I actually like the 'Arrow infront of the mirror' exercise. The biggest advantage of that exercise, in my opinion, is that the focus is on proper alignment which then naturally triggers back tension. Of course, it's not as simple as that due to things like elevation of the drawhand forearm from the shoulders which affect the ratio of stress on the shoulder muscles as compared to the rhomboids. Fortunately for traditional archers, the usual anchor on the cheek already provides enough elevation of the forearm that they don't really need to worry about it. The act of slightly leaning forward like you did on the video helps even more to ensure that the rhomboids are pulling most of the weight instead of the shoulders.
Great way of explaining back tention glad I watched your vidio as y explained it in detail I was definitely doing it wrong ill practice that thank you.
Joe you nailed it!. This is the video I`ve been waiting for about back tension. As you know I only shoot once a week (and that on a good week). I`m going to stop thinking about it so much and start having fun!
another good one joe, I've found an easy way, to teach back engagement, is to break the mind set of pulling the string to anchor, rather think of it as pushing the drawing elbow to the rear, also I am believer in use of the mirror
Excellent Video Joe! Really like the isometric exercise you showed and the arrow in the mirror is something I never thought of. Gonna give that try. BTW - got my Hill Wesley Special and love it! I even picked up another ASL - a Hill Centennial. It's absolutely amazing. I will make a video of me shooting the Centennial soon and send you the link.
Meat - that is awesome! I'd love if you'd send me the video, and maybe a few pictures of the Wesley and the Centennial. I love my Bighorn Sheep - can't wait until hunting is over and i can start shooting mine again! Glad the video helped and is "original". I try my best to offer tips that no one has done and are effective in learning archery. Cheers!
Joe, EXCELLENT video! Very informative and best overall description of the movement! I also liked how you mentioned target archers as well. (Yep, that's me.) I'm a LEVEL 2 JOAD instructor and tell our new members to "pinch a quarter", like your statement better. However, in your future videos don't forget us "lefties". Which brings me to a question about back tension. What are some exercises that you do, or suggest, to develop the muscles? I've been looking here on CZcams but cannot find any good information. Other than push ups, one arm dumbell rows and just drawing the bow are the only exercises I know. Any suggestions? Thanks for your videos and keep up the GREAT work!
+Michael Kramer Michael - The best workout that I have found for strengthening for archery related purposes is from the attached CZcams video. czcams.com/video/OZzFARh-HLY/video.html Hope that helps!
I feel like my anchor point is not far back enough to achieve proper back tension. I like to anchor in the tip of my mouth, but when I try to get proper back tension my shoulders feel very out of place and awkward unless I anchor way back on the middle of my cheek. I think I might be doing something wrong?
Joe, What if like me you shoot right handed but are left eye dominant and release the arrow the second I get to anchor and sadly quite often before I get to full draw! Is back tension possible for a fast instinctive archer? Thanks
I shoot the same way, as for right hand left eye dominate. my suggestion would be work on training your right eye to be proficient, completely close or squint your left eye. snap shooting is just that. sure you might use back tension, but the whole idea is have perfect alignment slow smooth draw and release. using back tension will help with target panic as well.
Hey, Joe. This may be a very dumb question, so sorry. About the exercise you proposed, am i supposed to not see my elbow even when doing it with a bow in front of the mirror or just when doing it only with an arrow?
Crystopher Kinder - you shouldn't be able to see your elbow, even with the bow. The problem is it is much harder to achieve backtension when under load, vs just using the arrow with no load. Keep at it, and if you have to, practice with a lighter poundage bow until you get used to it.
I actually like the 'Arrow infront of the mirror' exercise. The biggest advantage of that exercise, in my opinion, is that the focus is on proper alignment which then naturally triggers back tension. Of course, it's not as simple as that due to things like elevation of the drawhand forearm from the shoulders which affect the ratio of stress on the shoulder muscles as compared to the rhomboids. Fortunately for traditional archers, the usual anchor on the cheek already provides enough elevation of the forearm that they don't really need to worry about it. The act of slightly leaning forward like you did on the video helps even more to ensure that the rhomboids are pulling most of the weight instead of the shoulders.
