Expansion And Alignment

by | Jul 22, 2015 | Archery Form

For outdoor shooting, our focus is on alignment, both at set-up and after transfer into holding is complete. You need the correct set-up to make sure you draw your outdoor bow with correct form and you need transfer to get into holding so that you can aim longer outdoors.Indoor expansion should take only 3 seconds, but while outdoors expansion should last between 5-7 seconds. This is to make absolutely sure the sight picture is correct and the core is controlled.

The vision should be focused on the aiming point during set-up and continued until the shot is completed with follow through.

  • Decide where to put the eye focus: Be specific, if aiming at the 8 1/2 spot look at that spot; not some vague point around the 8 and 9 ring.
  • Conditions matter: When aiming off, have the aperture on the correct color ring adjusted either right and left for wind or up and down for precipitation.
    • Wind, which is always present, moves the arrow to the right or left.
    • Precipitation, be it mist, soft rain, medium rain, hard rain, hail, or snow always moves the arrow down, even if the precipitation is only mist.
    • Wind, cool temperatures, and precipitation all tend to cool off the body and move the body. Becuase of this, greater bodily control is needed during expansion
      to ensure that the body is in the correct position.
  • Learn where to aim off: Feel the wind, pick a spot, aim there and shoot! Keep a memory of the wind, the aiming spot, and the result.

Set-up, Expansion, And Aiming

  • Do not sacrifice expansion for sight picture!
  • Do not stop expansion! Keep the focus on moving LAN2 backward to get the arrow past the clicker.
  • Control the rate of expansion so that expansion completes after aiming is done.

The string is next to the aperture

  • There is no excessive gap between the string and edge of aperture.
    • The gap between the string and the aperture must be consistent.
      • This is the largest error we all make!
    • Inconsistent string/aperture gap leads to inconsistent right/left arrow impact.

The aperture is aiming at the correct place

  • Once we have decided, at Set-up, where to aim make sure the eye focus has not moved.
  • Make sure the aperture surrounds the aiming place and that the aperture is equally surrounding the aiming place.

Aiming must take only 1-3 seconds

  • Indoors, Aiming is only 1 second long.
  • Outdoors, Aiming is longer, up to 3 seconds.

Now Aiming is done and you can complete expansion. Aiming and expansion happen together

  • Expansion must continue during aim. In fact, most of the attention is on expansion, not aim.
    • This is because aim is a minor skill. Meaning it is done naturally. Expansion, on the other hand, is the major skill.
      Major skills require practice to master and can affect minor skills if done incorrectly.

Outdoor expansion is longer due to longer aim and a greater need to control the core

  • During expansion, your chest is down to make the bow string clear the body with a good bow arm.
    • If the string hits the body during a long distance shot, the arrow cannot arrive in the 10 ring!
  • When the barrel of the gun is correct, bow triceps muscles are fully contracted and the bow shoulder is back and down in the same
    position as the draw shoulder is in during expansion.

    • The barrel of the gun, bow shoulder, bow arm and bow hand were all developed during set, coil, lift, and set-up.
    •  During a shot is not the time to correct these positions. If the positions are not correct, then stop the shot!
  • The coil is maintained to make sure wind and precipitation is not moving the body core and shoulder girdle.
    • As a result of incorrect coiling the bow will not be pointing at the target. If coiling is not correct, then stop the shot!