James Park
27-01-2003, 02:01 PM
With a compound bow, vertical placement of your bowhand on the riser is not critical because in the vertical plane a compound bow is very rigid. To demonstrate this, have a look at the following shots from my Quantum with X10's:
Picture 1: An arrow shot with a normal (and excellent, as it happens) bow hand position.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145112.jpg
Picture 2: An arrow shot with a rather unconventional bow hand position, Here I am holding the bow a long way below my normal bow hand position (but still with an excellent bow hand placement). The pressure point is at least 4" lower than normal.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145234.jpg
Picture 3: Shooting at 70M, this is where the two arrows hit the target. With my normal bow hand position I scored a 10 (as you would hope). With my extreme bow hand position I scored a high 9.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145259.jpg
As you can see, my bow hand vertical position does not make much difference at all. However, don't try this with a recurve bow - they are not nearly as rigid in the vertical plane as a compound.
Bryce Lee took the photos, and has seen me demonstrate this many times. Even at 90M the incorrect hand position still has the arrow score an 8.
I have tried this holding the bow at the lower limb pocket, which is rather difficult physically, and very difficult to hold the bow steady while aiming, but even then the arrow hits in the 8 ring at 70M.
Picture 1: An arrow shot with a normal (and excellent, as it happens) bow hand position.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145112.jpg
Picture 2: An arrow shot with a rather unconventional bow hand position, Here I am holding the bow a long way below my normal bow hand position (but still with an excellent bow hand placement). The pressure point is at least 4" lower than normal.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145234.jpg
Picture 3: Shooting at 70M, this is where the two arrows hit the target. With my normal bow hand position I scored a 10 (as you would hope). With my extreme bow hand position I scored a high 9.
http://www.archery-forum.com/4sale/20030127145259.jpg
As you can see, my bow hand vertical position does not make much difference at all. However, don't try this with a recurve bow - they are not nearly as rigid in the vertical plane as a compound.
Bryce Lee took the photos, and has seen me demonstrate this many times. Even at 90M the incorrect hand position still has the arrow score an 8.
I have tried this holding the bow at the lower limb pocket, which is rather difficult physically, and very difficult to hold the bow steady while aiming, but even then the arrow hits in the 8 ring at 70M.