CRANFORD ARCHERY CLUB

 

ARROW PATTERN ANALYSIS

 

The following listings give some of the reasons why arrows stray. They refer to odd single arrows, whole ends going the same direction, arrow drift as a round continues, or consistent variation from the string-bow line. This refers to right-handed archers, where appropriate left-handers should adjust accordingly. The large arrows show the stray direction.

 

é        Low anchor, gap under chin

Teeth open

3-2-1 loose (i.e. third, middle, index fingers in that order, hand turning on release)

Heeling bow (tipping bow upward, perhaps long rod too short or too light)

Loosing as bow moves down

Low shaft elbow

Pinching arrow, lifting from rest

Nocking point too low

Watching arrow flight

Bow arm raises bow on release

Hand too low on handle (changes bow tiller)

Drawing beyond normal anchor

Head too far back, nose lifting from string (changes head position)

Chin drops to anchor

Shooting off the top of the button

 

ì        Arrows too whippy, too light

Bow overdrawn

Low anchor, left of chin

Right hand jerking back and inward on loose

 

è        Head not turned far enough

Arrow to left of anchor point

Arrows too whippy

Torque, twisting bow to the right

Negative bow window, plunger button too far in

Bow canted to right

Bowstring aligned too far to the left of sight, perhaps looking right of string

Bow hand to left of handle

Bow wrist breaks left on release (relax bow hand)

Bow arm moves right on release (relax bow hand)

Plucking bowstring on release

'Crabbing' draw hand

Watching arrow flight

Draw force not on back muscles

Leaning forward (i.e. towards target)

Stance directed to right of target twisting body

Crosswind from left

 

î        Arrows too whippy, too heavy

            Heavy piles

ê        Head tilted back (nose not in contact with string)

High anchor, high on chin or on side of face

High drawing elbow

1-2-3 loose (difficult to do)

Topping bow (tipping bow downward, perhaps long rod too long or too heavy)

High nocking point (centre serving may have moved or compressed)

New string still stretching (or old string failing)

Dead loose (no follow-through of hand moving back)

Gripping bow

Dropping bow arm on loose

Kisser slipping down string

 

í            Underdrawn, creeping forward

Forward loose

Bow arm not extended

Sting clearance inadequate, string touching bracer

Crabbed hand, fingers curled round string

Arrow rest failure

Arrow slides off arrow rest before release (pressure button may push arrow to the edge

    of a short rest after pulling through clicker)

Anchoring high right

 

ç        Arrows too stiff

Non-aiming eye influencing aim

Locking bow arm

Bow hand too far into bow

Head turned too far

Torque twisting bow to the left

Positive bow window, plunger too far out

“Doglegging” string, twisting draw hand

Arrow interference with bow

Bowstring aligned too far to the right of sight (align with bow stave)

Bow hand to right of handle

Bow wrist breaks right on release (relax bow hand)

Bow arm moves left on release (relax bow hand)

Plucking bowstring on release

Draw fingers tighten during hold

Draw fingers squeeze arrow nock

Hand grips bow too tightly

Arrow nocked wrong way round (cock feather inwards)

Anchoring to right of normal position

Head pushed forward

String fouling arm or clothing

Form collapses on release

Failing to use back muscles

Leaning backwards (i.e. away from target)

Stance directed to the left of target twisting body

Crosswind from right

 

ë        Piles too light (may also give general left-right error)

Low anchor to right of chin

Bow hand too far into bow combined with heeling

Locking bow elbow increasing draw length, combined with sideways movement of bow

Heeling bow

Snatched loose

 

é            Inconsistent anchor, not back to chin or up to chin, mouth open

ê            Inconsistent draw length (try a clicker)

Head tilt inconsistent (contact between nose and string varies)

Release as bow moves down

Inconsistent height of shaft elbow, keep bow forearm along draw force line

Bow hand position varies vertically, effectively changing bow tiller

Variable head wind

 

çè   Piles too light

String alignment with bow not consistent

Bow hand position varies horizontally

Head rotation inconsistent (check position of nose bridge against background)

Variable cross wind (aim off and hope!)

 

General Scattering

 

Low nocking point

Variable nocking point (centre serving may be moving, usually upwards)

Worn centre serving

Wet feathers

Incorrect bracing height

Damaged fletchings

Variable fitting nocks

String beginning to fail

Arrow rest - pressure button relationship incorrect

Variable finger pressure distribution

Powdered tab (damp)

Incorrect aiming

Bent arrows

Variable posture

Untwisted string

Loose sight

Loose stabiliser(s)

‘Triggering’, releasing when the clicker sounds

 

Other Points to Watch

 

Tiller compensation:

Long rod weight kicks up on release; add weight or lengthen rod.

Long rod weight kicks down on release; reduce weight or shorten rod.

 

Colin Ledsome (From various sources)                       Revised June 2003