Form Flaws
FINGER RELEASE:
Wrist bent/tense (string hand). If there are muscles used in the wrist or back of the hand as the archer draws to anchor, then as the fingers attempt to release the string, sideways torque is applied to the string, causing excessive string amplitude and paradox. The wrist and the back of the hand should be completely relaxed, expanded, and in a straight line, in addition to being in-line with the forearm. Additionally, the wrist, back of the hand, forearm, elbow should be in direct line with the arrow. This wil produce the least left-to-right paradox of the string and the most comsistent groups.
Dead release. The archer tries to hold whatever ideal position he thinks he has, and then he consciously relaxes just the fingers in an effort to release while the sight is on the target. This unfortunately requires complete control of when the shot goes off and interrupts the aiming process. This leads to "dropping the string" or releasing the string at the exact moment of target acquisition. Because the conscious mind will always know when the fingers are about to "let-go", anticipation and anxiety build up. Fear of missing then replaces aiming. Target panic, (freezing or snap shooting) usually takes over completely. This is the equivalent of "punching the trigger" on a release. The dead release requires the impossible (if done without a clicker)... thinking of two thoughts at once ... aiming and "let-go". As opposed to a dynamic release, which has the hand coming straight back automatically (because of back tension) as it subconsciously loses control of (or "refuses to hold") the string.
Hooks to shallow/cups string hand/lifts arrow off rest. Archers that try to grip the string between the tip of the fingers and the first crease, do so in an effort to have a smoother release. However, the end result is often just the opposite, Because there is no pivot point in the fingers at this location on the fingers, the archer ends up having to cup their hand to maintain control of the string, thus utilizing the muscles and tendons of the fingers and back of the hand. Frequently, a direct result of this is the right-handed archer rolls the string counterclockwise as he or she starts to draw the bow, lifting the arrow with the middle finger, which causes the arrow to slip off the rest, When the hand is cupped, the middle joints and the knucles of the fingers are not straight and relaxed, which can crowd the fingers around the nock, causing the arrow to be "pinched" off the rest. The remedy is to hook deeper, (in the first crease or midway between the first and second crease of the fingertips) so the back of the hand can be straight ... not cupped. Allow the middle finger to have some space below the nock, or us a "cam pinch" type of tab with a spacer built in between the top of the middle finger and the index finger. When an archer comes to full draw, the "V" created by the string angle will naturally "pinch" the fingers together, so some space should be allowed before drawing, and/or a longer axle to axle bow (above 41 inches) should be used.
Plucks the string. Plucking the string is an exaggerated conscious effort to try and get the fingers out of the way of the string, as opposed to a continuous pulling motion until the archer simply "loses control". This happens subconsciously and the hand flies back natrually, in line with the arrow, usually touching the drawing shoulder, which is the conclusion to the follow through. When "plucking the string", the archer does not use back tension and /or does not have the back of the hand, wrist, and forearm relaxed and expanded and the elbow in line with the arrow. The "pluck" happens when the fingers come out away from the face, causing string amplitude and side to side paradox. The fingers should be kept close to or in contact with the face, all the way back to the draw shoulder (if possible).
MECHANICAL RELEASE:
Flinches. (A form of taget panic) This is the end result of two conscious thoughts (usually "trigger the release" and "sight on the target" at EXACTLY the same time. The human brain cannot consciously think of two things at a time. However, two thoughts can be processed if one of them is on the subconscious level (the release) while the other remains on the conscious level (aiming). The way to cure this is on the empty bale by developing a shot sequence so the program to set off the release, or release the string with the fingers, runs on its own (automatically), after being started by the conscious mind (but without conscious supervision). Then, all the conscious (thinking) mind has to do is aim until the "program" finishes (subconsciously).
Freezes off or on the target.(Another form of target panic). The archer cannot move the sight into the middle of the target. He freezes above, to the side or more commonly, below the dot and has to jerk the sight into the center before being able to release. The second form of freezing ON the target and the archer then cannot release until the sight is moving away from the middle. The way to cure this is on the empty bale and reprogram the shot sequence. Then, do aiming drills (up close at first) so that the archer reprograms his or her entire shot sequence, which eleminates the "freezing".
Creeping. Creeping is losing tension at the full draw. The arrow starts moving slowly forward on the rest because the archer has lost tension either in the back muscles or the bow arm side. This is solved by a conscious effort to maintain back tension and/or using draw stops, a clicker or visually checking the arrow on the rest to make sure the archer maintains the exact same draw length through the shot. This must be practiced until it is absorbed to the subconscious lever.
Collapsing. Collapsing is usually done upon release with the bow arm "giving up" (relaxing prematurely), and/or the release hand going forward with the string, upon release. A conscious effort must be made to maintain back tension, or use draw stops or a clicker. This also must be practiced until it is absorbed subconsciously.
Doesn't let down. This is very common in most archers and usually separates the champions from the near champions. Most good tournament archers will let down about 1 out of 5 times under normal circumstances. Not letting down is a "control" problem. Most archers don't want to admit that they ever need to start over. You need to train yourself that if ANYTHING feels wrong with the shot, if ANYTHING enter your mind besides, aiming, you should let down. Champions don't gamble ... they don't take any chances. That's one of the reasons why they are champions.
These are a few of the most common form flaws. Hopefully these will help you reconize and eventually eliminate them in your own shooting form and those archers you may teach.If you believe "Practice makes perfect," then, if you've been practicing some of the above flaws long enough, you've probably got them down perfectly Wrong! So remember, practice doesn't make perfect..perfect practice makes perfect!
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