Can anyone solve a dilemma for me? The string of compound bow I'm using (Martin Speedfire Magnum) hits my arm when I release, if I hold my left arm straight. But I don't understand why, because at full draw, my arm does not appear to be in the path the string will follow when I release. I can only assume that the bow turns towards the right after I release. This is the only thing I can think of that would explain it. I don't think (but I could be wrong) that I am imparting torque with my left hand. What else could do it?
On 23 Mar 2005 20:07:30 GMT, LukeOverYonder@MescalitoLuvsMe.net (Luke) wrote:
The bend in your elbow should be as vertical as possible, this will>>>tend to push the forearm slightly out of the way...>
Hi Murray, Thanks for your input. Vertical, you say? I would have>thought a horizontal bend would move the forearm out of the way best,>but then the hand's grip becomes so twisted that it's hard not to>impart some torque to the bow, yes?
It would be more obvious if you were hitting your elbow, 'cos the red mark would show you the problem.
If you hold your bow arm out, so that when your elbow bends your forearm moves parallel to the floor you will see that the elbow joint has a dent on the string side & that the forearm presents it's flat inner side to the string.
Hold your arm so that the elbow bends your forearm at right angles to the floor & you'll notice a bulge of elbow joint on the string side & a reasonable sized bit of muscle just beyond that. This is the usual bit that gets hit.
Of course, if you're hitting your wrist with the string then elbow position is not going to help & you'll need to look to things like bracing height & technique.
One final thought - there are people with hypermobile joints who have an angle of more than 180 degrees at the elbow when the elbow locks out "straight". Even good shoulder rotation can't stop the elbow joint overextending & I'll have to admit I've no idea how to _really_ fix this problem! Compound bow & a bent elbow I guess - I'm open to better suggestions.
On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 21:42:25 +0000, Andy Macklin <newspost@triffid.clara.co.uk> wrote:
On 23 Mar 2005 20:07:30 GMT, LukeOverYonder@MescalitoLuvsMe.net (Luke)>>wrote:>>
The bend in your elbow should be as vertical as possible, this will>>>>>tend to push the forearm slightly out of the way...>>>
Hi Murray, Thanks for your input. Vertical, you say? I would have>>>thought a horizontal bend would move the forearm out of the way best,>>>but then the hand's grip becomes so twisted that it's hard not to>>>impart some torque to the bow, yes?>>
It would be more obvious if you were hitting your elbow, 'cos the red>>mark would show you the problem.>>
If you hold your bow arm out, so that when your elbow bends your>>forearm moves parallel to the floor you will see that the elbow joint>>has a dent on the string side & that the forearm presents it's flat>>inner side to the string.>>
Hold your arm so that the elbow bends your forearm at right angles to>>the floor & you'll notice a bulge of elbow joint on the string side &>>a reasonable sized bit of muscle just beyond that. This is the usual>>bit that gets hit.>>
Of course, if you're hitting your wrist with the string then elbow>>position is not going to help & you'll need to look to things like>>bracing height & technique. >>
One final thought - there are people with hypermobile joints who have>>an angle of more than 180 degrees at the elbow when the elbow locks>>out "straight". Even good shoulder rotation can't stop the elbow joint>>overextending & I'll have to admit I've no idea how to _really_ fix>>this problem! Compound bow & a bent elbow I guess - I'm open to better>>suggestions.
What really puzzles me, is that while the bow is drawn, it appears that the string should not hit my inner forearm when released. However it does. That makes me think that the bow might be doing a bit of a clockwise turn (looking down from above) upon release. I don't think it's my left hand that's doing it. I think it's more likely to be the design of the bow and the way it recoils when released.
On 25 Mar 2005 01:19:58 GMT, LukeoverYonder@MescalitoLuvsMe.net (Luke) wrote:
What really puzzles me, is that while the bow is drawn, it appears>that the string should not hit my inner forearm when released. However>it does. That makes me think that the bow might be doing a bit of a>clockwise turn (looking down from above) upon release. I don't think>it's my left hand that's doing it. I think it's more likely to be the>design of the bow and the way it recoils when released.
I'm not sure how you're judging the string alignment while at full draw, but I don't think I could call the difference between hitting & not hitting (say 1/2") myself.
If the bow really is twisting that much & it's really not you doing it (the commonest cause) then you've been sold a very dud bow indeed!
check your bow mate, make sure it hasnt got any kind of warping on it, and also make sure your string is set for the correct settings - what type of bow do you have? recurve? if you have it set right, and draw it correctly, it wont come back on you - that is, that you are doing EVERYTHING correctly.... yeah, as mentioned in a previous email, videotape yourself, and see if you have any offsets - get another member at your club to spot you, and see what u may (or may not) be doing wrong....... seems like u may not be pulling it directly back, and using a favoured side.... try using other bows, and seeing if this happens with them, and then use your bow.... u may find that it COULD be you technique, but not to worry, if you are lucky as i am (I have olympians at my club) then you can sort this problem out....
take care, and we'll see how things develop - i'd love to hear about what happens with you and your bow.
Andrew
"Luke" <LukeoverYonder@MescalitoLuvsMe.net> wrote in message news:424c9389.2909327@news.individual.net...> On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 21:42:25 +0000, Andy Macklin> <newspost@triffid.clara.co.uk> wrote:>
On 23 Mar 2005 20:07:30 GMT, LukeOverYonder@MescalitoLuvsMe.net (Luke)>>>wrote:>>>
The bend in your elbow should be as vertical as possible, this will>>>>>>tend to push the forearm slightly out of the way...>>>>
Hi Murray, Thanks for your input. Vertical, you say? I would have>>>>thought a horizontal bend would move the forearm out of the way best,>>>>but then the hand's grip becomes so twisted that it's hard not to>>>>impart some torque to the bow, yes?>>>
It would be more obvious if you were hitting your elbow, 'cos the red>>>mark would show you the problem.>>>
If you hold your bow arm out, so that when your elbow bends your>>>forearm moves parallel to the floor you will see that the elbow joint>>>has a dent on the string side & that the forearm presents it's flat>>>inner side to the string.>>>
Hold your arm so that the elbow bends your forearm at right angles to>>>the floor & you'll notice a bulge of elbow joint on the string side &>>>a reasonable sized bit of muscle just beyond that. This is the usual>>>bit that gets hit.>>>
Of course, if you're hitting your wrist with the string then elbow>>>position is not going to help & you'll need to look to things like>>>bracing height & technique.>>>
One final thought - there are people with hypermobile joints who have>>>an angle of more than 180 degrees at the elbow when the elbow locks>>>out "straight". Even good shoulder rotation can't stop the elbow joint>>>overextending & I'll have to admit I've no idea how to _really_ fix>>>this problem! Compound bow & a bent elbow I guess - I'm open to better>>>suggestions.>
What really puzzles me, is that while the bow is drawn, it appears> that the string should not hit my inner forearm when released. However> it does. That makes me think that the bow might be doing a bit of a> clockwise turn (looking down from above) upon release. I don't think> it's my left hand that's doing it. I think it's more likely to be the> design of the bow and the way it recoils when released.>
