I'm scared...

[stars_shine]

latley ive been hitting my arm pretty bad, and now, wheneva i shoot, i always hesitate, or let down the draw. The only problem is, when i hit my arm, i always seem to score in the x. My brain has a conflict with my arm, and in the end, i either hit myself, or am scared of hitting myself. :oops:

With juniour nationals coming up, i would really like 2 get ova this problem, does ne1 have ne suggestions?

[Jason]

i used to have the same problem, 1 way that i can susgest is to to look at ur arm at full draw and try to rotate it out of the way. keep doing this until it just becomes second nature to rotate the arm out the way (without looking at it). It shouldnt take long to know how much u need to rotate it. Hope it helps!

[stars_shine]

thanx jason, my only problem is gettin to full draw without getting scared, however i will try that thanx! :D

[The One]

I would recommend rotating your arm before you start drawing, as if you do it at full draw, you'll torque the bow, and play havoc with your muscles. Ideally, get a coach, or someone else to have a look at you and adjust your shoulder alignment until you have enough clearance.

[stars_shine]

C that is the problem, i do all that has been suggested 1st, the only explantion any coach i have talked 2 bout it can come up wit, is my elbow swinging in as soon as i release, im open 2 all ideas, as weird as they may seem, im just desprerate 2 get ova this problem
:-?


:angel:

[Leighton]

Would an armguard work? Or do you use one and still hit your arm?

[stars_shine]

well, my metal w&w one has been bent and stripped of its colour, plastic ones don't seem to fit properly on my arm properly (i have hyper extended arms) however, medieval people who shoot at the club have loaned me a leather 1, that is moulded to my arm, and it work really well, but i am still 'paranoid' i will somehow hit my arm.

sounds stupid, i know, but my brain just dosent seem to get the fact it is almost impossible to hit again :roll:

[Leighton]

Maybe if you intentionally hit your arm and hit an x your brain will equate hitting your arm with hitting an x and somehow everything in your archery world will be correct again....

Okay, seriously, I have no clue man. Try see a sport psychologist or something. Sounds like its similar to target panic. Perhaps something that works for target panic will work for this. Just a thought.

[stars_shine]

ok, i might try that thanx, all 4 of my coaches r tryin to figure it out, and no it is on my mind alot

why does everything go wrong close 2 big comps! :(

[Marcus]

If you are hitting it that hard then you are running too close to the string or your grip is too far inside. Take more of the bow onto your thumb muscle and that should help out.

[stars_shine]

thanx marcus! ill try that 1 as well

[Zoe]

Marcus = Coach No.5

Too much of a good thing stars_shine? :lol:


(while you're figuring it out, I'd recommend wrapping your arm up enough so it doesn't hurt enough to worry about it when you're whacked, without it being too bulky. I'm sure you could rig up a makeshift arrangement, then you could put your own DIY touches to it to render it so eccentric that everyone will want one)

[Oldtimer]

I have always come very close to my elbow, and have shot off the ridge on my plastic armguard, Every now and then this becomes clipping the arm frequently, which smarts somewhat, but doesn't seem to affect the arrows very much. I've found that the best thing for me is to put strapping tape over where the string is touching and forget about it. It doesn't stop the touching, but it doesn't hurt any more, so I stop worrying about it, and then stop doing it.

[ambie]

i agree with marcus, that you are probably taking a lot of pressure on the middle part of your hand, and by moving the way you position the bow in your hand you will likely stop hitting your arm.
because you are constantly thinking about hitting your arm, you will of course hit it every shot. It is much like when you are playing any ball sport, and you think about missing the goal...
i think that if you concentrate on another aspect of your style for a while, then your arm will take care of itself.

will see you in sydney!

[Pinky]

Used to have the same problem as a junior myself. Hit bottom of elbow, rotate arm (too far), hit top part of elbow until can't bend arm anymore. Wait 2 days for swelling to go down. Repeat.

The only thing I've found that works reasonbly well is to try and position my bow hand so that my knuckles are about 45 degrees to the ground. This automatically rotates my elbow to be vertical and hey-presto! no hitting my arm. Hope this helps.

[stars_shine]

thanx every1 for ur ideas!
im trying each one of them, Zoe, befeore i shoot, it has become almost ceremonial for me to wrap my arm in bandages, it still hurts a bit, but it definitley takes the edge of it!

its nice 2 know that im not totally stupid, and that all you guys took the time 2 help, so thanx heaps, and if ne1 else has some good ideas, however weird and wonderful they are, tell me, and i gauruntee ill try them
:)

[Liam]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.

