Instinctive Archery - Bow arm in archery

Just a short video on the importance of bow arm fundamentals in traditional archery.

[@MONKLJ]

Thanks Jeff as always, really worth a listen, several times.

[@mrTwisby]

In archery, you might just be the most helpful guy on KZbin. I'm very new at this but shooting a bow still feels very natural. I'm just glad I can have proper guidance before I develop any bad habits.

[@LouisC059]

Thanks for the video Jeff Great info Just getting back in archery at 78 Have a 35 lb Bear Kodia

[@michaelcolloton6971]

Jeff, you're amazing. You absolutely nailed it again. I've been struggling for months trying to get some consistency in my shots. You taught me about the release. I think I've got that, or at least how it should be done. You taught me about the vertical line. Sorta got that. Now you've taught me about the bow arm. I've known for a while that I wasn't doing something right there. I just never figured it would be as simple as bending over a bit while locking my arm, like I had an I-beam between my bow hand and the opposite elbow. In the last couple of days, I've shot through two boot laces. Good thing they're cheap. Neither I, nor anybody else who follows you, can thank you enough. Without gettin' all fanboy on you, you're a treasure.

[@christiana-l7882]

Im getting a Bear Montana in the next few weeks. I have become addicted to your videos because i want to learn how to be as good as i can be. Thank you sir for your inspirational and informative videos.

[@bobjoswick6075]

Jeff, great teaching. Each time I view I discover another key teaching point. You teaching style is terrific. Keep up the good work. Look forward to more videos. Love the barn.

[@allaboutthebenjamins2781]

x 2

[@justice62675]

Jeff: Thank you very much for your thorough and professional instruction. New to archery (1.5 yrs compound) and recently traditional. Have viewed all the KZbin videos and yours are by far the most informative. Have watched your videos over and over, enjoy them each time and have learned a great deal. Thanks again....

[@Motorsheep]

Wow. This, along with your advice of giving your draw hand a fixed point to move to upon release, has helped my accuracy immensely. The difference between yesterday's session and today's (after watching your videos) is like night and day. I had actually instinctively used the "push towards the target" technique before, but, lacking a teacher, decided that it must be wrong because it felt a little wobbly, so I dropped it in favor of a stance that felt more static but turned out to give me much worse results. About 40% of my shots are still horrible, but the difference is now that every time I make a horrible shot, I know exactly what went wrong the very moment I release the string, where before I was scratching my head as to why I sometimes hit the gold and sometimes almost missed my about 30" wide target at 15 paces. I also started out with a bow that, at 46 pounds, was much too strong for me, and I think that after 5 months of practicing 3 to 7 hours a week, I still don't quite have the muscles to use it properly.

[@davyhaynes6716]

Jeff, Your videos are a great source of information and motivation for those of us pursuing traditional archery. I appreciate the time you put into making these videos, and sharing your great knowledge and skill.

[@Dldmny]

You are good communicator and instructor; I find your videos extremely helpful. I have been involved with traditional archery for over forty years.

[@allaboutthebenjamins2781]

thanks for this one. I was tearing up my forearm without a bracer so i ordered one and before it got here I saw this video and I don't think I even need it anymore. in warm weather anyway. thanks for all you do.

[@Jarkko279]

This video helped me so much. I really like the way how you explain things. Thanks Jeff.

[@electrocate]

I shoot instinctively and finally decided to cant the bow just a bit as you suggest in your video. I am amazed at the improvement this small variation has caused in my archery. My groupings are now tight and consistently accurate. Such a small tweak from holding the bow vertically, but huge positive change. I don't understand why exactly ... but thanks a bunch Jeff!

[@lesterdumm6477]

Jeff, You are very concise and clear and match the way I shoot. Thanks again.

[@charlesoleary3066]

I’m so glad the algo picked you😁 Awesome teacher and free too 😎

[@ronaldskidmore5478]

Jeff thanks for this great video and all the other ones I have watched I just started shooting a recurve 2 days ago after shooting a compound bow for years and your videos have been a great help to me so please keep up the great work and i am hoping to get my daughter interested in it too Thanks again.

[@richmerlo2769]

Great advice , awesome video thanks for sharing , and keep making them for folks like me to learn from.

[@sarahburke8955]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! My arm was black and blue after shooting my bow the first time. I used to shoot archery a little as a kid, and I was surprised how bad I was after not shooting for 25 years. Weird how that happens! Anyway, the tips on form helped a lot.

[@stumpbumpers]

Your left eye dominance is easy to observe at 7:14. Something interesting to think about is your style vs traditional. Your left eye dominance with a right handed stance allows your right eye to focus on the bow and your left eye on the target. In a traditional way, the left eye dominance requires a left handed stance, there by requiring neither eye a constant focus on the bow. It seems your style is more efficient for being honed to instinctive shooting, by eliminating the weak eye down range. Interesting at the least. Thanks for the videos.

