Shooting form question

[trjones87]

Do yall lock your non release arm? I heard your not suppose to but Im not sure why

[Texastaxi]

No.

If you turn your elbow out and roll your shoulder down, it kinda locks and the bones in your arm hold the bow instead of the muscle.

The biggest advantage is no nasty rasberries on your forearm. In about my 4th week of shooting a bow, a friend showed me this and I haven't slapped my arm since ... unless I relax my form and don't pay attention to what I'm doing.

[glen]

If you do lock it out do it every time. If there is a flaw in your form and you do it every time then it isnt a flaw. Shoot what feels natural for you and do it every time.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Walk over to a door jam and put your bow arm up as if to shoot, now lean your body weight on that arm... push the arm straight and lock the elbow... you'll see why you don't lock the elbow.

[DrenalinJunkie]

I was taught long ago not to lock my bow arm and I still don't to this day.

[trjones87]

but im gettin a new bow and want to know if i should go with the incorrect form or drop down the length to get the correct form down

[TexaswBOWhunter]

I don't..... I learned to drop the elbow a hair, the main reason is because the first movement after you release is forward (not left to right) as it would be if your arm was locked into position... Basically, for most people they will be more accurate shooting this way... Not to say that a locked arm don't work for some people....

[Texastaxi]

Your elbow's not out enough to change your draw length.

[Bill]

It depends if you're shooting trad or compound.

On trad bows, you need to "lock" your front elbow to be able to rotate your arm/elbow clockwide (left arm forward) to get your arm in the correct position.

On a compound, most coaches tell you to have a slight bend in the elbow. The biggest cause of people having to lock their forward arms with a compound is their draw length on the bow is too long for them, and they're trying to push the bow forward to come to full draw. The other give-away of too long a draw is what's called the "Z" body position, shooter leans back at the waist and then tilts his head to the left at full draw.

The best way to get the correct draw length is to have a pro in a shop watch you drawing different bows. I've found the finger tip to finger tip distance with arms outstretched, divided by 2.5 is generally very close to the actual draw length when I've measured people.

Find somebody at the archery shop who gives lessons and take a few with your new bow, and learn the correct shooting form and you'll shoot better and enjoy shooting more.

[Bullrdr82]

I dont really know if I do or not. I do what feels natural, and I do it everytime.

Here is a pic of me shooting.....

[canny]

I prefer to have a slight bend in my elbow, it allows me to hold steadier and gives me more freedom to move in the case that i have to move around a branch or some sorts. but by all means shoot whats comfortable and feels natural to you. IMO if the arrow is getting where it needs to go consistently then why fix something that obviously isn't broken.

[EnglishRedneck]

I don't lock my elbow with longbow, recurve or compund in order to give me more clearance. Feels right, and the pointy thing goes roughly where I want it too!!

Bill, are you telling me I need to rething my trad setup?

[Mike Javi Cooper]

I don't lock my elbow with longbow, recurve or compund in order to give me more clearance. Feels right, and the pointy thing goes roughly where I want it too!!

Bill, are you telling me I need to rething my trad setup?

I ain't Bill but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last week..

I've never locked my elbow and I've never met a coach that would tell you to do that... recurve, longbow or compound.

[Bill]

I'm not telling anybody how to shoot-but to roll your elbow out, you need your elbow fully extended, don't you?

[bobbyn]

buy your new bow at a pro shop they will give you proper instuctions. congats on the new bow