Save my poor arm!

[discord]

Hello!

I've been lurking for a while now and finally decided to post

So I bought a cheap(ish) ILF target recurve almost a month ago now, after doing a 'come n try' weekend with the lovely folks up at Pacific Bowmen, an ABA club up on the Gold Coast. I've since ditched the gap shooting method they taught and have been practising instinctive shooting. I'm lucky enough to live on a few acres, so I have the space to practice (almost) daily, and am fairly happy with my progress, BUT... My forearm is copping a flogging. Not close to the wrist where everyone else seems to get it but about 2/3 of the way up toward my elbow.

rsz_arm2.jpg (48.27 KiB) Viewed 5287 times

I have a full-length arm guard but I'd rather fix my form than rely on it and I'm worried that it's hitting so close to the brace height and maybe messing with my shots... I've tried rolling my bow arm inwards at the shoulder but it feels pretty uncomfortable, any other suggestions? I'm not sure if I can get the brace height any higher, how many twists is too many?

I'm very keen to come and have a shoot with one of the 3daaa clubs close-by at some stage, I think I'm equal distance from the Tweed Valley and Northern Rivers clubs, any ozbow people members of either of these?

Anyway, love the forum, learning lots....

By the way, the bow is a Cartel Fantom, 70" AMO, 30#@28, draw length 29-ish.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Welcome to Ozbow. It would appear that you must be holding you bow incorrectly or rolling your bow arm somehow. Have you got a photo of you shooting that you can post up so we can see what you are doing? If not, some more info such as how you grip the bow, do you cant the bow and also the position of you bow arm elbow (3 o'clock position etc) would help us to help you more.

Jeff

[Fanto]

ive been there.

What worked for me was changing my grip so that the back of my hand was flat and parallel with my forearm. An archery coach told me to grip the bow like I was picking up a suitcase

[discord]

Yikes! You win

I can't get a good photo down the length of my bow arm, I'll have to get the G.F. to assist later... I have been canting just to get a decent sight window, but I was getting slapped in the same spot gap shooting with a vertical bow.

[Fanto]

discord,

just hold the bow by the string in your right hand then pick up the grip like you are picking up a suitcase, thats the idea anyway..

yes that was a good bruise. the first impact wasnt too bad, it was the one the next day that really really hurt. that was a 55# bow.

I had a little accident with a 70# bow, the arrow popped off the string on drawing and when i released the bow dry fired collecting my arm on its way toward the target. the bow ended up 3 yards down the range and the arrow ended up in my right hand. That really hurt.

[perry]

Another way to find a starting point for a correct Grip is to adopt your Stance [ assuming it's a more side on than open ] and simply point at a distant object. Examine the position your Arm is in, your Skeleton has lined up correctly and the Joints are aligned. If you point at something,without realising it you will find your shoulder drops and rotates slightly, your Elbow is aligned in the Joint, slightly bent and pointing down and your Wrist and Hand will be aligned in such a manor if you imagine you where holding a Bow, the Web between thumb and forefinger would be firmly planted in the throat of the Grip and the Pad of your Thumb resting comfortably on the swell of the Grip .

The idea is that you rely on Skeletal Alignment and not Muscular Strength, Muscles tire and cause inconsistency

regards Jacko

[discord]

Really appreciate the feedback, thanks guys

perry I totally agree with what you're saying and that's what i've been striving for, but I always get slapped when the grip is right in the web of my thumb and forefinger like that, unless i rotate my elbow right out to 9'oclock which is really uncomfortable in the shoulder. I had been kinda gripping like fanto said a few days before I jumped on here for advice, but I feel like it's not gonna work when I jump up in bow poundage as the heel(?) of my palm and base of my thumb are taking most of the pressure...

