Join me today for an in-depth look into one of traditional archery’s best kept secrets for long distance accuracy with instinctive shooting! We’ll go over just exactly what is “split vision” shooting with recurves and longbows!
I am left eye dominant but shoot trad bows right handed, I have struggled for years, I heard you mention this split vision once before, so I looked into it and began to understand it and learned to use it in my shot process and I’m shooing my bows better than I ever had. I use to go into hunting season with this struggle still in my head, and always in my mind thought well I still have my compound bows to use, I don’t think like that any more, in fact I wouldn’t even feel right going into the woods without my longbow or recurve. Thank you for sharing this, I’ll bet you there are many hunters that need to understand split vision, and I sure hope they find this video. Again thank you and God bless you.
Cool video. I’ve been a trad shooter since 1963 and still love the feel of my long bows and wood shafts. Built many a self bow and laminated ones. Also use compounds a lot too. I am a truly instinctive shooter. Like throwing a baseball at home plate , I just focus on the spot and draw and shoot. Cool video here.👍👍
I shoot 3 under and split vision with a higher anchor with my recurve and a holding shot. With my long bow I shoot instinctive and split fingers and snap shooting. I love both style. I might be using some spit vision when shooting long bow but am focused on the spot more then anything. Great video, thank you.
Thank you for making sense to me about trying to holding. Like you I attempted holding longer, I started spraying arrows. Your mechanics and brain knows when to pull the trigger don't confuse the built in mechanism. Love your videos!
Always been a rifle hunter, but my 1st trad bow was a Bear Grizzly in 1983 (19yo). I knew nothing about 'correct practice', and no one in my town of 2000 people were archers. Never used a bow stringer... never told i needed to. Wasnt taught anything. Despite a lot of 'practice' for a year or two, I never got much good with it. 30 years later and with the Grizzly discarded with limb twist, .... I bought a Hoyt compound. Used sights and peep, and with the internet read up a lot on 'correct practice'. 10 years later bought another trad bow. A cheap Black hunter. Now a lot more educated and aware of this and that, i fnd i can shoot that #40 BH longbow pretty well. Still, i didnt know what 'split vision' was till this video. But it does explain exactly how i shoot, albeit accidentally. I find i can shoot pretty well now almost subconsciously using the tip of the arrow to get my lateral sighting correct. At longer ranges still have some issue with trajectory (vertical), but that will come from experience. But yes, now having 'split vision' explained to me, i wish i would have known about this 40 years ago...
My bow is tillered even but even then I found a piece of Velcro to make it a bit negative solved my issues shooting 3 under. You could help many folks by discussing shelf and side plate amendments in the future. Good info!
My version of split vision is significantly different. -All of my bows have a point on of 25 yards - Draw -anchor - set back tension - focus only on the spot, - quick acknowledgement of horizontal alignment while maintaining focus on spot - position arrow per distance per corresponding assigned window while maintaining focus on spot - 15 yards and in -note: the half inch window between focused on spot and the shaft silhouette is not precise however the peripheral window that I have assigned to this distance is a constant. - 20 yards - 1/4:” window I never know where the arrow is actually vertically pointed nor do I see what is between the focal point the arrow silhouette. -Lock in and pull thru release while totally focused on the intended mark ***Larry Yien uses this aiming method which he taught me 15 years ago.. Quick, accurate and minimal stress.
Even what people call "full instinctive" still involves seeing the position of the arrow in your peripheral vision. You may not pay attention to it, but your brain is absolutely using those visual cues to find the trajectory of the shot.
Good video Jeff. The ASTB crew was happy to see you guys at the shoot in Brierfield. We shoot again (same place) April 15th and 16th in support if the Chidren's Hospital of Alabama. Hope to see you there.
Hi, Jeff! Many thanx for this video. It really does explain the tricks with split vision and peripheral picture in our aiming techniques. Using arrow point and bow string for orientation and alignment those work fine for me! I shoot Asiatic recurve bow (Grozer biocomposite recurve 55#) using wood or bamboo arrows and Mediterranean (over and under) releasing technique. I just wonder whether split vision would would also work for thumbring release practice where I would put my arrow to the right of the bow handle(?)
