ARROW PATTERN ANALYSIS
The following listings give some of the reasons why arrows stray. They refer to odd single arrows, whole ends going the same direction, arrow drift as a round continues, or consistent variation from the string-bow line. This refers to right-handed archers, where appropriate left-handers should adjust accordingly. The large arrows show the stray direction.
é Low anchor, gap under chin
Teeth open
3-2-1 loose (i.e. third, middle, index fingers in that order, hand turning on release)
Heeling bow (tipping bow upward, perhaps long rod too short or too light)
Loosing as bow moves down
Low shaft elbow
Pinching arrow, lifting from rest
Nocking point too low
Watching arrow flight
Bow arm raises bow on release
Hand too low on handle (changes bow tiller)
Drawing beyond normal anchor
Head too far back, nose lifting from string (changes head position)
Chin drops to anchor
Shooting off the top of the button
ì Arrows too whippy, too light
Bow overdrawn
Low anchor, left of chin
Right hand jerking back and inward on loose
è Head not turned far enough
Arrow to left of anchor point
Arrows too whippy
Torque, twisting bow to the right
Negative bow window, plunger button too far in
Bow canted to right
Bowstring aligned too far to the left of sight, perhaps looking right of string
Bow hand to left of handle
Bow wrist breaks left on release (relax bow hand)
Bow arm moves right on release (relax bow hand)
Plucking bowstring on release
'Crabbing' draw hand
Watching arrow flight
Draw force not on back muscles
Leaning forward (i.e. towards target)
Stance directed to right of target twisting body
Crosswind from left
î Arrows too whippy, too heavy
Heavy piles
ê Head tilted back (nose not in contact with string)
High anchor, high on chin or on side of face
High drawing elbow
1-2-3 loose (difficult to do)
Topping bow (tipping bow downward, perhaps long rod too long or too heavy)
High nocking point (centre serving may have moved or compressed)
New string still stretching (or old string failing)
Dead loose (no follow-through of hand moving back)
Gripping bow
Dropping bow arm on loose
Kisser slipping down string
í Underdrawn, creeping forward
Forward loose
Bow arm not extended
Sting clearance inadequate, string touching bracer
Crabbed hand, fingers curled round string
Arrow rest failure
Arrow slides off arrow rest before release (pressure button may push arrow to the edge
of a short rest after pulling through clicker)
Anchoring high right
ç Arrows too stiff
Non-aiming eye influencing aim
Locking bow arm
Bow hand too far into bow
Head turned too far
Torque twisting bow to the left
Positive bow window, plunger too far out
"Doglegging" string, twisting draw hand
Arrow interference with bow
Bowstring aligned too far to the right of sight (align with bow stave)
Bow hand to right of handle
Bow wrist breaks right on release (relax bow hand)
Bow arm moves left on release (relax bow hand)
Plucking bowstring on release
Draw fingers tighten during hold
Draw fingers squeeze arrow nock
Hand grips bow too tightly
Arrow nocked wrong way round (cock feather inwards)
Anchoring to right of normal position
Head pushed forward
String fouling arm or clothing
Form collapses on release
Failing to use back muscles
Leaning backwards (i.e. away from target)
Stance directed to the left of target twisting body
Crosswind from right
ë Piles too light (may also give general left-right error)
Low anchor to right of chin
Bow hand too far into bow combined with heeling
Locking bow elbow increasing draw length, combined with sideways movement of bow
Heeling bow
Snatched loose
é Inconsistent anchor, not back to chin or up to chin, mouth open
ê Inconsistent draw length (try a clicker)
Head tilt inconsistent (contact between nose and string varies)
Release as bow moves down
Inconsistent height of shaft elbow, keep bow forearm along draw force line
Bow hand position varies vertically, effectively changing bow tiller
Variable head wind
ç è Piles too light
String alignment with bow not consistent
Bow hand position varies horizontally
Head rotation inconsistent (check position of nose bridge against background)
Variable cross wind (aim off and hope!)
General Scattering
Low nocking point
Variable nocking point (centre serving may be moving, usually upwards)
Worn centre serving
Wet feathers
Incorrect bracing height
Damaged fletchings
Variable fitting nocks
String beginning to fail
Arrow rest - pressure button relationship incorrect
Variable finger pressure distribution
Powdered tab (damp)
Incorrect aiming
Bent arrows
Variable posture
Untwisted string
Loose sight
Loose stabiliser(s)
‘Triggering’, releasing when the clicker sounds
Other Points to Watch
Tiller compensation:
Long rod weight kicks up on release; add weight or lengthen rod.
Long rod weight kicks down on release; reduce weight or shorten rod.
Colin Ledsome (From various sources) Revised June 2003
courtesy of CRANFORD ARCHERY CLUB