Using a Compound Clicker

[mike]

This should be interesting...

I am embarking on an experiment (a serious one mind you, geared toward shooting better) and have purchased and fitted a clicker to my compound bow.

I have had a few shots at home and it feels very nice, am looking forward to using it tomorrow at the indoor range. I reckon this could be a good move as I have often had a problem of losing the 'squeeze' and accidentally punching the release, resulting in poor scores and overall nearvey shooting. I think that by taking the descision to shoot out of my head and into just a reflex, I might be able to conquor it!!! I've heared that Jackson Fear used one to good effect and the results of Becky and Frank Pearson in the US speak for themselves...

So, anyway, here goes!!! :o


What are peoples thoughts on this contraversial piece of equipment for a compound???

[Marcus]

In my opinion the use of a clicker doesn't fix the inderlining problem with what is causing your shooting issue. The problem would be in a lackof patience and the only way to cure that is to work hard and shoot through it. A clicker on a compound in my opinion can make it worse because it teaches you to punch the trigger harder. Jackson Fear went to one because he was a wrist release shooter who punched his trigger alot, he developed gold shyness and used that as the cure, however it didn't fix his punching.
Try it out, it may work well for you. Just my opinion and it doesn't mean it's right. :)

[L-Roy]

Mike, Marcus,
When the clicker works, it works very well, though I have witnessed both Frank and Becky Pearson shoot arrows off the bale before.

Mike, With respect to trigger tension of your release, is it "HOT" or can you place your finger or thumb on it without fear of it firing? If not, you should increase tension until you can do so without thinking it may go off.

Good shooting!

[James Park]

Bryce used a clicker because of punching. However over 6 months or so we got him to squeeze his release and it is now working excellently (although along the way he had huge problems at the 2001 Nationals). I doubt he would punch one now (and is difficult to beat).

[mike]

Well, so far it has taught me how impatient I was!!

I seem to be constantly out of breath after each shot! Having to wait for that click might drive me mad.

It does however introduce consistency and forces you to just aim and pull into the wall untill it clicks.

I've noticed that it is not like a punch when you fire it after the click, more like a reflex to the sound. Similar results to when I first really started squeezing a release aid: you seem to be shaking all over the target, but the arrow seems to always want to go in to the middle (ofcourse some shots you just know were off target but...)

decent results so far -- I was shooting 58s indoor with the clicker yesterday. Mind you, when I picked up the stan again and didn't use the clicker I was shooting 60s....

The project continues...

[Marcus]

What release are you using? My dad shot with one for a little while using his stan. Worked well for him at the time.

[mike]

I am using a Stanislawski Hole Avenger with the clicker, set nice and fine so that when I trigger it, there is less likely to be movement. Have tried it with my Sahara, but found it to be to large a movement on release (given that it is 'punch like' release)

Probably wont use the clicker at the indoor, although getting good results, i am finding that its a bit too much work pulling through the clicker and so will be a bit too risky at the indoor. I will probably use my Sahara as a two finger release as that seems to be the most relaxing way to shoot the thing, although I am having a lot of trouble getting a 'suprise release'.

[Marcus]

if you ever want a Sahara 2 let me know. I have one I'm keen to sell.

[gizzy]

How many people out there are still using clickers on compounds? and does it help with gold shyness

[2Dogs]

I used one for a bout a year in 1992.

I shot pretty good with it. But choked at the Sydney Nationals with it.

It basically introduced a whole new set of problems :)

Good luck! :)

[primal]

i havent seen any, and no it doesnt help in a majority of cases. best to work up close to a large target and practice with a hinge or evo style release.

[johnske]

I use one and I can see little difference between using a clicker and an evo/revo type release - 1) you pull till you get the right back tension, it goes click and you release (clicker), or 2) you pull till you get the right back tension and it goes off automatically (evo/revo).

Athough I haven't got an evo/revo to try, I'd say that the clicker gives just a little more control as you can always let down if everything's not right when it clicks, whereas the evo/revo's automatic and you have no say in the matter.

[primal]

no when he says clicker he doesn't mean hinge click, he means clicker (like a recurve). that on a compound wont fix underlying issues, there will will still be pre-empting the clicker and flinches.

[2Dogs]

that on a compound wont fix underlying issues, there will will still be pre-empting the clicker and flinches.


Not really..... maybe you should try one. Then Comment ;)

[gizzy]

I know one archer here who shoots with a clicker and he shoots very well

[dbjac]

Jacko and i believe Dr Phil used clickers on compounds quite effectively. That was quite a few moons ago now though.

[johnske]

... there will will still be pre-empting the clicker and flinches.Au contraire - the clicker gives me much more control over what I'm doing. I'm basically a recurve archer and so am completely comfortable using a clicker, it's just a different type bow that it's on now. Also, if what you were saying were true you'd better apply that logic to everyone that shoots recurve.

PS: I've seen a few compound archers without clickers giving more, and bigger, flinches during one competition than I would have in a year.

[primal]

Not really..... maybe you should try one. Then Comment ;)
no thanks.

[primal]

Au contraire - the clicker gives me much more control over what I'm doing. I'm basically a recurve archer and so am completely comfortable using a clicker, it's just a different type bow that it's on now. Also, if what you were saying were true you'd better apply that logic to everyone that shoots recurve.

