Ready to walk on the BRIDGE

[Feral Donkey]

Do any of you guys video your own practice sessions? I know both from the help Joe and Yohon gave me at Baltimore, and from my one session with Len, that I do things I don't realize I'm doing.

Then, you think you're doing everything right so you do that at the bale for weeks, getting it carved in stone. Been there, done that. I ain't going back.

Periodically, go shoot at something 60+ yards out a few times as a calibration or control measure. You're going to miss and you're not going to care if you miss but you'll see what the arrow is doing and where it's hitting. If you're creeping and plucking, dipping your bow arm, or collapsing, etc, it'll let you know in a big way right away. Video taping is the same type thing. It's an external check.

You know, sometimes when I'm in a crowd of people and I've had a few drinks, I can come off as a real asshole. I don't think I'm an asshole. I think everything I'm doing is great. Just like when you're at the bale. You're shooting without any feedback at all and you can start to get tired without thinking or realizing you're tired and things move a little here and there. Just like when you're shooting a 300 round and towards then end you start throwing fliers even though the shot really feels good then the guy next to you says "I'm watching you and you're creepin'." You don't know. To you it feels normal. You need an outside reference of some kind so you don't spend all that time and work teaching yourself to do the wrong thing. We all think we're perfect and the rest of the world isn't.

I can already hear it. "oh, he's starting with that shit again!"

[rwsbow]

Just remember that it is possible to ingrain BAD habits on the bale/bridge as easy as it is ingrain GOOD habits...unless you periodically "test" your progress, you could potentially be regressing rather than progressing....

Videotaping... a buddy who is knowledgeable about your shooting style and the changes you are trying to make, an observant coach....something that can prove that you are progressing with what you are trying to accomplish/improve..

Also remember that the simpler you make an athletic movement...both physically and mentally..the more repeatable, reliable and consistent it will be...simple things for simple minds... ...

Just my thoughts....wish you lotsa luck, Jim...hope it works out for ya!!

[Jim Casto Jr]

mid-April, May, June, through mid-July on the bale. Now slowly going on the bridge--should have done this 40 years ago.

Thanks Roger, I'll certainly need the luck.

Well.... things are going very well. I've gone from the bale, to 3 yards, and now out to 6 yards and have been able to go through each aspect of my shot sequence (with no "panic"), all the way to conclusion. I'll be back if I run in to any problems, or when I get to 20 yards. So far.... so good.

Some of you may find this interesting—or not. When I began working on the bale, following, is the sequence I was using.

1 Set my stance
2 Grip the bow keeping all of it inside the lifeline
3 Take a deep hook on the string with equal pressure across each finger
4 Make sure my left elbow is rotated and the shoulder is down. Rob caught this at the clinic. Apparently my left shoulder was too high and allowing for a collapse-of sorts
5 Draw to anchor and expand to alignment
6 Continue to pull
7 Arrow leaves the string
8 Continue pulling to conclusion

After three months on the bale and all the input from this thread, here is the sequence I’m now using on each shot.

1 Set my stance
2 Grip the bow keeping all of it inside the lifeline
3 Take a deep hook on the string with equal pressure across each finger
4 Make sure my left elbow is rotated and the shoulder is down. RobK caught this at the clinic. Apparently my left shoulder was too high and allowing for a collapse-of sorts
5 Draw to anchor and expand to alignment
6 Keep tension until reaching a maintainable state
7 Commit to the shot
8 Immerse in aiming
a) Somewhere between 8 & 9 the arrow leaves the string
9 Conclusion

[Feral Donkey]

When you're done with that, your sequence will be like this.

1) Shoot the damn bow.

[Jim Casto Jr]

When you're done with that, your sequence will be like this.

1) Shoot the damn bow.

I sure hope so big guy.

[drtyrrel]

Glad to here it's working out for you Jim.

[Fuzzy Dog]

Jim,

Do I remember correctly from Baltimore that you shoot right handed?

I ask because I shot a little under the watchful eye of Rob K up at Denton Hill. He advised me to get my draw elbow, which in my case is the left, up further so I'd draw with my back and not my arm, which helped immensely.

If you're shooting right handed I understand his advice to you and to me. If you're left handed I may be as confused as i fear.

Thanks.

Paul

[Jim Casto Jr]

Paul,

I don't know what you're talking about... but, I'm right-handed and shooting righty.

You may have noticed that I shot lefty for about two years to offset the TP. I could function on the left side without the stuff.

[Fuzzy Dog]

Thanks, Jim.

[Jim Casto Jr]

As of today... 15 yards and all is well.