Newbie barebow/ trad question

Bodge

Bodge

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Wondering if any barebow experts can help me out.
My bow is an Oakridge Shade takedown recurve bow, 19” riser and 30# limbs, overall bow length 62”.
I’ve always shot three fingers under with no crawl and using a known gap to get pretty decent (for a newb) accuracy indoors at 20m.
Now we’ve started shooting outside I’ve been extending the range and at 30yds found the gap fairly quickly, again getting decent results.
Going out to 40yds though my gap has gone (I’d guess my point on is around 35yds) so I tried to lower my anchor from index finger on corner of my mouth to halfway down my chin. Not bad results, everything in blue or better.
Going out to 50yds the chin anchor isn’t enough to get point on so I tried an Olympic style under chin anchor but not working shooting 3 under. I then tried split finger and back to anchoring index finger to corner of mouth and that gave me point on at 50. Or just about - not brilliant grouping but it gave me the range.
So I guess the question is: is it advisable to be switching anchor and mixing 3 under and split finger In barebow? Especially given my lack of experience? Or do I have to up the poundage to get the range out to 50.
The barebow aficionados at the club tend to just shoot indoors at 20m so haven’t had a chance to pick their brains yet.
Any help/advice gratefully received.
 
Personally, I would maintain the same anchor point with whatever bow I used. I had maybe half a dozen different bows (compound, recurve, longbow, etc) and used the same anchor point for all of them. A 30 pound bow is going to start struggling at 50 yards and over anyway. Consistent anchor and aim off as necessary is my advice.
 
The NFAS rules state a fixed anchor point at all times not sure whether GNAS rules allow face walking you'll have to ask. Just learn the points for the different ranges, takes practise but works.
 
Thanks for the replies. Yeah changing anchor or draw is probably going to throw in form errors for me I guess. Few more weetabix and I should be good to move up to 40# limbs which I’m hoping will give a better sight picture out at 50yds. I’ve had the 30# for over a month now and can keep shooting it for 3 hours without undue fatigue.
Cheers guys.
 
I used to shoot a 35lb draw American flatbow ,and maintained the same anchor point whatever distance target i was aiming at . Its all about the practice
 
Mutantmonkey said:
I used to shoot a 35lb draw American flatbow ,and maintained the same anchor point whatever distance target i was aiming at . Its all about the practice
Click to expand...
How did you aim for targets beyond your point on distance? The way our club targets are laid out I’d be aiming above the boss with just the sky as a reference at 50m. I was hoping to find a way of keeping the gold insight but without changing anchor. I might be looking at stronger limbs maybe?
 
I used to shoot at targets 30 to 60 yards . I used the instinctive method which requires a lot of practice. Other people at the club who shot longbow had a sliding band on the shaft which they altered according to the distance they were shooting at . The only way I can describe instinctive shooting is similar to throwing a tennis ball at targets of different distances , the more you practise the more instinctive your aim for different distances becomes .
I used to read about people who shot barebow string walking for their aim points . It didn't feel natural to me . I just used Mediterranean hold and the same anchor point . Keep a constant anchor point, the same bow , same poundage , same arrows with the same weight of tips and practise practise practise
 
You will soon grow out of a 30lb draw weight bow but don't overdo it . If you try to jump up the poundage too quickly you will suffer with fatigue when constantly drawing and that will effect your aim . Something I used to do at home in the house was drawing a bow back to your anchor point ( without arrows !) hold for five seconds and then slowly take the string back to brace height . It helps to build your archers muscles and it's something you can do to help build your draw weight up when not at the range
 
Are you using wooden arrows ? Wait untill you start making your own . A nice feeling to be shooting arrows hat youve made yourself
 
One of my friends spent weeks making his own arrows, two-tone faded paint job, hand fletched, lovely job. First time out, sent one right into a tree and smashed it into splinters.
 
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