[@Darkenedflamex]

Thank you for explaining archery technique to us. I am trying to get started into archery at the moment and your videos are very helpful. Hope you fully regain your strength soon.

[@johnfearnley4258]

just like to thankyou jeff for having time to make these clips iam new to archert but ive took loads of advice from you so a big thanks and yes this has helped me a great deal

[@RamboBaggings]

Just started archery. Bought a pse mustang 50# recurve shooting instinctive. Loving the tips and lessons. Thanks you sir.

[@drjamesfroggatt7647]

Really enjoying your videos Jeff, thankyou

[@apocabike]

I'm glad I was lucky enough to find your channel through looking at your Bear Grizzly review. From the videos I've watched, you go into good detail, you're clearly passionate for the sport and you're skills with a bow are inspiring. I can't wait to get my own bow and start shooting properly. Keep the videos coming man!!

[@fabriceborel5024]

Thank you Jeff for your advice and prompt response

[@kyleblacq7694]

Another phenomenal video. Thank you Jeff.

[@yauki1312]

I found your channel through a Super Kodiak review. I shoot instinctive as well. Great video BTW

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

As always, very clear and informative. Thank you.

[@dpskiriko]

and your daughter's shooting at the end of the video is very impressive! when you talk about, you look very proud which is very awesome! it's always nice seeing father's brag about their daughter's and son's, being proud. anyway, i like her shooting. it's good that she doesn't shoot like she did that one time. (:

[@brianlocal3]

Lots of great archers over there who shoot with the swing draw like yourself and we would welcome you with open arms

[@stephenkarlsen2954]

Thankyou, you are a great teacher.

[@dpskiriko]

this is actually very helpful for me because i'm getting back into archery after a few years of break. i was a kid when i first started archery but then i stopped and am now picking it up again, and i'm sure that when i get hold of a bow again that i'll have it down like riding a bike or swimming but i doubt myself into thinking i might make that mistake that your daughter made but i'd hope not xD. so this helped a lot. thank you.

[@binaryvip]

Great video -- Thank you Jeff, your tips are making a huge difference to my shooting ..

[@mariorodrigues2159]

Hello Jeff. Just discovered your channel and I found your videos very educative. I am starting now instinctive shooting and learning a lot from your videos. Thank you. Cheers.

[@SquirrelDarling1]

In a bit of a slump, so here I am. Yes your videos help.

[@JeffKavanagh]

We all get in a slump from time to time. Glad they help.

[@Emanemoston]

I was nine maybe ten the first time I shot a bow. It was one of the fiberglass recurves, maybe 25 or 35 pounds. The very first shot slapped my forearm. I dropped the bow, sucked in a big breath, grabbed my arm and looked at my dad. He nodded his head and said "keep your arm out of the way". Over 40 years later I have not forgotten the feel of that slap or my dad's words; I still keep my arm out of the way.

[@Blackmark52]

Recently watched a SciShow episode about how eyes judge distance. Your "aggressive" stance also tends to tilt your head slightly. Dogs, for example, tilt their heads specifically to get distance information. I suspect your stance does the same.

[@Jimbowiejr]

Yup it helped, just tried it, works extremely well

[@papabear6042]

Hi there! Thanks for your great vids! I love the combination of "fun and games" and informative teachings. I was watching this vid last night and another one on the same topic by Wolfie Instinctive Archer. So today as I was out shooting I tried to focus on keeping my elbow pointing out instead of down and I found that my shots became much more consistant and well grouped. I have also been experiencing quite a few arm slaps and I hope this will also help me keeping my forearm bruise free. :-p So, thanks again! Btw, I love the vids you have done with your kids and the way you teach them and interact with them. :-)

[@JeffKavanagh]

Target archers want as little pressure on the bow hand as possible, They will raise their bow on target before they draw. You will also notice that their bow just hangs in their hand. They don't grip it much, and is why many will use a wrist belt attached to their bow. When I draw my bow I am pushing and pulling at the same time and I am putting a lot more pressure through the palm of my hand. I have also heard it called a swing draw because I swing into the target like a shotgunner on birds.

[@JeffKavanagh]

The basic fundamenals for all archery are the same whether you are shooting a compound bow out of a tree stand, or on the 73 metre line fon an olympic field, or shooting geese out of the air with a recurve bow. It's all about having a solid bow arm, good anchor, and good follow through. there are posture differences and alignment changes and equipment differences but the fundamentals are the same.

[@wattsy1972]

Great video, many thanks Jeff. Really appreciate the work you do. Like other tubers I've only just discovered your channel, I'm now a subscriber. If you've the time I'd really appreciate a video on arrow grains/types and there significance when using a BEAR long bow. Thanks again. Brian UK.

[@matthewscheiper6973]

Thanks Jeff!! Very helpful video!!