Went to my first 3d shoot today out at NRFA (near Casino, NSW) and had a great time, was even happy with my score
Unfortunately no trad shooters to give me any pointers so I might try Tweed Valley next Sunday

[Fanto]

discord

it was difficult to apply what I was taught to heavy bows but it just takes time to build strength. i used to really struggle with 55# and now I'm pretty solid with 70 pounds. just takes time.

cheers

[discord]

But can you see what perry means about letting the skeleton take the strain instead of muscles?

http://www.tenzone.u-net.com/Technique/pdfs/BowArm.PDF
is an interesting read

and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpBPgPyiYEA

[perry]

discord, nice links, very interesting.

The secret is not rotating your Elbow, the rotation happens at the Shoulder and the Elbow follows. Try throwing a Punch, notice how the whole Arm follows the Shoulder and roatates so the 2 outside Knuckles deliver much of the Blow, your Skeleton lines up in a Straight line from hand to Shoulder. Your Bow Arm is very similar. The Strength comes from correct Alignment and balance. Perhaps your Stance is holding you back , lots and lots of variables. Please find a helpfull Compound Shooter, same principal. I find FITA Coaches really clued into this sort of thing. We have lots to learn from our Compound Shooting and FITA Brothers

regards Jacko

[scuzz]

Ive always hit my arm lightly, just below my elbow but have only ever seen it as a sign of consistancy. Obviously never to the extent of fanto's picture, but i do see a light wear mark on my arm guard.

Although ive always been intent on keeping a stretched posture to maximise draw length, because in my opinion, a decent draw length combined with decent poundage, creates flatter arrow flight.

Scuzz

[Fanto]

discord, nice links, very interesting.

The secret is not rotating your Elbow, the rotation happens at the Shoulder and the Elbow follows. Try throwing a Punch, notice how the whole Arm follows the Shoulder and roatates so the 2 outside Knuckles deliver much of the Blow, your Skeleton lines up in a Straight line from hand to Shoulder. Your Bow Arm is very similar. The Strength comes from correct Alignment and balance. Perhaps your Stance is holding you back , lots and lots of variables. Please find a helpfull Compound Shooter, same principal. I find FITA Coaches really clued into this sort of thing. We have lots to learn from our Compound Shooting and FITA Brothers

regards Jacko

Jacko

good advice there. I think one of the biggest hurdles to new archers is the absolute garbage advice which I have heard given out by more experienced (but crap) archers. for example, i brought a mate along to a shooting day. another mate brought his mate. this guy was wielding an old proline compound, (which he later admitted had one sight pin set at 45 yards, and two more out further, we shot at 10-40 yards all day...) anyway, he advised my mate to rotate his elbow toward the bow during the draw to prevent wrist slap...

[GrahameA]

Afternoon.

... one of the biggest hurdles to new archers is the absolute garbage advice which I have heard given out ...

Yes. However, on "the other side of the coin" large part of the issue is the number of Archers that:
- do not take advantage of the Coaching that is available
- do not take any notice of the excellent books written on the subject
- and even when given excellent advice decide to persist in doing it "their way"

[longbowinfected]

coaches go to a lot of trouble to keep up to date and normally give good advice. They get blamed when the athlete gets it wrong and the athlete gets all the praise when things go well....... easier being a bow or an arrow.....arrows always go where they are pointed.

Find a like minded mate. Take videos of each other from every angle, compare notes, take this to see a trained coach.

Kevin

[Tom Alker]

I had the same problem when i first got my target bow. the bruise got really nasty! Was about 3x worse than the bruise in this pic. My forearm hated me for a while.

[Big_jim]

Hi Everyone I'm new to both the site and archery but from your photo you look to have no bend in your elbow i know this problem personally as i had the same issue . Make sure you put a little bend in your elbow it should make your arm roll out if your grip is correct. haven't hit myself in 3 months now

May you arrows find their target,

Big Jim

[Nephew]

Welcome to Ozbow, Big Jim.

[Gilly]

I have always been told to keep a slight bend in the arm, I know when I am not doing it right as I smash my arm!
Keep it bent and I have no dramas, I was told to put my hand up like I was stopping traffic then grasp the bow, mind you I use a longbow not a recurve.