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Mimicking a T-Form Shot

This is an excerpt from Archery: Steps to Success 4th Edition by Kathleen Haywood & Catherine Lewis.

The best way to learn the basic T-form shot is to first mimic it without actually shooting an arrow. Mimicking gives you the chance to make the motions of shooting habitual and to get used to the equipment gradually. Mimicking contributes to safe shooting, too. You can make sure you are handling the bow and arrow safely and not overdrawing the arrow.

Take a stance with your bow arm side toward the target, feet shoulder-width apart, and weight even. Check your stance by imagining a straight line going through the toes of each foot. If this line would continue toward your target, you are in good position (figure 3.2a). If it would not, adjust your position. Stand straight and keep your shoulders square over your feet and your head square on your shoulders. Avoid twisting your trunk.

Hold the bow at the handle straight up and down in front of you. Form a hook with the middle three fingers of your string hand. Hook the bowstring in the end joint of the fingers with one finger above the nocking point and two below it (figure 3.2b).

Raise and extend your bow arm at shoulder level toward the target, keeping your string hand in place on the bowstring. Look over your front shoulder. Draw the string by pulling your elbow back in one fluid motion. The shoulder blade of the drawing arm should move toward your spine. Remember, you will need to exert enough muscular force to overcome the draw weight of the bow. Continue drawing to your anchor position. The anchor position is the place at which the string touches the tip of your nose and your top finger touches under the side of your chin. This is the safest anchor position for a beginning archer. Rotate your bow elbow down and out. Hold this position for a few seconds, noticing how it feels, and then slowly ease the string forward to the bow's relaxed position (figure 3.2c). Never release a bowstring unless there is an arrow in the bow because dry-firing might damage the bow. Relax before repeating the process.

Using the muscles of the back is important to good shooting. Starting the draw by rotating your string-side shoulder blade and moving your elbow back ensures good back tension. With back tension you will be able to develop consistent form and resist tiring. Drawing with the back muscles places the two arms in a straight line pointing to the bull's-eye. In step 6, we discuss how back tension also makes for a smoother release.

Misstep - The bow arm elbow turns in to the anticipated path of the bowstring.
Correction -Make sure your bow hand is directly behind the bow handle, and then rotate your elbow down and out.

Misstep - The string arm elbow bends; then the back muscles are used to draw the bowstring.
Correction - Think first of using the back muscles and then moving the elbow back to draw the bowstring.

Figure 3.2 Mimicking T-Form

Stance

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1. Position your side toward target.

2. Align feet and keep weight even.

3. Stand straight.

4. Keep bow in front.

5. Make sure shoulders are square.

6. Keep mouth closed and teeth together.

Draw and Anchor

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1. Set bow in V of thumb and index finger.

2. Set string hand hook.

3. Look over front shoulder.

4. Raise bow toward target.

5. Rotate bow elbow down and out.

6. Relax string hand and wrist.

7. Use muscles in back of string shoulder.

8. Draw string elbow back at shoulder level.

9. Position string on nose and forefinger on jaw.

Ease Down

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1. Concentrate on target.

2. Ease string forward.

You might be tempted to skip mimicking, but remember that learning T-form before you start worrying about where the arrow will go will reap benefits later. When an archer shoots with a draw position based on straight lines and right angles, accuracy is sure to follow. Some world-class archers mimic their shots as a warm-up before their shooting sessions, so don't be afraid to make mimicking a regular part of your archery practice.

Read more from Archery: Steps to Success, Fourth Edition Third Edition by Kathleen Haywood

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