So I'm watching Savage Outdoors tonight, and see an episode I saw a while back. Guy bowhunting in Texas, and it appears to me his draw length is way, way off. When I first saw this episode months ago I actually emailed the show and suggested he try to shorten the draw length. Not being a smart ass. I used to have a draw that was too long and it really hurt my shooting. I know cameras can be deceiving, but it looks to me like it needs to shorten by 3"-4"?? Never seen anyone with a draw that far back.
Every time I hear of the "behind the neck" anchor......
I'm sure it works on the range, most of the time, with field points (or mechs). IMO too long a draw length is right up there with grip torque as the most common form issues. Hands..... um, down.... so to speak....
I saw this earlier in the year when this episode played before(either that or I saw a similar situation with the same deal on an older show with Mike Stroff). I took a picture of it just like you did and texted it to a friend. LOL!
Wow!!! I was over-drawed about 1 1/2 inches for years. I didn't know any better. Pro-shop apparently just wanted to sell a bow. . . Anyways, it REALLY hurt my shooting. And made fixed blade shooting darn near impossible.
How the heck can he even draw that? What's his anchor?
Rickm is correct, once he settles in it looks nothing like the pic. I have been in a camp with him and trust me, he is a way better then average shot. Scooby
So he's just got a weird draw where he doesn't straighten his front arm until after his back hand is behind his ear or neck? Otherwise he's out of the valley if he settles his anchor anywhere near normal. Makes my shoulder hurt trying it even without a bow.
I'm confused? How do you "settle in" to a shorter draw from that position? Is his bow arm bent a great deal when he draws and everything moves forward when he gets to full draw?
All modern bows I know of have a draw stop. Your draw is what it is.... it hits the stops and there is no more..... if you creep your anchor forward you're moving out of the valley and about to get tossed on your face.....
To me, not seeing the whole thing I guess. He looks like a proponent of the thumb behind the neck anchor. Having seen a bunch of em defend that anchor and form on AT.... It's like some speed cult.... I'd bet a beer or three he shoots mech heads as well, because with a draw like that constancy needed to shoot a fixed head is pretty tough. That stuff is the poster child for HAVING to shoot mech heads. That a person actually kills things with it does not mean it is "good" form in any way, shape or, um.... form.....
I'm no archery coach, but set up several bows for folks every year, some I "guide" them on shooting by default. If I had someone come to me set up to shoot like that I'd strongly recommend some serious changes to their bow and their form. If they said no thanks.... I'd say have a nice life..... get somebody else to work on it....
TD, what I am saying is that at the moment the picture is showing it looks like he is just getting to full draw. The string looks to me like it is several inches to the side of his face and his head is thrust forward. Overbowed maybe or in an awkward position? You can find dozens of picks of him at anchor that don't look too bad. I'll bet that a screen shot at the right time can make anyone look bad.
Or I could be totally wrong. Won't be the first or last I'm sure.
Looks to me like his draw length is too long and he turns his head to the right to bring his nose to the string, otherwise the string is drawn beyond his nose.
I would tell him his draw is too short in that video. Bow comes back with his head up and relaxed and the string is still 1" away. Probably shooting a dinker 32" a2a bow and he has to drop his head to get to the string and peep.
Mike looks like a real hunter, and his settled in position doesn't seem nearly as rearward as the first image. I personally give him a pass on the variance in his form, though as others note it's probably not the one you'd teach somebody (unless you're Mike).
Looks like he likes to turn his head to the left and then turns it back. Draw is still a bit too long, but a lot of folks learn to do things wrong and make it work.
Some guys like to do all kinds of weird turns and bumps and things getting settled in. Michael Waddell used to do something similar where he would bump the string into his face 3-4 times before actually anchoring. He no longer does that (last time I watched which has been awhile).
Watch the best shooters in the world. They come straight back, anchor and get on target. Maybe these guys just do this for the camera ;-)
