Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Jeanette on January 27, 2012, 04:01:48 am

Title: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on January 27, 2012, 04:01:48 am
This is a weird question.
Back in Aug. I had a mastectomy (L). I started  shooting at about 8 I am currently in my 60's.
A few weeks ago when the weather was nice I went out to my range (using my light weight bow) and I could not hit the side of a barn from the inside. Usually I have good groupings.
Later that week I took my pistol to the rage to see what happened if it was just my bow or what again I was all over the target (at least this time I hit the paper).
dose anyone have any ideas what happened or how to adjust .
Jeanette
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: mullet on January 27, 2012, 09:09:49 am
Maybe your chest muscles are weaker now? :-\
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Stingray45 on January 27, 2012, 11:04:24 am
Is it possible you've had a change with you're eye sight? I don't mean that you can't see haha but that maybe your eye sight has to change and the other eye is more dominant now? I've heard of this happening to other guys who had to change the way they shot (switching from righty to lefty or vise versa) because of it. Just a guess on my part though obviously.

Barry
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Pat B on January 27, 2012, 11:16:39 am
You may have to start over and learn how to shoot. You will probably using different muscles than before plus the muscles have atrophied to the point that you need to reeducate them.
  Start out slow at close range and practice on your form. Don't worry about where the arrows are going, just your form. Once you get that worked out your shooting should improve.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Justin Snyder on January 27, 2012, 12:07:22 pm
Actually sounds like a stabilization problem. The muscles are strong enough, just haven't gotten used to the new balance of your body composition. Not unlike people who do a lot of weight lifting and add muscle mass. All of a sudden their balance is different and their accuracy changes. Loosing weight can effect it also. Ill bet it comes back quick with a little practice.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 27, 2012, 05:31:11 pm
Your lucky to still shoot Jeanette. My wife and I went through the same BS two years ago and she cant draw her bow now and probably never will. Hopefully you get your accuracy figured out, if not be thankful you can still draw and shoot! Good luck ma'am :)
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Buckeye Guy on January 27, 2012, 06:24:06 pm
Jeanette
Welcome to PA!
Many things could be happining
Take it easy concentrate on form first
As far as eye dominance that can change many times and often does for me ! Do you have a aiming system you use or do you only pick a spot on target to focus on (shoot instinctively )If you have an aiming system you will most likely have to make some adjustments ,but if you shoot Instinctively your brain will autoadjust after a few shots !!
Stay at it it will happen for you no matter what may be going on ,Have fun and don't stress !!!
Guy
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 27, 2012, 08:08:23 pm
You were ornery enough to fight back and survive, I bet you got enough ornery left in you to re-learn how to shoot! 

Buckeye could be on to something, work on your form, every little bitty thing EXCEPT trying to hit a bullseye.  If at all possible, shoot against a really light colored background so that your eye can pick out any flaw in arrow flight.  Those flaws will help you define where your form is coming up short and what little oopsies happen in your release.  Just draw, anchor, release and enjoy the flight of the arrow.  After all, it is the subconscious that really does the aiming and accuracy thingy. 

Good luck!
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on January 29, 2012, 09:55:38 pm
Thanks guys, the ideas are helping, I went to get fitted for a prostheses, my fitter and I where talking and she said the reason my back and neck where hurting was because my body is trying to "align" because it is off balance. A slight waving that you do not notice.
I went home and made a prostheses and I will be danged my grouping was back .....hurt like the devil after a few rounds. Will have to use a light bow for awhile until the muscles get back (if ever) and gradually work up to my fav. bow. But between the Tie Chi  and weight  (light) training and a hard head I should be back in the grove.
Thanks.
Jeanette
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: gstoneberg on January 29, 2012, 11:19:17 pm
Welcome to PA.  I'm sure glad things are improving for you.  I applaud your determination to get back to shooting.

George
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Pat B on January 30, 2012, 01:02:01 am
Keep us posted on your improvement. Slow and steady wins the race!  ;)
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Pappy on January 30, 2012, 10:57:34 am
Hang in their, Hard head will usually get most things done,shooting is no different. :) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on January 30, 2012, 02:21:59 pm
Your lucky to still shoot Jeanette. My wife and I went through the same BS two years ago and she cant draw her bow now and probably never will. Hopefully you get your accuracy figured out, if not be thankful you can still draw and shoot! Good luck ma'am :)

Pearl Drum if she wants to shoot try a light bow say around 20pounds and just sit and pull it a little at a time while watching TV just to work those muscels when she feel ready just go out and shoot a few arrows it is like starting all over again. As you know dealing with this is a lot of YES I CAN DAMN IT!! set small goals
and don't over do it all at once.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: mullet on January 30, 2012, 08:26:54 pm
Welcome Jeanette. With an attitude like yours you want have a problem except some hard work.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Buckeye Guy on January 30, 2012, 10:53:45 pm
Glad to here you are on the mends !!
Caution , hanging around here is dangerous you will soon be scraping wood and such ,What out for the addiction !!
Guy
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 01, 2012, 04:58:09 am
Glad to here you are on the mends !!
Caution , hanging around here is dangerous you will soon be scraping wood and such ,What out for the addiction !!
Guy
Buck I am already a little nuts :) when I was a little girl my fav. actor was Richard Green. I would sit out side and try to make a bow and arrow (pocket knife and a branch of a tree) until my father bought me a real bow and taught me to shoot. I love making arrows I found out if you go to the local zoo and talk to the director about collecting feathers they will usually let you as long as you make some demo arrows for display. Flamingo feathers are great also peacock and buzzard feathers the natural colors are great.
I want to learn to make my own bows but I am one of those that has to see it done before I can "get the feel" of it. but the WANT to is there.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 01, 2012, 04:47:29 pm
Just be doubly sure that all the feathers that the zookeeper gives you are NON-Native species.  The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) is native and possession of feathers runs afoul (a fowl!) of the Migratory Bird Act.  Buzzards, such as the turkey vulture and the black vulture, come under the Migratory Bird Act as well as all the raptor protection acts.  The fines on the birds of prey can run as high as a year in prison and $5,000 per feather!  Even a slap on the wrist and confiscation isn't worth it because you are now labelled as a criminal with past offenses and you will never ever see a break from them again. 

