Qualifying Ranking Event 26/11/2009

Today was just about as perfect as a day could be, over cast and about 22-24 degrees with no wind. The only down side for me today is that I did not take full advantage of the conditions. 90 and 70 mtrs were very frustrating with so many arrows just missing the 10 ring but that is the way it goes sometimes. I was very pleased with 50mtrs as it felt comfortable and it scored well and aside from dropping my first arrow in the 9 at 30mtrs I was very happy with the end result.

I shot 1404 (341, 349, 355, 359)

Tiller Tuning for a steady aim

I first heard of this method from watching some tuning video's that American archery legend "Frank Pearson" put out in the early 1990's.... what it showed was Frank with 9 paper plates all with an aiming spot in the middle but each plate was marked with a different tiller measurement... such as 1/4 top, 1/2 top, 3/4 top, 1 full top, even, 1/4 bottom, 1/2 bottom, 3/4 bottom and 1 full bottom... now what this means is that he would start with an even tiller setting and shooting at a comfortable distance (normally 50mtrs) and shoot 6 -8 arrows, aiming and hitting the plate would give him a plot of what the group looked like, he would then put up the next plate... lets say 1/4 top, then add a 1/4 turn to the top limb and shoot at the plate again for another end to get his plot.... he would continue this all the way through both top and bottom adding 1/4 turn each time until he found where it all worked best for him. (Please note that each change in tiller will result in a change in the nock point, so you need to reset nock point and peep sight after each change.)

Although the video showed and based its results on group size and consistency and not purely aiming, it did show improvement with shooting in using this method.

I use this method only to find a steadier aim, no shooting required... I just set up a small aiming spot in the house and then play with moving the tiller. I dont know why, but I have always found that the bow aims better with somewhere between 1/2 and 1 full turn on the bottom limb.

Shoot well

Qualifying Ranking Event 25/11/2009

Today had its good and frustrating moments, the wind was tricky and swapping around nearly every arrow. I was very very happy with my 70mtrs today with shooting 353 in those conditions.

I had made some little changes with nock point, wheel timing and rest position since the last QRE and even though it was hard to tell in the conditions I did feel that the overall set up was working better.

I shot 1386 (335, 353, 343, 355)

Nock Point Tuning

Compound shooting is all about accuracy and to be accurate you need to have a steady aim. 

Nock point tuning is one way you can get your bow and body to work as one by finding the best position for your d-loop to give you the steadiest result.

I start with the d-loop at square and then move it upwards 1/16" at a time until I find where the aiming is best... the thing to remember though is that each adjustment of the d-loop position will put the wheel timing out a fraction, so you need to balance those out each time.

How does it work? well, by raising or lowering the nock point, you are very slightly changing the bow grip angle which transfers to a different pressure point on your bow hand and that helps compensate for the bows physical weight or riser design.

Have fun playing

Qualifying Ranking Event 13/11/2009

Today was a little windier than on wednesday but over all not too bad. Just had to watch the shot timing more closely with the wind.... pretty happy with how it all went. 

I shot 1392 (337-349-350-356)

Qualifying Ranking Event 11/11/2009

Today was the first of a few QRE's to come, the weather was pretty good and only had to deal with a tricky breeze at 90 and 70 meters... there was no real wind at all for 50 and 30 meters.

I was pretty happy with my shooting being it was only my second day back after the AusOpen (I like to take a little break after each major tournament). I had made some changes to my equipment including a slightly shorter draw length (it felt better and comfortable), shorter arrows due to the over draw rest and shorter strings and cables.... all felt really good and I ended up shooting 1399 (338-349-353-359).

Very happy, things are getting better.

TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED

Just got home from work to find a nice big envelope from the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, I rip it open with excitement to see that they have awarded me with a scholarship for 2010. This is to help with costs, training and testing to give me the best possible chance of making the Commonwealth Games team.

This will be my 15th year on scholarship since obtaining my first scholarship back in 1993.

The T.I.S has supported me a lot over the years and without their support I doubt I would have achieved all that I have.

Looking forward to 2010

WORLD RECORDS I HAVE ACHIEVED

1994 - 70mtr - 338(old record-332)(inner ten) 

1995 - Team Event - 248(old record-243)(inner ten)

1997 - 50mtr - 339(old record-338)(inner ten)

1997 - 30mtr - 351(old record-350)(inner ten)

1997 - 30mtr - 353(old record-351)(inner ten)

1997 - Fita90 - 1348(old record-1346)(inner ten)

1997 - Final36 - 336(old record-333)(inner ten)

1998 - 90mtr - 347(broken in 2007-348)

1998 - 70mtr - 354(broken in 2001-355)

1998 - 50mtr - 349(broken in 1998-351)

1998 - 30mtr - 359(broken in 1998-360/18x)

1998 - Fita90 - 1409*(broken in 2001-1414)

*This was the first time that 1400 had been shot in the world(25th April 1998)

MY INTERNATIONAL/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PODIUM FINISHES

SILVER - 1992 New Zealand National Target Championships

GOLD - 1992 World Field Championships (Team Event)

BRONZE - 1995 World Target Championships (Team Event)

BRONZE - 1997 US National Championships-Matchplay 

BRONZE - 1997 World Target Championships

GOLD - 2003 World Target Championships

SILVER - 2004 Turkey Grand Prix

BRONZE - 2005 World Target Championships (Team Event)

BRONZE - 2005 Bulgarian Grand Prix

SILVER - 2006 Arizona Cup

GOLD - 2006 World IFAA Championships - Hervey Bay

HIGH SCORE - 2006 Swiss Target Championships

SILVER - 2007 World Target Championships (Team Event)

BRACE HEIGHT-TO INCREASE OR NOT?

I was asked at the AusOpen as to why my bow was so loud or noisy?... well over the years I don't believe that I have really had a quiet bow due to that I only shoot with a long rod so the vibration does not all get absorbed... the long rod can only do so much, so I try and reduce more of the vibration by increasing the brace height(reducing the axle to axle length) from the factory setting. By increasing the brace height(reducing AtA) I am making sure that the limbs are working a little harder and don't have a lot of movement when at rest..... you can test this by grabing your center serving tightly and try and move it up and down, if there is a lot of movement then you may need to work on the brace height/AtA... if there is little to no movement, then it should be fine.

I normally increase the brace height by 1/8" to 1/4" from the factory setting and that does the trick. With majority of bows these days though it might be better to take the AtA length and just reduce that as the limbs are lying flatter so this means they wont be able to extend back to you to increase the brace height but you will be able to see the AtA shorten.

It is quite easy to adjust, all you need to do is shorten the length of your string and cables by 1/4" to 3/4".... what other effects does it have on the bow? you will increase the holding weight of the bow, somewhere between 2-10 pounds depending on how much you shorten the string and cables by.

So anyway, to get back to the original question... the reason my bow was a little noisy at the AusOpen was that I had not at this stage had time to play with reducing the AtA. I have this week made up a new string and cables and they are 3/4" shorter than factory length and now looking forward to having a play and not wearing ear plugs.