This is a simple drill to help demonstrate the feeling of releasing the string. The release is THE crucial point of the shot, you can read more about why this is the case in Recurve Technique Basics.
There are many technical points that make up a proper release, this includes the bow arm side as well as the draw arm side. Read more in our Release & Follow Through section.
1. Hook the string and bring the bow close to your body as you can see in the figure above. Make sure there is a a straight line and a feeling of connection between your hook and draw elbow.
2. Look at your draw hand or draw elbow as you slightly pull the bow string back.
3. Allow the draw hand fingers to relax so that the string pushes the fingers out of the way and the string moves forwards slightly. As you do this, keep looking at your draw hand or draw elbow.
4. The fingers should move out of the way quickly and smoothly before returning to the hooking shape they had before. Your draw hand and elbow should move straight backwards. It should feel as if this movement is lead by the elbow.
Looking at your string hand release and draw elbow as you do this drill will help you to spot any release mistakes. These will be magnified when you shoot your bow; you want to eliminate them during this drill. Any “flicking” of the fingers or twanging of the string will be very obvious when you do this release drill.
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