[RealLyons]

Is it bad that I have been hitting my arm for so long that I have one big callous down my arm and now, I can't feel anything hit it?

[Marcus]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

[Leighton]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

Doesn't that depend on your arm structure? For example, my arm when fully extended has this clearly noticable valley, whereas other people's arms are much flatter when fully extended and sometimes even curve the "wrong" way. :o

[Leighton]

thanx every1 for ur ideas!
im trying each one of them, Zoe, befeore i shoot, it has become almost ceremonial for me to wrap my arm in bandages, it still hurts a bit, but it definitley takes the edge of it!

its nice 2 know that im not totally stupid, and that all you guys took the time 2 help, so thanx heaps, and if ne1 else has some good ideas, however weird and wonderful they are, tell me, and i gauruntee ill try them
:)

Did you correct the problem?

[Marcus]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

Doesn't that depend on your arm structure? For example, my arm when fully extended has this clearly noticable valley, whereas other people's arms are much flatter when fully extended and sometimes even curve the "wrong" way. :o
All come sdown to how you set your elbow orientation.

[Liam]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

Well, I was told it shouldn't hit, and it was only when I wasn't concentrating properly and my arm went funny that it did. When I actually thought about having everything straight and consistent it didn't hit..

[Marcus]

Have a look here
http://www.archery-forum.com/uploads/Karina%20041120%201.JPG
This is an example of very good line. Notice how close the strng and arm are?
The front shoulder should be as close to the string as possible.
This will result in hitting of the arm.

If you open your shoulders up so you don't hit your arm you will get left shots and you won't be as consistant. This is the case with both compound and recurve. With recurve it will also mean that you will be unable to shoot heavy poundage. (the women in this photo can shoot 50+ pounds)

[Flehrad]

Marcus,

At the Nats, even though the indoor is being used for admin, do you reckon it's possible we could have a session to look at our form etc using that webcam setup Jim used for Clash?

Unfortunately I don't have any access to anything remotely closely like that to see what I look like from above....

I've recently taken to shooting without an arm guard, and almost every shot I lightly graze my arm with the string and I've got a slightly dark patch appearing from the constant contact...

Is that right?

[Marcus]

I think we felt that we simply wouldn't have the time, however I'll talk with JIm and see if we can work something in perhaps. That webcam isn't perm. at the moment. We are in the middle of writing our own video software and putting together a very very neat video system for our club to use. (think touch screens maybe)

Sounds right to me though, what you may find is that you hit it harder as you get better.

[Flame]

Don

I have a Logitech QuickCam Pro that I stick on the roof and can take down and put on a tripod for back, front and side views

similar to what Jim used and cheap and does a fair job - about $125

Plugs straight into the PC so you can see it live

Have a look at the image from the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B00006HMPK/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_all/102-8305763-4400903#gallery



A $50 camera below will give you a fair picture but lesser quality

http://www.logitech.com/lang/images/0/6611.jpg

[James Park]

At the Nats, even though the indoor is being used for admin, do you reckon it's possible we could have a session to look at our form etc using that webcam setup Jim used for Clash?
It is quite easy to set up. It would all depend upon how tired all we organisers get during the event and how readily we could use the space. It would have to be in the evening.

[Flehrad]

Don

I have a Logitech QuickCam Pro that I stick on the roof and can take down and put on a tripod for back, front and side views

similar to what Jim used and cheap and does a fair job - about $125

Plugs straight into the PC so you can see it live

Have a look at the image from the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B00006HMPK/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_all/102-8305763-4400903#gallery



A $50 camera below will give you a fair picture but lesser quality

http://www.logitech.com/lang/images/0/6611.jpg

:D
That would require a roof at training or where I can shoot....
And being a outdoors club exclusively training at might pose a slight problem....

I won't be a hassle, but it was just something that popped into my mind a while ago when I first saw Clash's excellent form pics...

I tried to get my brother to stand on our ladder at home with his digital camera once, but that was too unstable to get enough clearance... so that won't be happening :P

[Flame]

That would require a roof at training or where I can shoot....
And being a outdoors club exclusively training at might pose a slight problem....



Just make a simple upside down L frame or use portable netball ring and put the camera on that and hook it up to a laptop- easy

They fit onto a standard camera mount and onto a tripod :D

[Flehrad]

I got the tripod. :D

Portable Netball ring??? Hmmm, that might be interesting considering the only netball hoops I've seen around are heavy duty, and weigh about 90kg.... as for borrowing or aquiring it, I think that's out of the question...

