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thesmudger

How to hold an American Flat Bow

I'm after a little bit of assistance. This may seem a little "thick" and, if the question has been asked before I do apologise.

I like my American Flat Bow - but I have a bit of an issue.

I suspect, as I am, in the first instance, a Recurve Archer that I am holding the AFB in a similar way as to which I hold my recurve.

The difference is that, on a fairly regular basis, I catch my wrist with the string travel on my AFB. Several local suggestions have been made icluding checking and adjusting the barce height (which has been done) and also altering my grip so that I am holding it somewhat from the side (which I find a little uncomfortable and un-natural)

Does anyone have any additional suggestions of something else I could try.

Any comments would be very much appreciated
segolden

Welcome thesmudger! Read your bio, you sound impressively busy like all of us here, hope you have a good time. As for the string-whacking problem, I had the same issue with my new KG Deluxe English Longbow (shameless plug for fred at J.F. Tibbetts, see link on this site). After increasing the brace height slightly, I made sure that my grip was sufficiently angled so that my little and ring fingers were folded under against the grip pad. I also try to not overextend my bow arm, as both these methods keep the elbow turned inward and away from the path of the string. This has pretty well solved the whacks, though it occasionally crops up when I'm overly nackered. Not certain if this is old stuff for you, but I can't think of anything else right now. Good luck!
daohead

thesmudger,

Hello. I am rather new to this, but being who I am, I read every book on traditional archery I could find... and went to archery expos... and watched videos... and took lessons.... I finally settled on the "Become the Arrow" method described in the book of the same name by Byron Ferguson (THE master of barebow archery and the most amazing trick shot on the planet (who I had the pleasure of seeing perform live)). I have been working on his recommendations, and I have yet to hit my arm with the bowstring (of course I haven't hit the target every time either... (I just got past shooting my first 1000 arrows)).

Basically, relax your bow shoulder and your elbow. Keep you bow arm elbow pointing away so that if you pull the bow toward your chest, your elbow will bend and your bent arm will stay level and parallel with the ground. Don't death grip the bow, hold it only as tightly as you need not to drop it when you loose the arrow... two fingers and your thumb... and use a low wrist grip... the weight of the drawn bow should be on your palm/life line.

That is my input... it works for me, and as I started with this barebow (Bear Montana Longbow 60#) and theory, I haven't had to unlearn any other method... Hope it helps some...
thesmudger

Thanks

 - hi Guys

many thanks for your prompt replies - i will give the suggestions a try.

I already have (somewhere !!!!!) the "Become the Arrow" book, looks like I will have to give it another look -

May have the chance to give all your kind help a try this evening, as long as it doesn't rain to heavily
daohead

thesmudger,

One other thing I realized I didn't mention... canting the bow... not only does it it give you a clear field of vision to aim with, but it also makes for a more comfortable grip when keeping the elbow pointed away...
thesmudger

daohead wrote:
thesmudger,

One other thing I realized I didn't mention... canting the bow... not only does it it give you a clear field of vision to aim with, but it also makes for a more comfortable grip when keeping the elbow pointed away...
hi Guys - sorry about the delay in replying - been away on the old Hols (lovely job too .... )

I'll try canting the bow, but it may take a little getting used to as it is something that i have been coached not to do to often
segolden

Like anything else physical that the body is not used to doing, it takes a little time. The average person needs about 3,000 repetitions of a movement in order for the body's "muscle memory" to adopt it as habitual. Just try using your keys with the hand you normally don't manipulate them with, and you'll see what I mean.

I suspect that the people who have advised you to keep the bow vertical are primarily target archers, and may be more familiar with recurves than longbows. Recurves, when drawn, can have some lateral movement at the tips and are sensitive to torquing the string by twisting the draw-hand, thus inducing instability. The longbow's mechanics are straight-line, forcing the string into a perpendicular line with the limbs when released, and has little or no lateral movement at the tips when drawn. The American Flatbow, with its more center-shot design, combines less arrow deformity upon release with the inherent forgiveness described above of the longbow. Canting is not a necessity, but it is more relaxing in the field, and you're less likely to have the arrow take a dive at an awkward moment, particularly when you're crouching under a bush or behind a tree and trying to center that silly stuffed deer.
thesmudger

segolden wrote:
Like anything else physical that the body is not used to doing, it takes a little time. The average person needs about 3,000 repetitions of a movement in order for the body's "muscle memory" to adopt it as habitual. Just try using your keys with the hand you normally don't manipulate them with, and you'll see what I mean.

I suspect that the people who have advised you to keep the bow vertical are primarily target archers, and may be more familiar with recurves than longbows. Recurves, when drawn, can have some lateral movement at the tips and are sensitive to torquing the string by twisting the draw-hand, thus inducing instability. The longbow's mechanics are straight-line, forcing the string into a perpendicular line with the limbs when released, and has little or no lateral movement at the tips when drawn. The American Flatbow, with its more center-shot design, combines less arrow deformity upon release with the inherent forgiveness described above of the longbow. Canting is not a necessity, but it is more relaxing in the field, and you're less likely to have the arrow take a dive at an awkward moment, particularly when you're crouching under a bush or behind a tree and trying to center that silly stuffed deer.
Dear Segolden

many thanks for taking the time to reply. You are quite rigth - the initial advice has certainly come from Recurve Archers. I'm a bit of a "two camps" person. I shoot both competition (in it's looses sense)with my recurve and shoot for "enjoyment" (for lack of a better word) with my Gamesmaster and my AFB - it would be certainly fair to say that i enjoy "going back to basics". I will certainly try your suggestions and will get back to you.
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