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Newbie Trad

CP3

CP3

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
579
I bought a recurve today. PSE Shaman. Perhaps by next season I could try a hunt.

1 piece of advice for a newbie…

Please and thanks.
 
Learn to gap shoot or reference the arrow instead of starting out shooting instinctive. That will remove one variable from the equation. Once you master aiming and have consistent form you can decide how much you want to use your arrow for aiming.

Gap shooting explained:



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Shoot a ton of arrows. Then shoot some more. I started trad last year and got too into the weeds of YouTube posts to get it exactly right. Watch a few to get your started, but I learned that you will learn exactly how to shoot your own bow, with your own specific arrows, after shooting many arrows. Seems logical, but point being... practice, don't theorize... plus it's way more fun :) I personally had a harder time learning how to actually tune my arrows for my recurve. Once you get the hang of it and dial that in, it's smooth sailing from there.

Best of luck!
 
Once you've got arrows with broadheads that fly right, go hunt. No need to wait, just take shots only within your effective range. If that's 10 yards then set up for 10 yards and in. For most people if they can't shoot 10 yards accurately at a deer then it's their emotions affecting the shot. That's a buck fever issue that will need to be addressed no matter what weapon is chosen.
In the meantime keep practicing and get that effective range out to 15 yards. I kill a lot of deer at 10 to 15 yards.
 
1 piece of advice:
meet up with a SH member close to you that shoots a stickbow.

Or go check out a 3d range and ask if anyone hunts with traditional bows
They have been where you have been.

aka get off the forums = there is just too much info out there ( * guilty of not always taking my own advice)
 
GCTerpfan said:
Purchase Tom Clums Solid Archery Mechanics course. It will help you do all of the little things correctly when you start and save you lots of frustration.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t say how much it is. How much is it?
 
Do some guys just have a knack for shooting instinctively?

I’m not saying I do. I’m also not saying I don’t. I was surprised at how well I was picking it up for the first time.
It sounds like I’m bragging, I’m not. But I’m asking if instinctive is instinctive for some.
 
CP3 said:
Do some guys just have a knack for shooting instinctively?

I’m not saying I do. I’m also not saying I don’t. I was surprised at how well I was picking it up for the first time.
It sounds like I’m bragging, I’m not. But I’m asking if instinctive is instinctive for some.
Click to expand...
Yes but most folks can pick it up reasonably quickly. Like other have mentioned, focus on form and shot control first. Then worry about tuning and really dialing in your arrow setup. You can sign up for Tom's course through The Push and I think it is $200 but it is lifetime access.
 
CP3 said:
Do some guys just have a knack for shooting instinctively?

I’m not saying I do. I’m also not saying I don’t. I was surprised at how well I was picking it up for the first time.
It sounds like I’m bragging, I’m not. But I’m asking if instinctive is instinctive for some.
Click to expand...
I can tell you I spent a lot of time getting my anchor point and form correct before I even tried to group arrows. my wife got her new bow, grabbed three random arrows out of my “arrow box” - threw three arrows down the range at 15 yards and grouped around 8” and said… this isn’t too hard.
I wouldn’t say some people are just good at it, I would say some people are just good at being more consistent with each shot. That’s the challenge.

find a form that works for you and seems comfortable, work on that form and consistently pulling back to that anchor over and over the exact same way and then start looking at where your arrow is hitting and go from there.

also… you will finally settle in and start hitting good groups and expect to change everything at least three times after you think you are doing good
 
Ok thanks for all the info.

A gear question. (Sort of technique question as well)

Tab or Glove?

Split finger or all underneath?
 
CP3 said:
Tab or Glove?

Split finger or all underneath?
Click to expand...

Personal preference. I personally get a much cleaner release with a tab and like 3 under because it gets the arrow closer to my eye. My facial structure doesn't really allow for a higher anchor.

But, there are others who will tell you the opposite. Try em both.
 
Don't "over bow" yourself, keep it at 35lbs. or less to learn the correct fundamentals.
Too much draw weight prevents you from developing good shooting form and habits.
"It is easier to instill a good habit then to try to break a bad habit" as a wise old man once said....
 
GCTerpfan said:
Personal preference. I personally get a much cleaner release with a tab and like 3 under because it gets the arrow closer to my eye. My facial structure doesn't really allow for a higher anchor.

But, there are others who will tell you the opposite. Try em both.
Click to expand...
x2
 
CP3 said:
Ok thanks for all the info.

A gear question. (Sort of technique question as well)

Tab or Glove?

Split finger or all underneath?
Click to expand...
I hate the way 3 under feels. It also gets very aimy to me, meaning it feels more structured than instinctive shooting. Obviously I’m still aiming while instinctively shooting but it’s more passive, where with the three under the arrow is so close to you eye that you can help but aim down the arrow. It’s very active, like a site. I much prefer split finger and I basically have one up and one underneath, the ring finger is just there for moral support, but my anchor is high near my eye. I do think this helps a lot in the long run and at longer distances. I prefer a glove because it’s always on my hand and it’s always ready to go. No twisting a tab around and orienting a certain way, no fidgeting with it to get it on the string. Just grab the string and go. I shot fine with a tab but I didn’t like the way it felt. I would get both and see what you like or choose one and stick with it.

That’s just talk and preference though. My advice would be to get the bow you want to hunt with and get some arrows that fly well with a standard field point ( don’t worry about what weight you want to hunt with in the beginning). Once you’re shooting well on a 3D target with little to no misses out to hunting range I would look at getting arrows that you want to hunt with and building them to the weight you want to hunt with. I think building hunting arrows before you’re shooting consistent can cause you headache down the line. My draw, draw length, anchor point, release, all evolved a lot over first couple months. What flew well out of the bow didn’t later down the road once I settled in the my form.

Other than that watch videos on youtube, ask questions, and more than anything shoot a bunch. You don’t have to shoot a 300 arrows a day, but shooting at least once a day and twice on weekends will speed up the learning curve. Focus on your shot when you shoot well, and you’ll start to realize what youre doing wrong when you don’t shoot well. If you have a bad day don’t get too frustrated, come back again the next day and see if your issue persisted between shoots. If it did, then focus on what you’re doing wrong. One off day will occur from time to time and it will be frustrating, but I’d recommend to not change too much at a time.

I’ve been shooting traditional for 2-3 years and this my first year hunting with it exclusively. I’ve yet to kill but I’m fully confident with my shooting and my weapon. I’ll let you know how confident I am after I kill or miss my first deer though! It’s tons of fun, welcome to the club.
 
I shot with some guys and gals last night. In my opinion when people say instinctive, it means something a little different for each one.

One person will say instinctive and say very little about aiming, and another will talk a lot about where to aim the tip of the arrow while calling it instinctive.

So, define what is instinctive shooting…

I’m currently splitting finger shooting with my middle finger to the corner of my mouth as my anchor. Is that to low?
 
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