Solution to shaky bow arm
Sept 15, 2021 12:15:50 GMT -5
Woody Williams, parson, and 3 more like this
Post by Russ Koon on Sept 15, 2021 12:15:50 GMT -5
I think I've found the answer to a problem that I've been struggling with all summer. I thought at first it was the classic target panic, just couldn't settle the pin on the target and squeeze off the shot. Kept trying to practice my way through it, and seemed to be making slow progress, but it finally became clear that the progress was just too slow to allow me to be ready for this season.
A few days ago, I remembered an old article about a device called a "Steady Eddy" that could be worn on the belt and had an arm that extended forward to support the bow arm of the shooter. I decided to give that idea a try to see if there was any benefit to my shaky bow arm that was still causing me such difficulty in aiming and holding on the spot through release. I wasn't really expecting much, but was reaching for a straw.
I'd already begun practicing from chair, because I figured I'd most likely be using one in the stand or blind. So instead of trying to rig a d-i-y "steady eddy", I just looked for a suitable stick to prop up my bow arm while shooting from the chair. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, I noticed one of my collapsible hiking sticks in the back of the car and realized that the wrist sling on it would provide the support and still be out of the way. Got the chair set up, adjusted the stick length to the approximate height to support the bow arm and WOW!
It was like going from a standing position shooting a rifle to shooting off a bench rest! I thought there would be a lot of messing with it to adjust everything and get used to it, but there was almost none. Much more stability than I had even hoped for, a good amount of room to swing to follow a critter, and enough vertical adjustment just by elevating or compacting the body a small amount or easing forward or back to lower or raise the aiming point without needing to reset the stick length. Much tighter groups immediately, and the reduced effort in keeping the bow arm locked and rigid and trying to put the pin on the desired impact point made the whole drawing and aiming process seem quite a bit easier, and holding on the spot is no problem at all! Just settle it in and squeeze off the shot, no panicky punching trying to shoot it "drive-by" style as it wobbles through the right place. Checked out my pin settings out to 40 yesterday and they're good to go. No change from where I had them set when shooting without the bow arm support.
A few days ago, I remembered an old article about a device called a "Steady Eddy" that could be worn on the belt and had an arm that extended forward to support the bow arm of the shooter. I decided to give that idea a try to see if there was any benefit to my shaky bow arm that was still causing me such difficulty in aiming and holding on the spot through release. I wasn't really expecting much, but was reaching for a straw.
I'd already begun practicing from chair, because I figured I'd most likely be using one in the stand or blind. So instead of trying to rig a d-i-y "steady eddy", I just looked for a suitable stick to prop up my bow arm while shooting from the chair. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, I noticed one of my collapsible hiking sticks in the back of the car and realized that the wrist sling on it would provide the support and still be out of the way. Got the chair set up, adjusted the stick length to the approximate height to support the bow arm and WOW!
It was like going from a standing position shooting a rifle to shooting off a bench rest! I thought there would be a lot of messing with it to adjust everything and get used to it, but there was almost none. Much more stability than I had even hoped for, a good amount of room to swing to follow a critter, and enough vertical adjustment just by elevating or compacting the body a small amount or easing forward or back to lower or raise the aiming point without needing to reset the stick length. Much tighter groups immediately, and the reduced effort in keeping the bow arm locked and rigid and trying to put the pin on the desired impact point made the whole drawing and aiming process seem quite a bit easier, and holding on the spot is no problem at all! Just settle it in and squeeze off the shot, no panicky punching trying to shoot it "drive-by" style as it wobbles through the right place. Checked out my pin settings out to 40 yesterday and they're good to go. No change from where I had them set when shooting without the bow arm support.
