Punching Your Release Aid is ACCURATE: Here's the Proof

[@tjdreyer]

The problem is punching works... until it doesn't. Which I think you highlighted fairly towards the end of the video.

[@outdoorlife]

Yea most people won't want to make it a habit.

[@buck16]

I'm not an archer, I'm just a bow hunter. I started bowhunting rabbits and pheasants with a long bow 64 years ago when I was 6 years old. I continued to be a finger shooter with compounds up until 2011 when I decided to try a release and the shorter release bows. I chose a handheld release and chose to use my thumb to slightly squeeze the trigger. It seemed more natural to me to use my thumb since I was used to releasing the string with my fingers. That whole squeeze your shoulders together surprise shot at a live animal made no sense to me. The best rifle marksman in the world don't use squeeze the shoulders together surprise shot so why should a bow hunter? That whole phrase "punch the trigger" is wrong and incorrect as I don't punch anything. My thumb just lightly moves, and the shot occurs. Target panic is not caused by how we use the release its caused psychologically by our brain not being comfortable with a floating pin. We have too many psychological issues shooting an arrow out of a bow. For instance, many bow hunters say they won't or can't shoot accurate beyond a certain distance. That is a brain issue. These modern compound bows when properly tuned can and will shoot very accurate at extremely long distances. The shooter has to accept that they are not shooting the arrow, the bow shoots the arrow and the shooter merely is centering a pin on the target area. Instead of thinking "I'm shooting 70 yards" we should think "I'm shooting the 6th pin". It shouldn't be any harder to hold the 6th pin on a target than the first pin on a target.

[@Luke-f1b]

To me punching the trigger feels horrible

[@Angel.Custodio]

I think this is a hard comparison. If you shoot back tension forever, it takes time to get used to the command shot. I think it's just how each individual brain works.

[@outdoorlife]

A great way to look at it!

[@BoworBustOutdoors]

Punching the trigger isn’t good in any scenario. Hunting or target. It teaches your brain to anticipate the shot which can lead to target panic and many other “hard to shake” habits. Longer range shots will highlight the problem areas in your shot process and magnify the results down range the further you get. Not a good thing to be teaching young archers. If you want to be consistent teach yourself to utilize your back muscles, float your pin and pull through your shot with a “push-pull” motion.

[@BoworBustOutdoors]

Your 30 yard shots proved this correct. When you didn’t “punch” the trigger you hit your mark. When you “punched” the trigger you missed your mark by roughly 2”. Compounding out to 50-60 yards you’d be talking about being 5-6” OR MORE off your mark. That’s a lot, there’s no arguing that fact. Imagine at 80-100 yards you’d be missing by 8-10” or more. Punching the trigger absolutely is less accurate, that’s why most people use a release aid when shooting a compound bow. The least amount of human contact/ influence on the bow = a more accurate shot. If you punch the trigger you’re torquing the bow.

[@thesidequest3542]

If honestly you can mentally train yourself to not anticipate rather work with the shot and be braced you can “punch” cam hanes is a great archer, but he punches the trigger; however, it is a mental game and he is mentally tough he can fight the anticipation and panic. There is only few people with the mental strength to “punch” and be accurate

[@sirhenrystalwart8303]

Pin float is twice as bad using your technique. Punching works much better.

[@BoworBustOutdoors]

@@sirhenrystalwart8303 if you’re physically fit and able to hold the weight of your bow at full draw then float is absolutely minimal. It will have far less affect on accuracy than punching the trigger. I could sit here all day and explain to you why it’s wrong or you could watch some videos of professional archers on KZbin explaining the same thing and why punching the trigger is bad. The person that made this video proved the same thing when he missed a 30 yard shot by 2-3”. That’s what happens when you punch the trigger, it was proven with the same technique you’re talking about.

[@outdoorlife]

@@BoworBustOutdoors Here's a video that runs through the pros and cons, from two good shooters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJaYdJeAichmm80si=hwfl4gASD0QlTsFa