[@markinaction1]

Jeff. Nice videos. Watching has helped tremendously. Especially this video & the ones on release. I was wondering if you could go into more detail on the relationship between these two and how to link them to shoot at different angles such as treestand or elevated. Thanks again.

[@BertinhoMarchaLenta]

Nice video Jeff! You are helping me a lot :)

[@yugen]

Love your videos man, where are you? Hope you're ok.

[@JeffKavanagh]

Yes she does that but I tell her she has to be careful with that habit when she shoots broadheads, And please it is Jeff. My son Will did a video with me when he was eleven. It was for a coaching course I was taking. It was only the second or third time he had ever shot a recurve. He did a great job!

[@huyked]

That's interesting, that your daughter keeps her finger on the arrow right before release. It makes sense, I've just not seen it before. Well, since your son is shy to be on camera, let him know one person encourages him to be on camera. :) Thank you for the video tip Mr. Kavanagh.

[@ewoudalbach1503]

Jeff again thanks for your info. about the bow arm, the arm comes up AND STAY there! it helps me a lot, can you make a video about focus, and how to KEEP your focus! ATB Ewoodie Netherlands

[@mastrbutcher]

thx a bunch! very helpful kind sir!

[@CumberlandOutdoorsman]

I noticed that both you and your daughter can shoot your traditional bows with your hats on. I can't do that when I shoot my recurve because the string wants to hit the bill of my hat. I either have to turn my hat around backwards, or just take it off. I don't know how you two do that, without your hats interfering.

[@bowmanbirds]

Really cool mate! 😊

[@huyked]

Ah, interesting point about the broadheads. I do remember seeing some videos with your son in it. I believe you guys were doing so skeet shooting. And alright, Jeff, Mr. Jeff. :D ;)

[@EddieSlowhands]

Another really helpful video Jeff ~ THANKS ! I took up archery 3 months ago as a novice recurve archer and I'm now trying Longbow ( AFB ) shooting. Target shooting at my local club is all I'm doing right now and wasn't sure whether to try gap shooting or instinctive ? ? ? Any advice will be gratefully received ~ Keep up the great videos Jeff !

[@ericalbert6954]

Thanks from Paris. Eric

[@daveware4117]

Hey doug. I think your spot on. Once i got my arrows tuned, my misses left to right almost stoped. If you looked at a group of mine now, all the arrows are in a straight line, up and down from the bulleye. Most really good archers talk about the importance of the release, but if this were my problem, then i would think that my left-right consistancecy would suffer. Seems like i may be droping or raising my bow arm during my shot. I feel like i may be a bit over bowed. My groups really suffered and all arrows started impacting high(way high) when i started holding at full draw for 5 seconds before the shot. Im shooting a 45lbs samak sage and my draw length is 28.5 inches. This is my first bow. Ive shot almost every day in the 3 months ive owned the bow and i shoot no less then 60 arrows a day. Any advise would be great. Btw, as a dad, i think its cool that you are so close with your daughter and are teaching her how to shoot archery. She seems to be a really good shot, in a sport that is very challenging.

[@JeffKavanagh]

Hi Aaron. Sometimes a problem like that can be caused by gripping too hard on the bow.

[@barnabasdb]

Thanks, this helped a lot too - no more bruises on my elbow area. Except, I still get a little slap on the end of my forearm, near the bow. Am I still doing something wrong? PS, you've convinced me to turn more towards "fun" shooting and less target shooting. I want to shoot things out of the air too!

[@usernamemykel]

Jeff, I like your videos. Truly nicely done. Please advise why the knuckles of your bowarm hand are not at 45 degrees from the riser. Thank you

[@bruce6871]

Super helpful tips, thanks. How is your bow that dead quiet without any dampening??

[@joaoglez87]

How many bows do you own Jeff? I think you have a great collection 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@DANVIIL]

Excellent video! Just got my first bow, (an old Bear Kodiak Hunter off ebay) and am really learning fast. I still have to tune the bow with arrows without fletching. Have you done a video on tuning the bow? I know it's complicated and would take a lot of time, but I really get a lot out of your videos, since I have no clubs up here in the Ozarks.

[@Lazurmang]

I'm in the same area! You should look into Archery Quest in Springfield. It's a great spot

[@DANVIIL]

Is that a club, store or what?

[@Lazurmang]

it's just a store, but they have a shooting range inside as well. Customer service can be so so, but it's a nice little spot

[@DANVIIL]

I"ll check it out.