Lately I'm trying to actually pay attention to where my arrow is pointing and for my setup I guess when my arrow is pointing directly at that dot that's when I hit it
Good stuff! What would you suggest for someone who wants a quality bow that he can hunt with , arrows etc . And do you have a course for beginners? I’ve shot compound for years but don’t know where to start on instinctive which is where I want to go with a recurve. Thanks!
Absolutely the best bow for the money is a Toparchery 60” recurve on Amazon, it is a phenomenal performer with beauty as well, all you’ll need is a TTT string for it they’re only $114👍🏻
I believe instinctive and split vision goes hand and hand,some shooters don't realise there doing it. I shoot 3 under also my nock hight is different from one bow to the next bow. All my bows are point on 25 yards. My nock point varies from 3/8 ths to 5/8th depending on poundage arrow weight and bow I use.. 30 yards I hit 4 inches low ,25 yards point on and 20 yards 4 inches high so there is a gap method as well!!!!!
'Instinctive', implies that this is innate, but being able to look, release, and hit the mark, is an learned skill, acquired by years of practice. It's a catchy enough name though.
Guys get hung up on the name instinctive. Would I personally am referring to when I say I shoot instinctive means I am not using a set aiming method I am not making any calculations over or under the target I am simply looking at the Target and shooting Call It Whatever You Like
Jeff- First off your’e incredible. Thanks for the inspiration. I’m a little stuck. I’m very inconsistent. 1- I don’t know where to choose as my anchor. I was doing the corner of my mouth then went a few inches back to the inside of my jaw to try to create more back tension. Do I just choose and not change no matter what? 2- I tend to move my head forward so even if my anchor is the same it can be different. 3- my ultimate goal is to hunt- im out west so shots aren’t in a tree stand and further. Do I still go a 500 grain arrow? The seem to drop but I could also not be used to them as I’ve never played with weighted arrows before.
Okay first of all you need to find an anchor that feels most natural to you and generally will allow your arrows to impact where you’re looking at like 15 yards and stick with it, arrow weight greatly depends on exactly how much weight you’re really drawing and you’re gonna need a hand held digital scale like from Amazon and first draw like you’re shooting getting someone to mark the arrow right at the front of the riser then draw to that mark with the scale, you want to target around 10-12 grains per pound of pull for a good hunting arrow no matter what it totals up as long as it’s past around 420 grains which with a sharp two blade will be plenty!
Sounds good! I ll work on that this week to get something locked in for an anchor. - Is there other cues with elbows, back etc that help get the right form/back tension? I think I’m confused on what that means. If I squeazed the middle of my back as if I trying to hold a pencil I’d have like a 37 inch draw and be behind my ear. Is it more in my trap and rear delt? Sorry does that make sense?
Is it a good idea if your not sure what method you might like best to get bow set up for split finger ??I believe you are able to shoot both ways if your bow is set up for split?
Hi Jeff, thank you very much for your video. The split vision is the best to me now, the pure instinctive is the next step, that will take at least a few years. Today, I was surprised when I saw a bowmaker said that the hand on the handle is not in the center of the bow, but the arrow rest is in the center of the bow. Is this really true?
Self bows I have made are center of grip,center of bow. My shelves are 1 1/2" above center of bow. They shoot straight and hard. Arrow spine and correct nocking point rule bout any bow. I know there are alot of options out there as well as opinions.
I gotta get me a good traditional bow and set up! Gotta learn how to shoot it too!🙄 Do you have a class or video series that starts at step one and goes through to a competent, good hunting setup?
@@instinctiveaddictionarcher8998 That is absolutely awesome! I’ll be the first to sign up! I bought a PSE recurve and a dozen arrows a couple of years ago and tried to figure it out. I have arrows stuck in my barn and 20 feet up an oak tree! I want to learn instinctive and get good enough to hunt with confidence!
