Is the high anchor really the problem?

[Cutty]

The more bale work I do, the more form conscious I become, the more I wonder if a high anchor isn't really to blame for inconsistency in many shooters; especially those who try to emulate the dynamic releases they see among target shooters.

I just can't see how your average "Joe Trad," given the fact he's most likely overweight, and most likely has some flexibility, physical issues, can achieve proper and consistent form with an anchor higher than corner of the mouth. In fact, I wonder if the immediate accuracy gain many trad archers see when they switch from split finger to three under isn't more the result of lowering their anchor, rather than being able to get the arrow more immediately under their eye and "gunbarrel" it.

What do you guys think?

[Feral Donkey]

Everyone is different. Some people can anchor high on their face no problem. I can't. I think a lot of it is finding what works comfortably and consistantly for you.

[Cutty]

I don't buy it, Feral. I don't see how anyone, especially "larger" archers can get proper alignment with a high anchor. They might think they have proper alignment, but I don't think they're getting there.

Take Rick Welsh, for example. I don't think he's getting proper alignment BUT I think he's able to compensate because he's got such a tremendously strong bow arm.

"Joe Trad" isn't Rick Welsh. That's why "Joe Trad" can't shoot like Rick Welsh.

I also think that's why "Joe Trad" is so often overbowed. He doesn't have the bow arm to compensate and has to drop draw weight in order to compensate for poor form.

[Feral Donkey]

As a big, dirty, fat guy I realize the whole thing with not being able to get into true alignment like the wet-noodle people are but I don't see how that effects a higher or lower anchor. Please explain.

[Cutty]

The higher your anchor, the higher your front shoulder, the higher your back tension, the more you have to fight your bow arm from drifting right for a right handed shooter...

...a gross oversimplification, but think of it this way...

If you do bent rows at the gym working the lower part of your lats and you suddenly let go of the dumbell, your hand will fly straight back. If you do them higher, working your upper back and you let go, your hand will fly out to the side.

Nearly all of the "Trad Joes" that I see post form pics let their bow arm drift right if they're right handed shooters, or break their elbow in order to get the bow right. Also, nearly all lean their heads into the string for the same reason. Most also cannot reach the necessary draw length for proper alignment with a high anchor, which is why they tend to hunch their shoulders as well.

All of the above contributes to a sloppy release, which contributes to target panic...and so it goes...

[cst]

I might have trained enough to keep my bowside (front) shoulder down automaticaly, but when I just moved my anchor from low (just past the corner of my mouth) to up under my eye I didn't notice any change in my bowside shoulder. No change in tension, position, nothing. I know I am overweight and it might be the shape of my head, but I actually get the opposite effect Pete. When I anchor high my hand moves even farther straight back on release than when I anchor low. I shot with a high release for two years before going from contacts to glasses so I am fairly familiar with the position and technique. Go figure.

[rwsbow]

Probably because I don't shoot heavy weights..all my bows between 40-44lbs.. but like Chris, my shoulder doesn't raise...It may be because of all the years of a low anchor,have only changing 3-4 years ago to a high anchor, but like he said, go figure.

I'm not exactly a saltine either...more like a lump of liverwurst ..

I think a lot of it may be the heavier weight bows people like to hunt with as compared to target bows..more pressure in the wrong places if you are out of alignment (by alignment I mean the drawing elbow,drawing hand and bow hand) make you appear hunched and bent over a little..more pressure on the bow shoulder to raise,etc...I know it's easier to engage the upper trapezius muscles with a high anchor and easier to engage the lower (?) traps.(muscles right along the right side of the spine) with a lower anchor...your point on the weight lifting movements..

Good point, thoug, Cutty...I'd like to hear some more people chime in about their thoughts....

Roger

[Cutty]

Chris, are your cheeks wider than your cheekbones? That would account for it.

Keep in mind, I'm just thinking out loud here...lol...definitely a work in progess.

But I just don't see how you can achieve low enough back tension unless you are drawing lower, then raising your anchor and then creeping it forward on your face with a high anchor. An exaggerated example of that would be the way you see the heavy draw compound guys draw really low until the letoff kicks in and then they raise the bow.

[Cutty]

If you watch the Oly shooters, almost all of them "pre-draw" with the bow raised, then lower the bow as they twist their torso into alignment, then raise the bow as they settle in and start to pull through.

The dead give away to me is the way their strings tend to bisect their face, many of them have it pressed into their nose.

How in the world can you come anywhere close to that alignment if you anchor with the arrow right under your eye, or right up at your cheekbone, or higher?

[Cutty]

Again, a lot of this is coming out of my own realization that I have been relying way too much on a strong bow arm to compensate for my form. Once you actually get your bow arm in line with your bow shoulder, the feeling of increased stability, for me at least, was nearly as remarkable as the first time I actually was able to feel what good back tension all the way through the shot felt like.

Again, for me, it's one of those deals where you THINK you know what good alignment feels like, but when you actually achieve it you realize you had NO idea.