As a thumb draw archer, have you ever found yourself consistently missing the target, with your arrows drifting off to the side? The culprit behind this frustrating issue might surprise you – it all comes down to how much “back” you’re putting into your shot.
In this post, I’m going to demonstrate exactly what I mean and show you how making a simple adjustment to your form can dramatically improve your accuracy.
The Telltale Sign of Insufficient Back Tension
Whenever I’m shooting with my thumb draw and struggling with consistency, I often find that the root cause is not putting enough back tension into my shot. This manifests in the arrows going off to the left (for right-handed shooters).
I recently illustrated this on YouTube by setting up a 20-yard shot, aiming for a small circle target. For the first shot, I deliberately didn’t engage my back muscles enough. Sure enough, the arrow landed well to the right of the mark.
Now, for the second shot, I focused on getting a full, locked-in draw with strong back tension. You can see the difference – the arrow landed dead center in the 10-ring.
The Amplifying Effect of Distance
The issue of insufficient back tension becomes even more pronounced the farther your target is. At 10 yards, the arrows may only drift a little to the side, but that error gets doubled at 20 yards, tripled at 30 yards, and so on.
This is why it’s so crucial to master the art of incorporating full back tension into your shot. It’s the foundation for consistent, accurate thumb draw archery, no matter the distance.
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Get Coached for Flawless Form
If you’re struggling with this common problem, my advice is to seek out professional coaching. Having an expert eye analyze your form and provide tailored feedback can make all the difference.
At Odinson Archery, we offer a “Fast Form Coaching” service where you can send us a video of your shooting, and we’ll provide real-time guidance on how to optimize your technique. This is an invaluable resource for troubleshooting issues like insufficient back tension and accuracy issues.
Don’t let sloppy form hold you back from reaching your full potential as a thumb draw archer. Put your back into it, and watch your accuracy soar!
ODINSON ARCHERY 