So basically split vision is just naming what gardens instinctively for all instinctive shooters, except the ones who shoot from other areas like from the hip or from the chest (where the tip of the arrow is nowhere near the line of sight). We all know instinctively where our arrow is pointing without having to concentrate on the point. Of course all forms of aiming are essentially concentrating on where the arrow is pointing, the alternative being just pulling the string back whichever direction it sends the arrow.
Jeff I love to shoot I mean it’s all I think about but I’ve shot so much it gave me tennis elbow lol had to get an injection in my left elbow, with that being said have you ever shot so much it hurt you in some way? Now I only shoot a few arrows a day maybe a dozen or so 😢 but hopefully it will heal up cause I want to be ready for September
I keep better groups when I hold my bow hand higher up and dont lean the bow allot. Is that a bad habbit or just another form? I am right handed so i lift my left hand almost eye level. I also draw three bow like a compound and drop it down into my target until i release. I just started shooting and bought a hoyt tiburon 35lb.
I usually line up with my bow arm slightly above where I’ll settle but also keep in mind that the least amount of movement possible is key for killing deer at close range lol
Honestly I can’t, it’s totally different but with that said I know guys that do use split vision shooting split finger with a higher anchor than I use so it certainly can be done successfully just more difficult for me lol
Honestly I just pick a spot draw and shoot it, I can’t ever remember referencing the arrow anytime from a stand but most of my shots are less than 25 yards.
I'm mixed dominance. Can't use iron sights with both eyes open. But I can shoot my bow easy since instinctive you can use both sides. I can't find this guy's company where do I send him my money? Lol
Jeff, I think your videos are great but I don’t believe there is such a thing as instinctive shooting. If you doubt this, put anyone or yourself in a completely dark room and shoot at a tiny dot of light (such as a candle) at 15 yards (a chip shot for most experienced archers) and see where you hit. If you cannot see your arrow I promise you , you will miss your target.
Lol thank you but we did that exact thing a few years back and yes I was able to hit the tiny little light even used a laser in complete black darkness with no visibility of anything especially the arrow or bow hand but it was only to prove it and several people have done it however out in daylight yes I do shoot split vision at distance and yes we do see the arrow subconsciously no matter what when it’s visible but I do shoot at night a lot without anything lit but the target just to practice pure instinctive shooting and this debate has been going on forever lol
One of the first videos we did was frog hunting at night and we shot some tiny ones from like 10-15 yards in the woods around ponds couldn’t possibly see the arrow to aim with it just looked at it and shot it which is why I call it instinctive and maybe there’s no such thing I just kinda refer to throwing a rock at something and hitting it to be the same.
I agree 100%. We all see and use the arrow whether we use it to aim with directly or indirectly from our peripheral vision. ( gap vs. split vision) I shot 25 yrs. with split finger and thought I was instinctive but I'm sure I used the arrow from seeing it in my peripheral vision.I switched to 3-under and became a much better shot. I attribute it to just getting the arrow closer to my eye. Just compare it to someone shooting a pistol from the hip and someone shooting with their arm straight out pointing directly at the target.
I only got rid of target panic after missing so many deer I no longer cared....lol there's a bit of truth to this. Of course now at 50 I don't get excited like I did at 17 however target panic is something you have to overcome and a lot of it is simply experience and maturity. I shot my first deer with a bow out of a baker treestand with a lap belt at 13 years old...shook like a leaf in a hurricane. Two things overcome this. Practice a lot and you will do it....muscle memory...I've shot deer that have ran up without even thinking about it and after was like crap I just shot a deer. I just did it. Practice and practice more.....then practice more.
Really it is just shooting shooting shooting shooting....the biggest lesson guys need to learn here is if they shoot half as much as you do they will be half as good.....and by the looks of it that would be pretty good........shoot. shoot more....then shoot again. The biggest reason i shoot longer distances is it makes My 12 yard shot on a buck rediculous easy
Totally instinctive is shooting at a candle in the dark. Trust me I do it. Every traditional archery shooter shoots split vision. 70 percent if your good is focusing on target and30 percent is your peripheral looking at angle of arrow