BUT if the zookeeper gifts you with feathers from the EXOTIC birds, you are good to go.  Just ask that they provide you with documentation of transfer/possession because despite the assumption of innocence, you will have to prove they are not native species.

For example, I have several feathers from an African auger buzzard.  Even I can't tell them from the same feathers on the redtail hawk I keep! It would take genetic testing to determine species.  I don't have the $600 to spend on that lab test, sorry all the same!  Fortunately, I have documentation from the bird's keeper along with photos of the bird to assist the USF&W in determination. 
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 02, 2012, 03:19:41 am
When ever you are dealing with the goverment get it in writing ...I always got a letter from the zoo director. :)
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Buckeye Guy on February 02, 2012, 09:11:45 am
Jeanette
What state do you live in I am sure someone is close to you, that would be glad to show you !
We love to get others addicted ,it helps us to justify our extrem actions !
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 03, 2012, 02:41:27 am
I live in S. Louisiana a small town called Denham Springs (out side Baton Rouge) I own a shoe and leather repair shop there.
while I was layed up healing I made a "arm guard" for off hand shooting it wraps around the hand and arm protecting the knuckle and thumb web from those "paper cuts" on steroids we get from the fletching. Ya I am a nut but it keeped my mind and hands bzy
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: gstoneberg on February 03, 2012, 08:04:28 am
Sounds like a great idea, can we see a picture of that arm/hand guard?

George
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: sadiejane on February 03, 2012, 10:28:33 am
morning jeanette
glad to see another gal here as crazy about this stuff as the guys...
and glad your on the mend. you got some spirit girl-welcome!
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 06, 2012, 01:56:11 pm
GS, I tried to post a pic but it would not work (my puter is 20 yrs old and I am on dial up) if you will send me your e mail  I can sent a pic to you.
Sadie, it is great to see another lady here, these guys are so nice but lets face it there are some things in archery that are of concern to us gals :)
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: sadiejane on February 06, 2012, 02:42:25 pm

Sadie, it is great to see another lady here, these guys are so nice but lets face it there are some things in archery that are of concern to us gals :)

understood!

feel free to pm me whenever ya want
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Buckeye Guy on February 06, 2012, 05:38:27 pm
Ther you go being girls again !
If you won't share with us how we gonna learn ?!!
 ;)
Guy
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 06, 2012, 06:15:55 pm
GS, I tried to post a pic but it would not work (my puter is 20 yrs old and I am on dial up) if you will send me your e mail  I can sent a pic to you.
Sadie, it is great to see another lady here, these guys are so nice but lets face it there are some things in archery that are of concern to us gals :)

No fair!  If you are going to show those pics to him I wanna see 'em!  I love bow related porn as much as the next guy! 

Seriously, send the the pics of the arm guard to one of us and we can re-post here.  I have a fondness for the plainest and simplest designs, but have a mind that just seems to complicate things all out of proportion.  Some of the best equipment I've made I have stolen from pics posted in here!
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: gstoneberg on February 10, 2012, 10:12:16 pm
All things in time my friend.  Jeanette sent me her armguard pictures today and here they are.  Cool design, like a bowling brace.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6854078261_f41687716b_z.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6854078253_2d5877aed2_z.jpg)

Enjoy JW.

George
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 10, 2012, 10:29:27 pm
Something seemed odd about the bracer...then I realized she made it for the WRONG HAND!  She'll have to shoot left handed!   >:D

Nice work, very nice coin conchos.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 13, 2012, 09:06:56 pm
JW I am left handed :) like I said I am weird LOl but it makes it fun finding a bow so I just learned how to shoot off handed with a re-curve now that looks weird.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 13, 2012, 09:08:54 pm
GS thanks for posting the pic. this old puter just has a hard time .
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: mullet on February 13, 2012, 09:12:33 pm
 Cool armguard. I had to cut all the fingers off a leather military glove except the thumb for the same reason. After that arrow broke and went into my hand it's too sensitive to shoot off it barehanded. Maybe my next trip to Baton Rouge I can stop by and say Hi. We have an office across from the Water Park on the Interstate going into BR.
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: Jeanette on February 14, 2012, 06:28:50 pm
Kool we love company
Title: Re: Body mechanics archery and amputation
Post by: johnston on February 18, 2012, 10:34:37 am
Jeanette (my wife's name too) I just wanted to meet and greet. I really like the way you handle things
and really believe this to be a good site for you to knock around in. For sure it is great to have you here.

Lane