Left-handeder assistance please

[jbtazgrabber]

I am the wife of Jbtazgrabber.  I just started shooting my bow a couple of months ago.  Its pull weight is 40 pounds.  I need some assistance on stance and positioning to keep it steady and accurate for every shot.  I shoot approximately every night sometimes twice a day with about 15 arrows, some with broadhead tips, which are 75 grains.  Does anyone have some left handed tips to teach instead of the right-handed man teaching me backwards?  Thanks. :oops:

[Daveinthebush]

Actually a right handed person will assist you well.  If you think of it, it is like looking into a mirror.  Just shoot, face-to-face, and mimic what he is doing.  That is if he is doing it well.  

There should be no difference between a righty and a lefty in what they do except personal preferences.  There is a little difference in the stance for women just because your built a little different......you have to be sure the string does not hit you in the breast.  They do sell guards for that problem.  

Yes, I shoot left because of the dominate eye, and am actually right handed.  

Remember that whatever you do, it must be the same every time.  Bow grip, stance, sight picture.  Don't try to correct everything at once either.  If you make too many corrections at once then it is hard to tell what you did in the first place that helped.

Try these site and see if they help.


homestudy.ihea.com/advanced/800shooting.htm
thunder.prohosting.com/~mfoster/archery/shooting.html
www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0%2C1053%2C11356%2C00.html

[jbtazgrabber]

The sites were helpful.  When I practice I sometimes feel as I did something wrong, but unaware of what it was.  When the hubby watches, he seems to make me nervous, and he dont always see everything I do wrong.  I just cant get the arrows to go in the around the same place.  I had practiced at 30 yards tonight and by the 10th arrow I was closer to the bullseye.  I had gotten 4 arrows in the diameter of a paper plate.  I may have only one shot for the deer, so I need to get it right the first time.  Any more suggestions?

[Daveinthebush]

There are three things more to do.

1. Practice

2. Practice

3. Practice

I was pretty good with my Pearson Flame that I have had for years.  Then I bought a BowTech to upgrade my equipment by 15 years.  It was extremely frustrating at first.  I could not hit anything with consistancy.  I was ready to return the bow but something made me strive forward.  Eventually I learned how to shoot, adapt myself, to the new bow.

Now I love it!  It is awesome and I can shoot 3-5" groups at 40 yards without a problem.  It is just one awesome bow.  BUT, I paid to learn to shoot it.  I practiced everyday, 25-50 arrows.  Sometimes, 100 or more shots a day.

Give it time.  When you can hit a 6" circle consistantly at 15 yards, move to 20 and keep it up till 30.  Past 30, with a 40 pound bow your exceeding your energy needs to humainly put an animal down.  Most deer are shot at less than 20 anyways.

Let the husband go to work and then practice by yourself. :lol:

[jbtazgrabber]

I have 75 grain broadheads with 2016 arrows, 31 1/2 inch arrows.  Hitting the paper plate 3 out of 4 times every time.  When I get to hit 4 out of 4, would you shoot 40 yards?  Do I have enough arrow weight to go through a deer at 40 yards?  Should I have a 40 yard pin on sites?  Again, its draw weight is 40 pounds. :?:

[Daveinthebush]

Myself I would not shoot past 20-25 with a 40 pound bow.  Others may say more but there are too many variables here.  The key thing about practicing at a greater distance is it is a confidence builder.  I am trying for a moose right now and I know I could hit one at 60 yards without a problem.  But would that be ethical?  With the energy from mine, 75 ftps at 30 yards, has to be a self imposed maximum on a moose.

Three pins should do it.  10, 20, 30.  

Ted Nugent only shoots 53 +/-  pounds and he takes a lot of game.  But then he shoots a lot.

Complete penetration has too many variables. Broadhead, angle, poundage, type of hit..... Punching a lung from one side is good, two is better, out the other side is fantastic.

I expect to see a picture of your deer here before the season ends! :grin:

[jbtazgrabber]

Said I was going deer hunting, didn't know I had to kill one, LOL.  This is my first year going so I will do my best to get one.  So far I have the 10, 20, and 30, pin  and didn't know if I needed more.  Thanks so much for the advice, I will practice each and every night till the KILL.  Hope to see the moose head pic when u get it.

[longwinters]

Your arrows are probably way too long for your draw length.  How much do they hang over your arrow rest? It should not be more than an inch or so.  Has anyone set up your bow so you know it is tuned?  You really need to be able to shoot groups at 10-15 before you move on to farther shots.  When you release the arrow, try to play statue ( dont move a muscle) until the arrow hits the target . . . it is called follow thru.  Are you using a mechanical release or just your fingers?  Finger shooting can be difficult.  Maybe your husband could video you shooting.  Then you could watch and see for yourself what is changing from shot to shot.  Consistency is everything in archery.  Are you steady on the target or wiggling all over?  Try squeezing your shoulder blades together when you are drawn back ( you want to use your back muscles not just your arm muscles).  Finally, are you strangling the bow grip or is your hand relaxed?  A loose grip is always better so you are not torqing the bow on the shot.  

You have a lot of things to learn, but you seem to really have the heart for archery/hunting.  Best of luck to you.

Long

[jbtazgrabber]

When I got the bow, the arrows were cut forthe length that I need.  I have really long arms and legs.  The arrows do not hang over the length that they are supposed to.  I have gotten better everynight practicing.  I had been all over the yard at different angles and distances and only missed one shot out of 10.  I feel that I am doing better and will strive to better yet.  Muscles is not a problem for me I have more than enough for a woman.  I use a mechanical release and it does well.  I chose this one out of three.  I have a great fel with it and gives me no trouble.  Steady comes with practice.  I have not had this bow long and I am learning new things everyday.  I handle the bow where it is comfortable to me and that is what is one of the most important things of consistency.

[jbtazgrabber]

This is Jb of the Jbtazgrabber, the spouse.  We went to buy a new bow, instead of the short draw length that most women take, she had to have the normal male length on the bow pull.  She has no overdraw.  The arrow are 1 inch past the rest with broadheads attached.  I always go a little more in length on arrows to allow a little overdraw when hunting.  She is pulling 40 pounds which is OK minimum required weight.  She has already mastered the 20 yard pin, kill shot every time.  She is back to 30 yards and doing extremely well.  The bow was tuned to her from the archery shop that we purchased from.  And the first lesson what given to her by the owner.  Just for the information, in less than a year's time, she can outshoot me with a 10-22 Ruger.  3/4 inch groups, 10 rounds, at 30 yards.  She has only been shooting a gun less than a year, and the bow 2 months.  I am 5'9'', weigh a 185 pounds, her legs are 6 inches longer than mine and the arms are 4 inches longer than mine, so she needs all the 31 inch arrow length she can get.  And she does have a heart of gold, taken care of a me and my five year old, which is not hers, while I work ten hours a day.