I have watched just about every archery video on utube , your video is the easiest to understand and the most helpful, thank you very much
Great way of explaining back tention glad I watched your vidio as y explained it in detail I was definitely doing it wrong ill practice that thank you.
joe! best example video for practicing ways to acheive back tension ive seen on CZcams. Great job, great timing on this one to boot
+Diggs5012 Thanks for watching, Diggs - glad you found the video helpful!
Joe you nailed it!. This is the video I`ve been waiting for about back tension. As you know I only shoot once a week (and that on a good week). I`m going to stop thinking about it so much and start having fun!
another good one joe, I've found an easy way, to teach back engagement, is to break the mind set of pulling the string to anchor, rather think of it as pushing the drawing elbow to the rear, also I am believer in use of the mirror
Excellent Video Joe! Really like the isometric exercise you showed and the arrow in the mirror is something I never thought of. Gonna give that try. BTW - got my Hill Wesley Special and love it! I even picked up another ASL - a Hill Centennial. It's absolutely amazing. I will make a video of me shooting the Centennial soon and send you the link.
Meat - that is awesome! I'd love if you'd send me the video, and maybe a few pictures of the Wesley and the Centennial. I love my Bighorn Sheep - can't wait until hunting is over and i can start shooting mine again! Glad the video helped and is "original". I try my best to offer tips that no one has done and are effective in learning archery. Cheers!
really good stuff..thanks for yet another great video
thanks Joe , another good one.
Joe, EXCELLENT video! Very informative and best overall description of the movement! I also liked how you mentioned target archers as well. (Yep, that's me.) I'm a LEVEL 2 JOAD instructor and tell our new members to "pinch a quarter", like your statement better. However, in your future videos don't forget us "lefties". Which brings me to a question about back tension. What are some exercises that you do, or suggest, to develop the muscles? I've been looking here on CZcams but cannot find any good information. Other than push ups, one arm dumbell rows and just drawing the bow are the only exercises I know. Any suggestions? Thanks for your videos and keep up the GREAT work!
+Michael Kramer Michael - The best workout that I have found for strengthening for archery related purposes is from the attached CZcams video.
czcams.com/video/OZzFARh-HLY/video.html
Hope that helps!
I feel like my anchor point is not far back enough to achieve proper back tension. I like to anchor in the tip of my mouth, but when I try to get proper back tension my shoulders feel very out of place and awkward unless I anchor way back on the middle of my cheek. I think I might be doing something wrong?
Thanks for this video. It's a big help.
Awesome video. Thank you!
AWSOME explanation!
Thanks for sharing this information.
Great video thanks for the info.
Very good video, thanks
Wow that mirror exercise sure helped
Thanks for another good video. I agree, having fun shooting a bow comes first.
Joe, What if like me you shoot right handed but are left eye dominant and release the arrow the second I get to anchor and sadly quite often before I get to full draw! Is back tension possible for a fast instinctive archer? Thanks
I shoot the same way, as for right hand left eye dominate. my suggestion would be work on training your right eye to be proficient, completely close or squint your left eye. snap shooting is just that. sure you might use back tension, but the whole idea is have perfect alignment slow smooth draw and release. using back tension will help with target panic as well.
Thanks!
Hey, Joe. This may be a very dumb question, so sorry. About the exercise you proposed, am i supposed to not see my elbow even when doing it with a bow in front of the mirror or just when doing it only with an arrow?
Crystopher Kinder - you shouldn't be able to see your elbow, even with the bow. The problem is it is much harder to achieve backtension when under load, vs just using the arrow with no load. Keep at it, and if you have to, practice with a lighter poundage bow until you get used to it.
S3 Archery thank you!
found this last night doing the mirror drill