3 PILLARS OF THE SHOT CYCLE SUN GOD ARCHERY at UCSD: NTS Shot Cycle 1) Barrel of the gun Bow hand pressure point, front shoulder, and back shoulder alignment 2) Holding Being braced "inside the bow" Analogy: two parallel walls are pushing in towards you; brace yourself against them and push back 3) Hitting the "C-spot" The finished position of the shot after release 1. STANCE - Standing too open. Makes it too hard to coil properly. - Having hips out behind you. - Arched back. - From shooting line: back foot: 15, front foot: 30, front toes aligned with ball of back foot. - Keeping hips tucked under back and centered over feet. (Method: pretend to try to hold a nickel between your butt cheeks). - Solid core engagement. (Method: clamp down around an orange-sized ball in your stomach using core muscles).
2. SET guidelines movement tension target line (TL) target arrow line (AL) arrow - Arrow & stabilizer are pointed off-target - Keep shoulders set low. - Draw arm elbow should already be in line with the arrow. - When entering set-up, raise bow outside of line to target; bring back into line at set-up by coiling down. Set-to-setup: Raise bow in "number 1" shape, i.e. raise bow vertically and bring down diagonally into setup.) 3. SET-UP
- Raising front shoulder. Shoulder should be locked low and out. - Positioning draw hand too close to jaw, giving too little space to load. - From raised-bow position, coil downward and set barrel of the gun. For front shoulder, it helps to feel as if you are pushing out towards the target. - Position your draw hand at the level of your front shoulder. Bow is slightly drawn. - Bow is now in line with the target; arrow & stabilizer are still pointed slightly off-target. 4. LOADING - Linear draw. - Loading in a downward angle. - Loading should be angular, coming from outside the shooting line to being in line. - Loading direction should be mostly horizontal, very slightly upward. - Focus of tension should be in draw arm tricep. 5. ANCHOR
- Sliding string sideways on face. - Collapsing (losing back tension and moving hand forward as you anchor). 6. TRANSFER - Drive bow arm out towards target. - Feel as if draw arm elbow is shifting around behind you, as to be in line with your back. (Exercise: place your draw hand fingertips on your chest, and move your elbow back and forth using only scapula/elbow movement). - Focus of tension should now be in draw arm triceps and lower trapezius. - You should now be in holding. Feel as if you are braced inside the bow. - After this step, you can pay attention to aiming. Sight pin should be drifting around the gold. 7. EXPANSION - Collapsing. - Using your arm/biceps to pull backwards, losing tension in the back. - Expanding with the explicit intent to make the clicker go off. - Maintain the tension from transfer and increase slightly. - Feel as if draw arm elbow is moving up and around you. - Micro-movement; almost unnoticeable to anyone watching. - The motion of increasing tension and opening the shot moves the arrow the last ~2-3mm to pull the arrow through the clicker.
8. RELEASE - Opening your hand to let go of the string. - Plucking the string. - The clicker is the green light to hit the C-spot. - Natural relaxation of the hand, as if you forget for a split second you are holding the string; simply let the string slip through your fingers. 9. FOLLOW THROUGH - Following an incorrect direction of motion, i.e. crunching your elbow down towards your waist. - Excess forearm and hand motion (i.e. "waving"). - Back elbow follows the direction of tension; mimic striking a wall behind you with your elbow. - Hand is relaxed; follows the line of your jaw as elbow leads the follow through motion. - The best way to practice follow through (retaining back tension) is to use a Shot Trainer.