I hear it all the time, I see it all the time and, as a coach, I am constantly trying to tech someone a less effective way to shoot due to it; It is a short axle to axle bow.
Myth, marketing and hype: A bow can't be a "hunting" bow unless it is short axle to axle. Do not be deceived friends, this is almost always a marketing ploy. For years we had nothing but long axle to axle bows and we hunted with them just fine. In fact, trad shooters of today still use bows in excess of 60 inches to hunt with; so what's the deal? Is a short bow a benefit in a blind, on a stand or when spot and stalking thick brush? Maybe, but does that benefit out weight the costs? Maybe not.
Why you should consider a long(er) axle to axle bow: Accuracy and repeatability.
This weekend my son bought his first bow (with his own money); he shot every bow in the bow shop and ultimately decided on the Centergy Hybrid. Gage is 6 feet tall and a DL of about 28.75 inches. But what I was able to see was, in shooting the shorter bows, how the string angle effected his posture while at full draw very clearly.
With the short bows his head was tilted way down to get his nose on the string, which is how he wants to shoot. It wasn't until he drew the Hybrid, at 35.25" A2A, that he was really comfortable. He picked the bow, and he picked one that fit him well and, I am sure, that he will be able to shoot very accurately because it fits him.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a long axle to axle advocate; I'm a right fit advocate. However, I see so many shooters (hunters) with a 28-30 inch bow that just doesn't fit them. Why? I can only guess, but it probably has something to do with that afore mentioned marketing and what is available and "hot" at the time.
Many people have been taught how to shoot by placing their nose on the string, and this is a good way to do it; unless you ruin your posture in the process. By needing to tilt the head down you build a certain amount of inaccuracy into the system; anchor points aren't the same if there is a lot of movement involved. It's just the nature of the beast. The only real cure for this is shooting many arrows, in the neighborhood of 15-20,000 per year, which is something most hunters aren't going to do. You can get away with a form flaw if you practice it enough, but most of us don't practice enough. This makes it paramount to get our form right and the accuracy (and repeatability) will follow.
I used to shoot a short bow, but I was okay with my nose not touching the string. This kept my head in an upright position but meant that I had to have an alternative anchor point; I used a kisser button. This is the best fix in this scenario, otherwise we are either shooting too long of a draw length or tilting our head (to get our nose to the string); both of which are detrimental to accuracy and repeatability.
Outside of the "form" category, it is universally recognized that a longer bow is more stable, which is why target archers shoot really long bows. They are usually slightly heavier, although this is getting to be less and less; and mass means a more stable bow and, generally, less hand shock.
So, the next time you go bow shopping pay attention to our posture when shooting that new "flavor of the day" bow. Try a longer bow, see if it feels better (it probably will). And remember, long bows kill animals just as dead.
But, if you just have to have that shorter bow, learn to shoot using an alternative anchor, like a kisser button, or a retina lock device. This way you can reap the benefits of both a short bow and good shooting form.
Myth, marketing and hype: A bow can't be a "hunting" bow unless it is short axle to axle. Do not be deceived friends, this is almost always a marketing ploy. For years we had nothing but long axle to axle bows and we hunted with them just fine. In fact, trad shooters of today still use bows in excess of 60 inches to hunt with; so what's the deal? Is a short bow a benefit in a blind, on a stand or when spot and stalking thick brush? Maybe, but does that benefit out weight the costs? Maybe not.
Why you should consider a long(er) axle to axle bow: Accuracy and repeatability.
This weekend my son bought his first bow (with his own money); he shot every bow in the bow shop and ultimately decided on the Centergy Hybrid. Gage is 6 feet tall and a DL of about 28.75 inches. But what I was able to see was, in shooting the shorter bows, how the string angle effected his posture while at full draw very clearly.
With the short bows his head was tilted way down to get his nose on the string, which is how he wants to shoot. It wasn't until he drew the Hybrid, at 35.25" A2A, that he was really comfortable. He picked the bow, and he picked one that fit him well and, I am sure, that he will be able to shoot very accurately because it fits him.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a long axle to axle advocate; I'm a right fit advocate. However, I see so many shooters (hunters) with a 28-30 inch bow that just doesn't fit them. Why? I can only guess, but it probably has something to do with that afore mentioned marketing and what is available and "hot" at the time.
Many people have been taught how to shoot by placing their nose on the string, and this is a good way to do it; unless you ruin your posture in the process. By needing to tilt the head down you build a certain amount of inaccuracy into the system; anchor points aren't the same if there is a lot of movement involved. It's just the nature of the beast. The only real cure for this is shooting many arrows, in the neighborhood of 15-20,000 per year, which is something most hunters aren't going to do. You can get away with a form flaw if you practice it enough, but most of us don't practice enough. This makes it paramount to get our form right and the accuracy (and repeatability) will follow.
I used to shoot a short bow, but I was okay with my nose not touching the string. This kept my head in an upright position but meant that I had to have an alternative anchor point; I used a kisser button. This is the best fix in this scenario, otherwise we are either shooting too long of a draw length or tilting our head (to get our nose to the string); both of which are detrimental to accuracy and repeatability.
Outside of the "form" category, it is universally recognized that a longer bow is more stable, which is why target archers shoot really long bows. They are usually slightly heavier, although this is getting to be less and less; and mass means a more stable bow and, generally, less hand shock.
So, the next time you go bow shopping pay attention to our posture when shooting that new "flavor of the day" bow. Try a longer bow, see if it feels better (it probably will). And remember, long bows kill animals just as dead.
But, if you just have to have that shorter bow, learn to shoot using an alternative anchor, like a kisser button, or a retina lock device. This way you can reap the benefits of both a short bow and good shooting form.
Comment