on a 1/2 day class, but I have a Texas Parks and Wildlife/International Bowhunter Education Program course at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (lotta words), Saturday 16 April 2016. If you are interested, let me know. It is posted here on TBH, as well as on the TPWD site.

[enewman]

Mike Javi Cooper nailed it with the pic of the stance and Eric, I may be old, but I ain't that old!

I know grandpa. I just couldn't pass it up.