But as for the laptop.... I think that's my problem. :P
Two words - Uni Student. :wink:

[Flame]

The portable netball rings can be bought at a sports store - light weight

You have to borrow a laptop from a not so povo uni student :D

[Leighton]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

does the string contact the armguard before or after the arrow has left the bow?

[Marcus]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

does the string contact the armguard before or after the arrow has left the bow?Would be just after, but I would need a slow motion video to me certain.

[Leighton]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

does the string contact the armguard before or after the arrow has left the bow?Would be just after, but I would need a slow motion video to me certain.

Agreed.

Do you think that everyone should be hitting their arm though, regardless of physiology though? You have a little worried because as I stated before, the string does not come close to my arm and I've attributed this to the general structure of my arm. I can't get any closer to the arrow or else the string will hit my chest which causes right shots for me.

[Marcus]

I would all depend on what their shoulder alignment looks like and I would go case by case on it using overhead footage to determine it.

[Flehrad]

The string would hit your chest?.....

That would mean you have narrow shoulders/short arms/interesting alignment/long bow length or a combination of something very very strange...

I've only ever seen one guy shoot and hit his chest, and he flicked his nipple through the shirt. He shot bent arm, with a overly long draw length compound and punched the finger trigger release...

[Leighton]

It won't hit the chest like your thinking where I hit the nipple. When the string comes off the fingers and comes towards the body, the string will zing an area on the right side of my pectoral, this was due to the string being pressed into the pectoral. I think that was the reason anyway.

[Flehrad]

Does this mean you are either very upright or tilting back/leaning back to your spine so your chest sticks out?....

If you have a nice clean release, it shouldn't zig zag the string a huge amount, but as you say since the string is pressing on your pecs at draw...
Do your pecs bulge out or something?.... cos... I know my form isn't the greatest or most correct, but my string has never contacted my chest anywhere...

[Cougar]

Leighton -
It sounds to me as though you are drawing your bow 'outside' your body. Try drawing closer to your arm and you will find that at full draw your string will be to the left (if you are right handed) of your chest rather than in front of it.
This is the way we teach women to draw so that they won't catch their chest on release.

I would also check your brace height. Particularly if you think the string might be catching your arm after the arrow has left it. This is a symptom of brace height being too low.

[Shirt]

Cougar, are you the same Cougar that has appeared on the York Uni board? :o

[Cougar]

Hi Tom
Yes that's me???

[Leighton]

Leighton -
It sounds to me as though you are drawing your bow 'outside' your body. Try drawing closer to your arm and you will find that at full draw your string will be to the left (if you are right handed) of your chest rather than in front of it.
This is the way we teach women to draw so that they won't catch their chest on release.

I would also check your brace height. Particularly if you think the string might be catching your arm after the arrow has left it. This is a symptom of brace height being too low.

I shoot left handed. :wink:

I don't think the string catches the arm. I don't wear an armguard and I think I'd have red welts if the string did catch.

[Harald]

Think its a fact that most women are able to bend their elbow more than males. (even more than staight) Prob is therefore regretably more common on the spinning side than among the warriors..... :bday:

[MerlinApexDylan]

When I used to shoot recurve, I hated using arm-guards, so I basically told myself that the string hitting my arm was a punishment for holding the bow wrong, I ended up with some whopping bruises put it made me hold it better.Umm, that's not right. If you are running good shoulder alignment you will hit your arm, especially with a recurve bow.
So many archers shoot poor form to get away without an armguard. Doesn't make sense.

does the string contact the armguard before or after the arrow has left the bow?Would be just after, but I would need a slow motion video to me certain.

It's actually the ocilation of the string after the arrow has left that causes the string strikes on the forearm. I would say the path has to be fairly clear as the arrow is leaving. Wouldn't you marcus?

[yavigaaz]

I find sometimes when i hit my arm, it hurts like all...Ginger bread?.. yeah well it hurts alot.. But it just reminds you why you shouldn't have you arm like that.. lol.. It is a painful reminding of how you should be holding it..

It happens to me sometimes too.. It feels good somehow knowing that i screwed up badly.. And then i fix where my arm is.. I suppose the best advice is just try to be concious for the moment of where your arm is.. and then after a while like someonme said before, it becomes second nature.!!

- Jeremy

[DanceswithDingoes]

open your stance a little more Kirsty.