[@aaronrushton1]

Thank you very much Jeff, this has helped me out a lot, 90% of the time when i have a bad day shooting it's because of my bow arm. I know a very important thing for a solid bow arm is to have the back of your hand and your wrist and forearm all in a straight line, but i currently have a problem where this striaght line bends outward at the wrist and exposes my arm to string slap. I know it's difficult to communicate form problems without you being able to see it, but do you know a remedy? thanks

[@chrisosborne3168]

Hello jeff big fan of your videos and my consistency has greatly improved using the techniques that you shown in your videos. But i have a question and im not sure if you have covered it before but i havent seen it. I was wondering how to set a nock point on a bow that dose not have a shelf. i have eyed it but if theres a way to do it so that i can accurately tune the bow i would greatly appreciate any advice you may have

[@chadlee5252]

Great instructional video really helped a lot thanks.Also do you prefer a glove or a tab when you hunt

[@leonardgardner4937]

Hello Mr. Kavanagh, I have watched your amazing shooting for a couple of years. You have several different draw weight bows and different weights of arrows that you shoot. Being a hunter if you were after brown bear what draw weight bow and arrow weight combination would you choose? Also, what broadhead would you use? My girlfriend says if I have to shoot a bear I should use a 50 caliber, lol. Thank you.

[@Bogie770]

can you shoot withthe same consistence in a perfect dark not being able to see your hands or your bow in any way ?..and to put a laser spot on your target?..every instinctive shooter says that all the time that he is not aiming..but I think actually you are...with your peripheral vision...if you have the same consistence in the dark ok..you are shooting instinctive..

[@Guaracifiorini]

Man, I like your videos and I have one thing that I have to say: how silent are your bows! I have a Super Kodiak, Super Grizzly and a Montana, but I can´t make them as silent as yours. What do you do? Wich brace height do you use for them? Thanks!

[@ghostriderking1]

Hi I was just wondering what type of string do you use for your bow and what do you recommend for a recurve bow string and does it make any difference in performance and consistency

[@davidrivera2979]

Hey Jeff thanks for this great video on bow I'd like to know if you prefer to shoot with an arrow rest or the riser shelf itself? Does using an arrow rest have an effect on focusing on the shooting point in instinctive shooting? Thanks very much Dave in Puero Rico

[@JeffKavanagh]

Hi Dave. I prefer to shoot off the shelf myself because it puts the arrow closer to my hand. I think it is a personal thing though. Lots of people shoot off a rest and that's okay.

[@Archermac159]

Jeff saw your tips for instinctive shooting any for target archers like my self? Got a copy of videos on at archerMac159 cheers

[@franciscoedmar1051]

🇧🇷🤗❤️🏹🤗🏹❤️🤗👍 show my friends 🤗👍

[@timedriverable]

Love your videos. Do use a knock guide on your string or is that instinctive as well?

[@JeffKavanagh]

+David B If you mean a bow square? No I don't. I just eye ball it and then shoot s few arrows to see how the arrow flies and the I just adjust up or down from there as needed.

[@brandonsweere4901]

+Jeff Kavanagh I think he meant knocking point

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Brandon Sweere I took it to mean the device which many people use to find the starting point of where to nock when beginning to tune your nock position.

[@timedriverable]

+Jeff Kavanagh Thanx again Jeff, you got my meaning of my question.Anyway I like the canted approach of your bow being that I am right handed with a cataract in my left eye.I'm also a newbie to this sport.

[@ilikesuzuki]

Jeff Kavanagh, i shoot 3 fingers under the arrow, can i still use my middle finger as my anchor point to the corner of my mouth?

[@grammoore3348]

I shoot the same as you and I can tell you that you can definitely use everything jeff says. i used to shoot split but i didn't like how low the arrow is. i like how 3 under and middle finger anchors to the corner of my mouth i have the arrow closer to my eye. I don't gap shoot i shoot instinctive, but everything jeff says is pure truth and apply it.

[@s.nelsonpayne208]

Jeff, thanks for the help. one question, do you feel that you can cant the bow too much. thanks

[@mathiascaspersen1606]

Hey, i was wondering about something. You said that you only look at your target and not even your point because you shoot instinctly, well i consider myself an instictive archer, but i look at both my target and point at the same time, so that i know that my arrow will hit, it is not something i think about i just do it, and im never shoorting 2 times on the same distance because then i will end up needing a try shot before i can hit, but would you call my way of shooting for normal shooting or instinctive too?? Best regards Mathias

[@mathiascaspersen1606]

Just saw your video where you talked about throwing a baseball, and i understand what you mean now :) So nevermind. And again nice video man! :D

[@mannix1969]

Hi Jeff - Can your hunting technique be effective with target competition shooting?

[@JeffKavanagh]

For me? I doubt it very much but then I don't compete in anything. There is nothing up this way. If I did want to compete I'd want to likely focus on gap shooting, etc., I don't think many people could keep focus long enough for such events shooting instinctively like I do, including me.

[@nathansmith5331]

if you hit your arm there EVER your form sucks sorry

[@darrenmarney8577]

The advice on offer is exceptionally correct in the regards of reaction towards target engagement 🙂 👍 👌