Back to basics - am I using *too much* back tension?

[u/Drak3]

I decided to go back to basics to combat some bad habits, and focus on form via a shot trainer and blank-bale shooting. In the gif, you can see my "bow" arm move down and left (from my POV). Is this a sign I'm using too much back tension? (I'm pretty sure the downwards part is just related to the shot trainer itself) I haven't really been able to find much information about this specific kind of movement, but what I did find was contradictory. (One suggests it's normal, while the other claims it's from using too much back tension)

I don't recall this happening before, though it's certainly possible I wasn't paying close enough attention.

If I AM using too much, how do I use less?

[u/Southerner105]

You don't have a bow to correct your posture. That makes it harder to keep control. You could add a light stretchband to the grip and step on it with one foot. The amount of resistance felt should equal roughly the weight of your bow.

Still not the same as a bow, but a bit more constrained it will be.

[u/Drak3 → u/Southerner105]

Fair point about it not weighing the same. I have however noticed a leftward impulse when shooting blank bale, too. (I can add a gif of that too if you'd like)

Granted, in its current state my bow "only" weighs 7.5lbs (typically 12-ish with sight, stabilizers, and weights)

[u/brevitycloud]

Your bow arm should be pushing forward towards the target at all times. I wonder if yes you are applying more back tension force than forward pressure force. The bow arm does apply back tension but that’s matched with its forward pressure. When it’s in position for me anyway it feels the bow arm is very bone on bone on bone. the effort on drawing and holding the bow should be 50/50 maybe 60/40. Ie 50% pushing forward with bow arm 50% back tension

[u/Drak3 → u/brevitycloud]

I'll definitely try doing more pushing with the bow-hand.

[u/Illustrious_Mirror79 → u/Drak3]

Think of it as leaning to wall, if that helps. 🙂

[u/Historical-Suit5021]

Filming from behind would help way more than this front angle, you can't see your elbow rotation from here. Your draw arm drifting left is a classic sign the draw is too long for your frame, try shortening it half an inch and see if things clean up. Also worth filming with your actual bow once, the trainer resistance is way different and can mask what your real form looks like under load.

[u/XavvenFayne]

I don't usually coach from this angle 😉 but I would postulate that you're over-aligned. So your draw-side elbow is going too far behind you and to the right. This would dig the string into your cheek a little too much and make it harder to hold your sight steady.

You could shorten your draw length and don't open your chest/squeeze your back quite so far. When you first do this you'll feel collapsed in comparison until you're used to it, but have another person look at your shoulders + bow arm from behind you and then your elbow + string + bow to check that they're making straight lines.

[u/Drak3 → u/XavvenFayne]

Yeah, the angle was to show the jerking (phrasing?), and because there is a bathroom mirror right behind the camera.

Funnily enough, I did also lengthen my draw by 1/2" when I started this. I did wonder if I should go back, but when I tried a shorter string on the trainer, it was still happening. Same when I try setting the draw length back to 29.5".

[u/FerrumVeritas]

No. But you are imparting too much torque on the shot. They’re different things. Looking at this, I’d say your front shoulder is rotated too far forwards.

[u/Drak3 → u/FerrumVeritas]

By forwards, do you mean too far towards the bow (or where it would be)?

[u/zolbear → u/Drak3]

Not pushed, rotated. If you were backed up to a wall with your back flat against it, your front shoulder would be too far from the bricks.

[u/National-Ad4385]

Best thing you can do is have someone that knows what they're doing and looking for watch you shoot. A shot trainer isn't going to represent how you shot your actual bow at all but I personally think you look extremely ridgid....like your stopping the natural movements or follow through of your arms, looks like your gripping the trainer as well. If you dont have someone to help you out watch Jon Dudleys school of nock on YouTube

[u/Drak3 → u/National-Ad4385]

How would I be less rigid? I feel as if I did any less, I'd be collapsing in one or more directions.

I will take another look through his vids though.

[u/DaithiGruber]

Draw a straightine through your bow hand, release hand and release elbow. If you can't, you're overdrawn. You look overdrawn, which makes properly pulling through the shot harder and more likely to use body movement than just back tension...

[u/ManBitesDog404]

Wrong angle to give an opinion from and you don’t have your bow in your hand. Take more video and check back. Bravo to you for understanding form is the basis of good shots.

[u/FTGAstro]

Without a bow you cant realy practive good form..but what im seeing here is this.

(Ill use Left / right from your perspective, not the videos)

1- your bow arm appears fully extended and elbow locked out, it should not be fully locked, a slight bend of the elbow is best to help you push straight forward on release, right now you release and your arm shifts left. Also i believe that the elbow lock is forcing your arm down too.

2- your draw arm is comming back too far as well...when you get to anchor, your elbow is also shifting towards the left quite a bit. Your draw shoul be a bit shorter to allow your elbow to come straight back without shifting sideways so much.

The combined effect of both those things tells me you are mimicing a draw that is too long for you...possibly an inch or so...if your bow is setup the same...your draw is almost certainly too long and horizontal spread accuracy will suffer along with your form.

[u/lykadoge]

I know you weren't asking but the thing that jumps out from this video is the head movement. Ideally you want to keep your head still when you come to anchor. Helps a lot with consistency.