PS: I've seen a few compound archers without clickers giving more, and bigger, flinches during one competition than I would have in a year.
i guess its all in training isnt it.
you can either train to use a click or train to aim at the middle whilst you pull. i will just aim and pull rather then click and punch thanks.

[johnske]

??? Punch ??? where did that come from - sorry, that's one thing I don't do.

[Liam]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/adeptusmoronicus/thread_necromancer.png

hotlinking random PB accounts ftw.

[The One]

Compound clickers - Don't go there

...

[Erika]

I think if my compound 'clicked', I'd let got of the release aid altogether....

It doesn't work in the same way as a recurve clicker because of the nature of release aids. With recurve - it goes 'click' and you just let go. No tensing of muscles required for the response... just a relaxation.

With compound - it goes click and you have to push the trigger or activate the back tension release. A tensing of muscles is required for this response. This is just another way of introducing target panic and punching into the system. It takes away the element of surprise that is necessary to both compound and recurve. It's effectively no different to having a 'click' installed on your BT.

Better off just learning how to shoot your release aid properly. You aren't likely to with a clicker on a compound.

[Muki]

Hm. Tell me if i'm wrong, but isn't klicker there to tell you when you're in a perfect alignment? With recurves, you need that because you can pull the string right bout endlessly, but compound has it's final draw, no? It'd sure consfuse the hell out of me, having a klicker:confused: Hmmm with compound, the line actually wasn't supposed to go off at all. Like that http://shrani.si/t/2q/7b/2tgmNUpy/neimenovana.jpg (http://shrani.si/?2q/7b/2tgmNUpy/neimenovana.jpg)

[johnske]

For all the nay-sayers on board, here's one way how you can modify a cheap release aid so there's absolutely no hassle using it with a clicker...

http://johnske.sitesled.com/release_back%20view.jpg

http://johnske.sitesled.com/release_overhead%20view.jpg

http://johnske.sitesled.com/release_side%20view.jpg

Explanation:

The thumb sits on the 'anti-rotation lock', the release is held so the 1st and 2nd fingers are your draw fingers, the 3rd and 4th fingers are your trigger fingers. The trigger is set really fine - almost a 'hair' trigger (once primed, the amount of actual movement required to trigger it is so small it can't be seen).

you draw with the draw fingers, with the thumb very firmly against the rotation lock and the trigger fingers away from the trigger.

http://johnske.sitesled.com/release_drawing.jpg

as you settle into the anchor/aim position, slowly curl your trigger fingers round until they JUST make contact with the trigger. Note: This DOES take some practice, but the sensory nerves in the trigger fingers are very sensitive to touch and are well suited to fine movements such as these, so this is much more easily done than with the thumb (which is better suited to much coarser movements and is relatively insensitive to touch).

http://johnske.sitesled.com/release_primed.jpg

The release is now primed and ready to go at the slightest increase in finger pressure or change in position... For instance, if you relax the draw fingers slightly (as in instinctively a making a recurvers type finger release) the body of the release will move forward slightly and this increases the pressure on the curled trigger fingers on the trigger and it fires. Alternatively, if you were to not initially have your thumb very firmly against the rotation lock and were later to increase thumb pressure, the body of the release will then rotate slightly, increasing the pressure on the trigger fingers on the trigger and it fires (i.e. it then acts like a thumb release).

But the best way to use this is like you were using a back-tension release, except that you don't have to actually rotate the hand to get it to trigger, you just increase trigger finger tension a whisker as IF you WERE going to rotate it, except the thumb rotation lock prevents any actual movement and then, bang, it's gone in an instant... It's then just a matter of practicing your timing so that final squeeze occurs just after you feel the clicker go off - the only difference is that instead of practicing with a recurve so you relax your draw fingers on the clicker, you give the gentlest squeeze instead (but if you forget to squeeze instead of relaxing there's no big drama - the release aid stays in your hand and is not launched down the field).

[primal]

the best way to use this is like you were using a back-tension release, except that you don't have to actually rotate the hand to get it to trigger, you just increase trigger finger tension a whisker


so how is this different to a thumb trigger, evolution, hinge release or stan double eagle??

[johnske]

so how is this different to a thumb trigger, evolution, hinge release or stan double eagle??It's really not different except that, like a recurve you have the split-second option to release or not release. If, say, your sight has wandered off course by the time it clicks you can let down and start again, but with evo/revo you cant, the arrow's gone - automagically.

[primal]

It's really not different except that, like a recurve you have the split-second option to release or not release. If, say, your sight has wandered off course by the time it clicks you can let down and start again, but with evo/revo you cant, the arrow's gone - automagically.
yes and it will have gone where you aimed it, just like any other release.

[STRINGWALKER]

Frank Pearson used a clicker and shot extremely well.... it will involve some sort of punch BUT i guess if your form is solid and you can float your aim very well, then anything is possible.
I tried one years ago but patience was not a virtue of mine back then!
Dave Hughes uses one in NFAA barebow and can still shoot great scores but then that's only barebow!

[Marcus]

If you wander off course with the Evolution you just press the safety and let down. I keep my thumb on the safety at all times.

[2Dogs]

I shot some very high scores with a compound and clicker.

Just comes down to being commited & if that's the way you decided your going to go, then perfect it.

The action pretty much replicates how I shoot the shot anyway.