back tension release

[Kansasdoe]

Ok I might sound stupid but oh well , can anyone explain how a back tension release worls?

[tomlightfield]

Hi K-doe, I read an article about that some years ago, the jist of it was instead of just pulling the trigger on your release, you were supposed to hold your finger rigidly on the trigger and instead of pulling with your finger you would kind of flex your back muscles on that side, causing your whole arm/shoulder/finger to move smoothly rearward and cause the trigger to release. I suppose it makes sense in theory, but if you ask me, draw the bow and when your pin waves over the right spot, pull the damn trigger. My 2 cents.

[spiker]

Back tension is using your rhomboid muscles(back muscles) to set off your release.It takes dedication and alot of blank bale practice to ingrain this type of shooting.Punching the trigger as Tom says when you see the pin on target will lead to terrible habits.If you are truly serious about archery and want to really learn how to shoot a bow back tension is the only way.Some book and teachers are Al henderson, Len Cardinale(the best imho)Bernie Pellerite.Back tension is starting to contract your rhomboids subconsciously while your conscious is totally immersed in aiming.You achieve a surprise release because you are immersed in aiming.Your mind is not saying shoot now.Its complicated and takes hard work but well worth the effort.Imho carter evolution is a great bt release.

[Kansasdoe]

I guess I don't get the surprise release thing. It just seems that would be a little dangerous and inaccurate that way.

[spiker]

the subconscious release is so you can entirely focus on the aim.Your conscious mind can only focus on one thing at a time.when i shoot i focus on the aim and the shot breaks. when you shoot your conscious mind leaves the aim to tell you to shoot now.Basically you want your form to subconsciously execute while you consciously aim.Google some articles on backtension as they will explain it better.there is only one way to predictable accuracy with a bow and that is with backtension.Its the same with shooting a gun your snipers and better marksman like a good crisp,creep free trigger because they are so focused on their aim when they start their squeeze they dont no when the shot breaks.they are immersed in aiming 1000%.Its takes training you start out at 5yards just shooting into a target learning how to use the release and how to get a subconscious release.in time it will be the best thing you ever did and you will better than ever.

[Kansasdoe]

It sounds interesting.

[tomlightfield]

Thanks for the much better explanation of this shooting method, and I was a little too blase by saying "just pull the trigger". While I don't employ this method, I can say without reservation that I never know when my bow OR gun goes off. All my concentration is on my spot on my target, when I want the arrow or bullet to go it feels to me that it just "happens". When an arrow leaves my bow or a bullet(or slug) leaves my gun, they are both TOTAL surprises. I never even think about the trigger on either one. And they both go where I want. Another consideration is that the smoother the release/trigger is, the better you will shoot. That's why we are seeing more and more guns being made with adjustable triggers, makes a huge difference in your accuracy. Anyway, I applaud you on your knowledge of the back tension method, and while I'm at it, I have to give you a salute and a standing ovation for coming up with the"Dumbest Athlete Poll", that was absolutely great!!
PS: Don't forget about breathing when you shoot anything, probably the single most important facet of shooting any device!!

[scribe]

I don't noe nuffin bout bows and errors but I figger that there thang is only for about .02 parcaint of the turneymant shoosters.

I had one and after a week threw it just as far as I could...then went looking for about a dozen arrows it cost me.

[spiker]

Obviously you had no clue what you were doin.Backtension isusing your rhomboid muscles for releasing an arrow.You can shoot backtension with any release not just a so called bt release.As far as it just for tourney shooters your completly wrong. The guys you know shoot bt.Lee and tiffany,michael waddell,tom miranda,etc.Any serious archer will eventually learn bt because once its learned and a shot sequence is ingrained you will be alot better shooter.I love how archers who have no clue about this act like there is a grey area here,there is none.YOUR BEST TOURNAMENT ARCHERS AND BEST HUNTING SHOTS ALL SHOOT USING BACKTENSION PERIOD.

[scribe]

Spiker, you missed the sarcasm. I knew quite well what I was doing. I just didn't like doing it. For the majority of shooters, the back tension release is not what they are looking for in a HUNTING release. To start with,it requires too much concentration at a time when their mind is doing gymnastics. It is far better suited to the serious target archer. The key word being serious. You see, the tension release only marginally improves form and accuracy when the shooter is often in a hurry and does not have time to go through all the steps required. I suppose after a few years, it would become automatic if you can shoot a few dozen arrows a day. Most hunters can't and unlike the folks you mentioned above, most hunters have to buy their arrows and have jobs that make serious practice tough.

When we tested them and evaluated them, for the reasons stated above, we used different testers including some who were experienced with tension release method and some who were not. It was a new method at the time and we wanted to see how they would apply to hunters. As you stated, it requires a serious archer. Of course, this was before the time of the "serious" bowhunters you mentioned above. We used old men like Jim Dougherty, Judd Cooney and some old fart named Sloan, who couldn't figure out how to tense his back muscles. Back then, we didn't really have any TV stars to call on. We also just looked at tension releases from a hunting standpoint. Truth told, most of us...make that all of us, were finger shooters and some didn't even have some new fangled thing called a sight.

I'll stand by my statement. Heck after 35-years in the bowhunting industry, I was still shooting fingers and only one pin when I was forced to go to a crossbow. I hate that thing.