Line of force with small nose (James, please help)

[arda]

HI,

I want to know which one is more important.
I have set my draw lenght so that when I fully draw the bow, I have got my midle finger's nuckle is ancored behind my jaw bone. I also have my nose able to touch the string at this position. However, when i ask someone to check about my draw arm elbow position, my elbow(draw arm) is below the line of force(which is not considered ideal according to James's book.

If I make my elbow of my draw arm in the line of force, that mean that I have to make my draw lenght abit shorter. Now, the problem is that with shorter draw lenght, I can't get my nose touches the string (not sure why, may be my nose is not long enough or it's just my body structure)

My questions: Which one is the priority? the string touches the nose (with about of elbow out of line) or get the elbow in line and forget about the string touches the nose?

Thank you.

Regards,
Arda

[James Park]

Arda,
For compound I see no necessity for the string to touch your nose 9and in fact I have pictures of many top atchers where it does not). More important to have the line of force through your elbow joint as this dictates which muscles you need to use.

[recurve boy]

1) Get alignment correct
2) Find your anchor

If you have a short nose, you will find that you can still ur nose, but need a side anchor (see Koreans).

[clever_guy]

arda;

Keep in mind this is just suggestions, not being able to see what it is you are really doing. But with that in mind:

"I have got my midle finger's nuckle is ancored behind my jaw bone."

It is comfortable to this, but it may not be optimial especially if you shoot FITA 1440. Your anchor changes over longer distances, and if you don't adjust where your hand sits against your face (upwards/downwards), you tend to compensate with the angle of your head - and consistant head placement is critical to shooting well.

"get the elbow in line and forget about the string touches the nose?"

It really depends on the extent your body type/structure impacts your form. Don't forget, what James P is describing is a biometric "optimal" form, but depending on bodytype it may not be possible to achieve it - instead you want to get as close as possible to it, within the constrictions you might have with body type/structure.

Now with that being said, the string touching your nose is just a reference point, ising a number of facial reference points helps you mantain consistancy, but they aren't manditory. The reference points all change slightly (especially for short draw archers) if you shoot a variety of distances/inclines, so although they are helpful they aren't critical. It's a bit of a toss up you have to decide which you are more comfortable with.

Now if you want to work to James' more biometrically "optimal" form, you might have to look at your stance. Using an even or a closed stance may be required - as long as you can get string clearance. Often arechers with short forearms who want to achieve a strong shoulder position have to use more of a closed stance. It can take a bit of work to find that strong shoulder position - and as James' mentions, with a compound it isn't as critical as you being consistant.

Good luck,

-CG

[Marcus]

Here are some examples
Erika is half chinese and got her nose from that side (as opposed to her sister who got the German side's)
http://www.dva.asn.au/gallery/2004Nats/erika.jpg
You can see that the string is far away from her nose.
She shot 1333 and 1340 with this at the Nationals.

While she shoots it well, I do want to try her on a longer Axel to Axel bow and see how she goes with the string closer to the nose again.

This one is harder to see, however you should be able to make out that Zoe draws past her nose. This is also to get the right elbow alignment.
Shooting like this Zoe has shot about 1327 in comp and 1350+ in practise.
http://www.dva.asn.au/gallery/2004Nats/zoe2.jpg

If you look at the photos in Mastering Compound Bows of Clint shooting you will see his nose is just off the string also.

[andy]

Then again though, Dave Cousins puts his nose to the string.

[Harald]

I've heared he puts his nose into many things....... :D

[Shirt]

Yeah - look at the size of his nose relative to the rest of his face - it's bloody huge! Ergo, unless he was going to shoot a 31" ATA bow, there's no way he's not going to have his nose touching it... :lol:

[Ozzy]

Don't forget as compounders we have the advanage of being able to adjust the length of our release aid rope or string loop.
This can really fine tune our face contact/draw length. :wink:

[arda]

Thanks for the replies.

I would try to get the elbow alignment and see how I go with it.

Thanks

[Richard_Stock]

I've heared he puts his nose into many things....... :D

:rofl: Thanks I need a good laugh :rofl: