I have watched so many of your videos. I wish I had come across you sooner. I have learned more from you in a few hours of videos than I have in years of reading and research on my own. You do a great job of breking things down. Great approach!
Thank you, Jeff! I've been shooting my recurve about 15 months now and my longbow a bit less than that. You've been with me since the beginning and I am truly grateful. I'm at the point now where if I don't feel a little scrape on my cheek back to my ear, I know I've made a bad shot. You taught me that. Now I just have to train myself to do it every time.
Mr. Kavanagh, Thank You, So MUCH, for taking the time to make these videos. I know there's a substantial time commitment to make these, and I'm very grateful for the fact you've taken the time to do it. I now at least have some "Head Knowledge" of what I need to do to improve my archery form & shooting. Getting the "rest of me" on board with executing this another matter, however...... :)
Jeff Just found your videos. Wish I had something like this back in the 80's. When I first went back to shooting trad gear. After a couple of years of missing and worse. Wounding animals I went back to a compound. Though I still shot fingers. If I had info like this I would have been able to stick with the trad gear. Finding out about your illness and loss of strength with it is an inspiration. I'm currently at war with a severe case of chronic Lyme disease. I'm a mere shadow of my former self. In fact it's been over 5 years since I last shot or hunted. I bought a Samick Sage with 30 pound limbs. Last spring. Mainly because it was much less expensive than a compound in a lower poundage. That fits me would have cost. It's been a tough go. I'm still a little over bowed, but all your info will definitly help. Thanx for the inspiration to keep at it. Keep up the good work in freely sharing your experience. Again Thanx Chuck
What a wonderful resource you have put up for those of us wanting to learn correct form. You have a wonderfully relaxed style and the right words to convey the substance of each learning point and your efforts are very much appreciated. No doubt my son and I will improve with your sagely advice! Many thanks from Sydney, Australia - Dave.
Hi Jeff, I really enjoy your videos. I have been an archer since I was 9, I stopped shooting 30 years ago because my hunting partner, my Dad couldn't pull back his bow any more. Last January a friend took me to his archery league and I got bit by the bug again. I started by learning how to shot compound bows and releases which had a rocky start. I also got my 3 daughters and son involved in archery which was very cool watching them all take their first shot with a bow. During a visit my pro shop while setting up a new string for my daughters bow I was able to shoot a Bear 59 and Bear 69 Takedown. This sparked an old joy in my soul, the beauty and grace of recurve bows. That in turn lead me home to my collection of recurve bows; 3 Red Wing Hunters 2 55#, 1 45# - 2 new, never shot , 1 Wing 1976 Competition II 25# and 65 limbs, new never shot, Bear Grizzly 55#, 1954 Bear Kodiak II Compass riser 55#, and my first bow, Ben Pearson Game Getter 40#. I am in the process of having all new strings made for the bows and I am looking forward to shooting them. I did shoot the Wing Comp II yesterday and what a great bow. Smooth, balanced and fun. This takes me back to my connection to Mr. Bear. I was fortunate enough to have known him and my Dad and I spent a wonderful afternoon with him at the Grayling facility in 1978. We also knew him from the Anderson Archery International Bow Hunters Clinic where he was a featured speaker many times. Mr. Bear was a childhood hero and always had time for me and anyone that wanted to ask him a question or hear one of many stories of his life. So this brings us back to the Bear 59 and Mr. Bear's genius design and his favorite bow, the 69 Takedown. I am wanting to add one of these bows to my shooting bow selections. I cannot buy both, just one. I love the '59, the balance, the smothness, the way it becomes part of you when it is in your hand. The 69 Takedown is a direct legacy of Mr. Bear, his bow of choice. The Takedown is also smooth and shoots effortlessly. in your videos your give them both. My question is if you could only have one, which would you choose? My gut says the 59 but I think the connection to Mr. Bear abd Takedown is also pulling at my heart. So here I am and if could share your thoughts I would appreciate your insights. Also you are lucky to have such a great relationship with your daughter Lucy. She is also lucky to have you. I am glad your beloved Grizzly got replaced by Bear Archery, class company and I am glad Bear Archery has returned to the level of expectations that Mr. Bear would have expected. Thank you again for your ability yo teach and share you love if shooting and Bear archery bows. May you continue to enjoy good health. If you could email me back my email is Rick@mansbergergroup.com. Thank you . Rick
Thanks, Jeff. All golf instruction comes from Ben Hogan. All archery from you. I like your daughter's dictum: " . . . Just put your back into it." With this video, I see exactly what should be happening. Thanks, again.
Hi Jeff...started with archery 3 years ago. Your videos have helped to improve my skills dramaticlly. Thank you for your support and your willing to share your experience with us. Greetings from Germany.
I remember two years ago I made a quest to become a good traditional shooter. I looked and looked for videos like these. Right down to the finger in the anchor point to shoulder blades. You've been posting a great series Jeff thank you
Great explanation. I had the amazing good fortune to have training from a world class Olympic coach here in Los Angeles. Guess what he said? 90% of good shooting is good form. 90% of good form is good back tension, and a smooth, un-selfconsious release. The next 8% is technology, and that last 2% is a mystery that separates world class archers from the rest of us. I moved to instinctive realizing that my 60 year old eyes were not suited to FITA archery. Your videos have been both instructive, and entertaining. Thanks. R
Jeff I appreciate the effort you go through to produce these videos. Having done a few myself, I know it's not as simple as throwing a camera on a tripod; particularly when you have to mount one in the rafters!
Hi Jeff just in case you see this- thanks. when I swapped from compound to trad several years ago I was largely untutored and had dreadful form, you've helped me approach trad archery with the same analysis I had for hunting compound and I the archer I am today largely because of your videos and 100s h of practice. thanks
I've been shooting for most of my life, and I've had the same anchor point since I started shooting, when I was 13, right up until I saw your elbow-up, high-anchor technique. In the last year I've started shooting three fingers under and utilizing an anchor point that places my right index finger on the tip of my nose. This changed everything for me. Great videos. Thanks.
Hi Jeff, your videos have been very helpful. I shot instinctive as a 9 year old and finally getting back to it after shooting a compound. Your videos are great. THANK YOU
Just wanted to say some of your videos have helped me explain better in what I was thinking to some of our NASP students. This last weekend our middle school team shot at the national competition and qualified for world's. Thanks Jeff
I've been shooting barebow recurve for a few days, and have been trying to understand back tension and expansion through trying to get a feel for it myself. This made it much easier to grasp and I can't wait until I can give shooting a try again with this in mind. Thanks!
thanks Jeff for your videos learning a lot from them. started off with a 55# samick mind 50 but decided to get a 30# sage to practice my form after watching one of your videos. hope I can be half as good as you one day. keep up the great videos!
hi jeff,your videos are so informative and your shooting is second to none;and i mean none,i have learned a great deal from you and my shooting is getting quite good; not near where you're at, but i am working on it and my son watches your videos also.always looking forward to more videos and i hope you keep showing them.thanks and take good care. Tom
Jeff I've been watching your vids for awhile and they have really inspired me to start shooting again but my groupings have been really random. I just watched your last 3 vids and I'm here to tell you they worked miracles. It finally clicked! I got up after watching went out and shot the best group of my life all in the bull!!! I think it was visualizing it from the different angels. Anyway thanks. Really enjoy your stuff hope your shoulder is feeling better.
already have. I have to say it was also kick in the butt to see how easy your 13 daughter handled a 40# montana. made me realize how out of shape I had become.
I just came across your channel. I’m ‘new’ to archery-back after 45 years. I have a 35# recurve. I have a ‘dead’ release. I’m trying to build consistency in my shot cycle. Thanks for your vids. ‘Takeoff eh!’
hi again jeff,it's nice to see you shooting a different make of bow,i know you love bear bows and they are very good bows but i'm sure you have come across a lot of different makes, but for what it is worth ,i don't think any other kind of bow can make you a better shot but you might really enjoy shooting a toelke or kanati bow especially with your style of shooting, they are truly amazing fast smooth bows thanks Tom
I have never let my hand go on backwards after the shot, it seems forced for me to do so now. it probably does so a little but not very pronounced as yours. I too shoot instinctive or I used to. After a ruptured brain aneurysm and numerous strokes, I had lost my focus. Now I am dealing with wet macular degeneration in my left eye (get shots). It tends to throw my depth perception off. Also due to many falls resulting in shoulder and muscle issues, I have been forced to drop down to 35 to 40 lbs. I am doing a lot better now but With my current bow, still a little bit over bowed. Am trying to find a lighter bow, am shooting about 43 lbs now. So being a mostly disabled vet, I have been looking for older used bows in pawn shops but they seem a thing of the past. But I do enjoy your videos, they remind me of days gone by. I learned to really shoot by shooting bees in around the clover. first sitting and then hoovering. Master the close and then slowly move out. also did a lot of moving targets, a lot of live targets. I also shot swing targets like that as well but those days were long ago now. But working on it again.
+Riverbendlongbows.com Haha, i took more than four shots and I had some better misses there than were filmed on camera. Yeah I am definitely not shooting my best right now. :D
hi Jeff played with archery when living in the UK, but not too seriously. Now living in Ontario and have started again, seriously this time. Your videos are an invaluable source of training and information. Wish they had been around years ago. Perhaps you could do a video on arrows. Saw your flu flu video... really helpful... more like this would be great... thanks
+Jeff Kavanagh hi Jeff I am in midland... I shoot on a friends land in just to the south in wyebridge... some days I feel like I can't hit a barn door but enjoy it all the same.. cheers bob
Thanks Jeff! I really learned a lot more from your videos as from several books. Seeing is believing... Especially the slow motion parts of your last videos were very helpful to me. And I like this bow! Just got my own one. ;-) Can you talk about how to choose the right arrow for a bow and how to setup a new bow with finding the rightbrace hight and position of the nock point. Thanks!
Hi Jeff, thank you for posting your interesting videos! I think this one in particular is very important to clarify how to develop a proper shooting form. I think it would be really helpful if you could describe how you manage respiration during the shoot execution. It may be key to reach a proper chest expansion. S'later, Enrico
Hey Jeff! Don't know how if your shoulder is improving at all but I can highly recommend you a Guasha treatment it uses oil and a special scraping tool stone or horn. It might improve quickly! But might be hard to find in the states. It helped me for a similar shoulder issue. Cheers Niels
Hi Jeff , nice video it's nice to see an over the head view so people can see what they call the wedge shape in the shooting frame . I commented on the "help for a subscriber video " not sure if you saw it but it kinda said what some of your teaching had done for my archery and how it improved it, there is a video on my channel it's called Hex 7.5 Covert HUNTER short range practice. I am showing my shooting frame and technique and wanted your input if or criticism lol on my shooting so if you do get a chance I would love to hear from you best regards Gianni.
Hi Jeff, a great Lesson! Have a question concerning the bow arm initial position related to the target when starting to draw and expand, moreover concerning the hip turn (i had noticed at the video) while drawing. When i look at the lines drawn at the video explaining the initial position and the ending at the release/follow-through, i see that the bow arm travels from initially left from target and stops ar the target just before the release. Does this mean, the bow arm has to be moved from left to right while drawing? The over-view-camera shows as well a initial hip twist to the left when raising the bow arm, and then turning to the right during the draw, ending finally in-line with the body and shoulders for a release. It looks like the whole process is a rotational movement, a "rotational draw". These are new insights to me as i had believed, the bow arm and shoulder are always at the target, during the whole shot sequence. Thanks Jeff!
Jeff, Thanks for taking the time to produce these videos. Love your energy and dedication. As I try to focus and refine my form I'm reminded of weight lifting. When I was trying to get my squat down there were so many facets to think about. stance width, weight distribution, hip drive, back arch, neutral spine..... if I thought about one thing something else would suffer. The other thing is breathing. It occurs to me that your emphasis on chest expansion which is concurrent with back contraction is similar to lifting in that breathing is an important component of setting up for the rep. Do you think that breath inhalation during draw would assist in chest expansion and back tension? Thanks again for all you do for traditional archery brother.
+Dm Cx That's where blind bale practice really helps you isolate certain aspects of your shot sequence. Breathing is much like weight lifting. Drawing my bow I exhale some of my breath but when I reach anchor I inhale to help with the expansion. Normally with weight lifting you exhale completely during the "work load" part of the exercise to prevent injury, burst blood vessels, etc.
Always helpful as usual. I did watch the video you recommended I watch, "Gripping the Bow", for some advice about Canting. I'm not 100%, but I think I am hunching over a bit in order to be able to Cant...trying to work on this. But it seems to me that I have more string slap when standing with good posture opposed to hunching slightly to get a Bow Cant. I'm sure this is most likely due to something wrong in my grip though. Ill keep practicing and keeping the things you say in mind, and I am positive that a consistent, smooth, proper draw will come. BTW...I knew it would only be a matter of time before you got your hands on one of those Cotton Mouths that Jim speaks so highly of lol. Seems to be his favorite at this point. Sure does look like a beautiful bow, and I'm sure it has smooth reliable draw to match.
+Jason Riccoboni if you are on Facebook send me a note with a friend request. If you video yourself I would be happy to look at it and give you any advice.
Top view was very interesting. It looks to me as if your target is more "in front" of you than I assumed (more of a 45-50 degree angle). I believe I shoot with the target more to my left (80-90 degrees from me). This causes me to have my head facing "far left" in my shot (and possibly aids in my chest expanding). Is this important? I work with a 25# bow on my form @ 10 yards, and a 45# bow at 20 yards to work on endurance and accuracy. Essentially, what I am asking (I think) is, what is proper body positioning in relation to the target?
Great videos I'm a newbie to traditional archery, been compound shooter for 40 yes Now I've been gap shooting for 4 Mos and w my setup. By design my point on is 20 yrds Just started instinctive and my groups and accuracy are better than ever so loving it My question is can I instinctive shoot beyond my point on Haven't tried yet. , or should change my setup so my point on farther out Thank you Don Mckenzie
I believe I've watched every video you've made, and it's been a wild ride this past year, as I've gone through a variety of anchor points, arrows, et al. That said, I don't recall you mentioning breathing before. Having a firearms background, breathing is pretty much the number one thing we "learn", but oddly, I don't hear a lot of folks discussing the importance of breathing as an aspect of good form and follow through. Your thoughts?
Hello Jeff. Another great video! One question. When you're at anchor, does the release and follow thru generate from the back tension? Or is it a combination of back and tricep muscles? Last week when I was shooting my release was ALL messed up. I was expanding my chest, BUT was doing a "HIGH 5" after release. ( Waving. Not good) Thanks again for your time and videos they're wonderful! Find any sheds yet?
+Michael Kramer The release is just relaxing my fingers as I continue my back tension. I have only found one shed so far. We have a very high doe to buck ratio here which isn't that great but not much I can do about it. The deer trails are looking like cattle trials right now.
Hi Jeff, do you see any differences in the positioning and alignment of arms and shoulders in olympic and instinctive archery? Looking at your vid from above and comparing it to some examples with an olympic bow, I get the feeling that in Olympic archery, there seems to be less angle between the bow arm and shoulders. I may be wrong, but would like to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
This video was fantastic for seeing form. All the different angles were really instructive for me as a beginner. Please do more like this. Doing it in slow motion gave me time to really focus on what you were explaining. Your such a good teacher, Jeff. Had my son take some footage of me shooting, would love to send it to you if you have time to look at it. I know you haven't been able to shoot the cottonmouth like you would like to and get a real feel for it. Based on the small amount you did work with it, how does it compare to the Bear longbows? I've heard alot of positive feedback on this bow. Thanks again! Cindy BTW, just got a grizzly and I a shooting better groupings right away. Spent about 6 weeks with a Martin adler that was 20 lbs (I am 24 draw) and felt ready to transition to a Bear(30 lb) and this was my choice and I couldn't be more pleased. Its absolutely lovely!!!
+c nevett Thanks so much for the kind words. It really means a lot to me when I see people benefiting from what I am trying to do here. I'd be happy to look at a video, I do that all of the time for people. I am also on Facebook which might be easier to send it to me that way. If you are on FB friend me with a note so I know it is archery related. I get a lot of junk FB friend requests. For the little I have shot the cottonmouth I really like it. Like I mentioned no hand shot and very smooth.
I see you don't anker stationary at all but seem to release as soon as you reach your draw length. I just got a long bow and have to try this out. Until now, I have shot an olympic recurve and must anker and aim, which seems to be something different. I seems to be easier to pull through the shot when you don't stop on your way. Thanks for the info.
Jeff; how about a video discussing how to overcome "target panic" i.e. Releasing before reaching anchor and not focusing properly in the intended poi? Thanks.
hi Jeff i am new to shooting and in a wheelchair. dont know if youve tried sitting and shooting but. was hoping you had some tips to help me i watch all your videos and more than once to retain all your awesome info your videos are fantastic learning a lot keep up the great work lucy too thanks very much
+rrr40 yes I practice shooting sitting all of the time for hunting. One thing to keep in mind is that whether I am sitting or standing I still work on maintaining my shooting frame solid.
Hi Jeff I started archery about 2 months ago and was tought that I should draw to the same point on my face. The problem I notice is that my head and face can move and attain a different position each time I releas (how do you maintain consistency?). So I'm a little confused as to the time of release. I noticed that at about the 4 minute mark in your video you release as your bow string barely touches the side of your body. Is this a coincidence or also part of your timing that tells you when to release. Also it looks like you use the side of your thumb to touch your face - is this how you determine when to release, as in where your thumb touches your face? How exactly do you determin the exact time of release? Thanks for the great video. The slower the video, the more details I notice. The overhead shot reveals so much more than a regular front facing video. Please do it more often. Thanks
Hi Jeff, thanks for all your videos. You are asking for questions, well, I have a few. In one of your other videos I asked one, which you might have overseen. So excuse me that I try again: Could you please say something about breathing as part of the form? My wife's brother had been a successfull string walker archer. He recently corrected my "self taught" form and one correction was about my breathing. I had been used to inhale while drawing the bow. He said that this shouldn't be done. One of the reasons was the risk of injury of the lungs. He said that breathing rythm should be a component of the form and that I should inhale, then exhale app. 3/4 while drawing the bow into anchor, hold the breath and release. I'm quite sure that you also do breath in a fixed rythm when doing the form. Can you please comment on this? Then I also like to know about the part of your form that happens before you start to draw the bow. Thanks Michael
+mhenschi Sorry I missed your other post. I try not to miss them but it happens still. Breathing is much like weight lifting. Drawing my bow I exhale some of my breath but when I reach anchor I inhale to help with the expansion. Normally with weight lifting you exhale completely during the "work load" part of the exercise to prevent injury, burst blood vessels, etc. I have another video on my channel which discusses "developing a shot sequence" and I cover much of what happens before I start to draw there. Stance, body position and visualization. If there any more things please feel free to contact me again. I am also on Facebook if you wish friend me there. Just make sure you send me a message and let me know it is archery related as I seem to be getting a lot of spam friend requests as of late. Cheers
Can you talk about you grip and figure pressure on the string? I think most people (including myself) struggle with putting too much pressure on either their index or ring finger. awesome videos!
+steveyd101 I actually cover those topics in two other videos, one on "gripping the bow" and the other on "the deep hook". Let me know if you need more.
+Jeff Kavanagh I have seen those videos (which are great). I was referring to how much pressure you put on each finger as you draw. Looking at your videos, it seems like you grip the string lightly with your ring finger. At least it looks that way at full draw.
Hey Jeff, thank you for the great visual aid! Do you have any content on your stance? What are you doing with your knees? Weight forward, front knee bent? Hope all is well and thanks again!
+Jeff Kavanagh didn't try adding just sent you a message. wondering if you know anything about bear stag hunters. and why the riser has a variable draw weight on it 45/50#. thanks
