Are my standards too high???

[UltraMax]

First off, I'm the kind of person that likes precision, I won't even own a rifle that can't shoot a one inch group or better with factory loads at 100 yards. (don't worry, this isn't a gun post).

I have hunted with a bow for a few years now and have been successful. Often, like today, I will go out and shoot and I'm not shooting as good and precise as I think I should be. I often hit no more than 3 inches away from where aiming and on occasion (very rarely) I'll send one 4-5 inches away from where I aimed. About 60% of my shots, on a good day, are dead on or within an inch.

I am not shaky and I'm very steady and try and squeeze my release off perfectly every time. Usually about 90% of the time, if my poi is more than an inch away from where I aim it hits left, but usually no more than 3-4 inches. This absolutely infuriates me to no end when my bow hits left. I know it's me and maybe an anchor point issue but I try to stay as consistent as possible when shooting.

Anyway, this is my main point and question, about 60% of the time I hit dead on or within an inch of where I aimed and the other 40% I shoot about 3 inches left. When I shoot at a paper plate with a 1 inch dot stuck to it I usually hit the plate 20 out of 20 times but not all of my shots are dead on or within an inch of where I aim. I shoot 20 yards max at animals and practice at 20 and 30, mostly at 20.

Are my bow shooting standards too high?

[DFWPI]

Standards are set by the person wanting them. If you are hitting left, you may be gripping the handle and torqing the bow a little. Open your hand. I shoot with my hand open, or just slightly with fingers touching.

Hey, dead is dead.

[UltraMax]

Standards are set by the person wanting them. If you are hitting left, you may be gripping the handle and torqing the bow a little. Open your hand. I shoot with my hand open, or just slightly with fingers touching.

Hey, dead is dead.

My hand is wide open, with fingers nowhere near the grip. I could be torqing it a little. I just can't figure out why I have this issue. But like I say I can hit the plate everytime. I just wanna split hairs and it's hacking me off that I'm not. Or is what I'm grouping fine?

[huntnguide83]

nothing wrong with high expectations and standards..I commend that. TO me IMHO it just means you will do whatever you can to make the most ethical shot on an animal and to me that makes you a good hunter sir! But I would experiment with switching around your grip on the bow. Sometimes I shoot with an open hand but on some days I just can't get as set as I'd like so I curl my finger tips inward and rest them on the front of my bow handle. THis still allows me to have a somewhat of an open grip and eliminate torque on my bow. Try getting a buddy there to watch you shoot...sometimes they can pick up something you are missing when you shoot.

[thebomb6_99]

One of the things you can do to get better is practice farther shoots. If your hunting distance is 20 practice at 40. It will make the 20 yard shots seem easy. The longer the shot magnifies something you are doing wrong.

[jgard2522]

Standards are not too high. Shooting can be very frustrating and take years to master. Just keep working at it

[txdukklr]

I think you can do better at 20 yards. A flier for me is a few inches . . . . usually i'll get a few inch fliers but not 40% of the time. More like less then 10%.

if you consistently fly one left a few things I'd say to check

• are you tired? when I'm tired or not really focusing the tension with a drawn bow causes my left shoulder to pull away when the tension is released
• check your anchor . . . is your nose tip to the string on the good shots and to the left on the bad? are you looking at the peep differently?

when I shoot bad it's to the left as well and its more often then not me just being careless with my left shoulder and arm through the shot routine

[Nitro1970]

Standards to high??? Not at all and I'm kinda the same way... I also have good days, bad days and some really really good days!!! When frustration sets in... time to put the bow up for while and go watch the hunting shows cause they seem to shoot worse than I do and it makes me feel better.

You said your fingers are nowhere near the grip so are they pointing straight out toward the target?? If so, relax them and see what happens.

Good luck

[huntmaster]

I used to have high standards too but after a few drinks... oh wait different question,nevermind

[cajuntec]

My hand is wide open, with fingers nowhere near the grip. I could be torqing it a little.

I'd bet this is your problem. If your fingers are "nowhere near the grip", I picture you purposely keeping them straight out away from the grip. That's putting torque on the bow at the crook of your hand that is touching the riser. If you change your fingers even slightly, it's changing where the pressure in the web affects the riser position in your hand.

Put your hand out like you are holding your bow. Look at the web between your thumb and index finger. Now flex your fingers outward. Notice the web move as the lower bones from your index finger flex the upper palm outward? That torques the bow and could be causing your issue.

I learned this a long time ago while shooting at a club. Not saying it's right or wrong - just my way of doing it. I grab my riser with my hand and connect my release with the other. Once the release is hooked up, I completely loosen my grip on the riser so that the entire bow is being held in place by the release. Then I "flop" my bow hand into the grip - loosely. The bow is pulled into the web of my bow hand by the pressure I'm applying with my other hand holding the release on the string. The bow hand is serving only as a stopper for the bow. It's not gripping anything. My fingers naturally curl across the front of the riser and slightly down. I just let them droop. Whenever I'm shooting and I start having problems, I always make myself go through these steps. My shooting goes back to what it is supposed to be. Most of the time it's engrained, but every once in a while I get lazy or tired and my "technique" slips.

Never think you are setting your standards too high - if they are your standards. But be aware that there are limitations. If your standards are higher than the limitations imposed on you (equipment, conditioning, etc...), you're only going to get frustrated. Set high standards, but make sure they are achievable.

Good luck in your endeavor for perfection.
All the best,
Glenn

[jathomas437]

I used to have high standards too but after a few drinks... oh wait different question,nevermind

Haha, I was waiting for something like that...

[jathomas437]

First of all, are you absolutely, positively sure your bow is in tune? A 'good enough' tuned bow will only get you 'good enough' groups on the target, no matter how much you practice.

[WyoHunter]

I used to have high standards too but after a few drinks... oh wait different question,nevermind

Good one!

[helo_mech]

as others have already said, perfect your grip and anchor form........ I also find that when I primarily practice at 30 and 40 yards that my 20 yard groups improve greatly

[UltraMax]

Thanks for all of yalls imput. Just went out and shot three dead on shots in a row. Amazing what a nap will do. Maybe today was an off day. We will see tomorrow.

I'll keep in mind yalls suggestions and try them sometime.

I did relax my hand a bit and shot great.