tedicast Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I took my first foray into the world of back tension. I bought a Carter Evolution Plus. I know this isn't something you pick up overnight, but man... it's a lot tougher then I thought. I can get the release hold weight setto where it seems to need to be for my bow, then all of a sudden, it is firing when i let the safety off. I must not be holding consistently against the back wall. I knew form was gonna be my biggest problem with back tension. Anyone out there shooting back tension, and have any tips or ideas to help lessen my learning curve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Re: Back Tension John, you should consider picking up this DVD. http://www.carterenterprises.com/products/video.htm Tony told me about Carter's "Straight Talk From The Pros". It give a lot of help and information for shooting backtension releases. Or if you'd like to borrow mine, send me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realtrhunter Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Re: Back Tension Are you using a release that has a clicker or do you have to manually click a safety off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Re: Back Tension [ QUOTE ] Are you using a release that has a clicker or do you have to manually click a safety off? [/ QUOTE ] With the Carter Evolution. you draw with the your thumb on the safety, and ley of the safety when you are at full draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realtrhunter Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Re: Back Tension Dunno, I've never used one that had a safety. I've only used back tensions that had a clicker that would go off just before the shot went. Make sure that you are pulling with your back and not rotating your hand, that would make the release go off pre-machurly (sp). When I was first learnng how too use one our shooting coach had us shoot at a blank bale, from about 5 yrds. Stick with it and you will eventually get it. I take it that the Carter Evolution is silent and can be used for hunting? I wanted to use a back tension but did not want one that clicked before the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Re: Back Tension I treid a back tension...twice...LITERALLY!! I got tired of backhanding myself in the mouth!!LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realtrhunter Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Re: Back Tension [ QUOTE ] I treid a back tension...twice...LITERALLY!! I got tired of backhanding myself in the mouth!!LOL [/ QUOTE ] That would be a form problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Back Tension Matts advice about a video called Straight talk from the Pros is right on it will help you a lot. heres some info for ya. all releases can be fired with BT. yes ALL... it sounds like your release is set way to fast or light. when you get to full draw and then anchor and then release the safety, it should not go off. it should hold until you either use the proper muscles in your back to allow the release to fire or rotate the release. there are many ways to get it to fire. either by using the back muscles in your back or to push and pull at full draw. some pros fire there Bt release by rotating the hand. but this method is for advanced shooters that have great focus and concentration. they do not anticipate the release going off. most of us humans or ametuers can not have any movement in the release hand in order to get a true BT release to fire. we get anxiety when we feel the release move. you DO NOT squeeze your shoulder blades together. BT is only used on the release hand side of your back only. what you want is a surprise release. do this routine on a blank bale at 5 feet with your eyes closed. draw, anchor, push safety off, then try and make your draw elbow go straight back. do not have a death grip on your release. a tense index finger is a common problem and will cause the whole hand to be tense and not allow the release to fire. this routine will teach you the way its supposed to feel when you shoot the release properly. without a proper instructor or advanced shotoer to show you how this is done, it will take you a while before you get it right. there will be many days that you just wont get it to fire. DO NOT get frustrated, it takes a while. the next and biggest step is to have perfect shooting form. you MUST have good shooting form to understand what happens while your aiming on a target. heres what should happen when oyu shoot a BT release. draw to anchor, allow sight to settle into the top of the spot target, forget pin the movement and concentrate on center of target, remove safety from BT release, go into a really hard concentration on the center of the target while trying to drive your elbow back like you did in the blank bale shooting routine. when this release goes off, the bow will jump forward and your draw elbow will go straight backward. this is what your looking for. using a Bt release on a target is extremely tough. you must be disciplined enough to not punch the release when the pin or dot gets near the center. the whole purpose is to have the shot scare the heck out of you each time. like i said its going to be tough to learn. but it can be done. be patient and work on it. sure wish you lived close by, i could get you set in about 30 mins. if you have any questions come into the competitive archeyr forum on here. we have a lot fo guys shooting BT that can offer advice and help. Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAstringking Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Back Tension great post^^^^^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realtrhunter Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Back Tension Excellent advice Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Re: Back Tension I agree with tony when saying ALL releases can be fired using back tension..I won a raffle to have a one-on-one shooting lesson with Burley Hall a few years back and that's what Burley taught me. We shortened my release pull so that the trigger hit between my first and second index joint. I used all three fingers in a cup like shape until they just touched the trigger..then slowly drop your release elbow and pull your fingers into the release while aiming. I have adopted this release style ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realtrhunter Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Re: Back Tension How much do those Carter Evolution Plus releases run for? I am thinking of giving one a try again for hunting. Are there any other Back Tension releases that anyone recommends? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Re: Back Tension The 1st step is ensuring your draw length is perfect. A 1/4" can make things better or worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted January 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Re: Back Tension [ QUOTE ] How much do those Carter Evolution Plus releases run for? I am thinking of giving one a try again for hunting. Are there any other Back Tension releases that anyone recommends? [/ QUOTE ] I paid $165 From Lancaster Archery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman26 Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Back Tension The best advise I can give is Blind bale. Stand about 3 to 5 feet away, close your eyes and shoot, shoot and shoot. Do that for a month before you ever shoot at a target. Trust me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Back Tension [ QUOTE ] there are many ways to get it to fire. either by using the back muscles in your back or to push and pull at full draw. DO NOT squeeze your shoulder blades together. BT is only used on the release hand side of your back only. [/ QUOTE ] Bull crap Tony. Some here may fall at your feet at what you say because you shoot the Iowa mom-and-pops invitational, but what you said is not right. You CAN use your Rhomboids together. If there is "so many ways", please explain the many ways? Not just two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Back Tension Uh-oh...could get ugly!! I don't know Tony from the next guy...is he a profesional shooter, don't know that either. Even the pro's do things their own way...If I read something here on the forums that might help me, I'll try it. If not, I'll do it my way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Back Tension You don't "push and pull" with one side of your back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Back Tension [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] there are many ways to get it to fire. either by using the back muscles in your back or to push and pull at full draw. DO NOT squeeze your shoulder blades together. BT is only used on the release hand side of your back only. [/ QUOTE ] Bull crap Tony. Some here may fall at your feet at what you say because you shoot the Iowa mom-and-pops invitational, but what you said is not right. You CAN use your Rhomboids together. If there is "so many ways", please explain the many ways? Not just two. [/ QUOTE ] there are many methods to get a BT release to fire. 1. push and pull 2 push only 3 pull only 4 rotate the release conciously 5 use draw side Back muscles only to pull your elbow through the shot. this is recommended by Master Coach Bernie Pellerite. 6. conciously aim and sub conciously let BT happen. 7. just hammer it that about covers most of the ways i know of to shoot a BT release. im sure there are a few others. when i say push and pull, this can be done either by squeezing your back muscles on the draw side only. or by the person imagining driving there draw side elbow up and back. squeezing both romboids together is not recommended by many coaches and Pros. your bow arm should be relaxed and the shoulder blade on that side must not move. if you put tension on thatside you are using muscle and using muscle make your aim bow arm tense up. which makes for preloaded bow torque and the shot probably going high or low left. Pro Dave Cousins says it best. draw a line down the middle of your body. the bow arm side must not move, the draw side is what fires the release. but one must remember that these pros have the ultimate discplined minds. they are so disciplined that they can conciously move the release and feel no anxiety or anticipation about the shot going off. however most of us ametuers can not do this without our brains screaming in our mind " HEY the release is moving and it going to go off! so we take our focus off of the target and thats when a bad shot happens. or worse, we let off on the release and go back to aiming, then back to the release and back again to aiming. with a mind doing this, its no wonder that so many people develope target panic. i do not just shoot a few mom and pop shoots here in Iowa. i have shot the NFAA Indoor Nationals 6 out of the last 7 years. i have also shot in State and sectional shoots many times. shot the NFAA 3D Nationals in Yankton SD. and so many 3D shoots out of state i cant list them all. what i have discovered is the many many ways people shoot under pressure and then shoot well. i am mearly trying to help people learn shooting form and how to execute a calm under control shot. ive helped many here and a few more at our archery shop. im guessing that i somehow messed in your wheaties and did tn mention your way to shoot. if you shoot well then i expect you to step up and help people learn to shoot and not attack others that might have views contrary to yours. if you shoot by squeezing both shoulders blades together and you shoot well , then more power to you. but i have always heard thats not the right way. but if it works for you, then im ok with it. i am not a pro. i am just a ametuer that loves to shoot and loves to compete. what i have done is become a student of shooting form and shot execution and mental game. the one thing i have learned is that the longer i shoot, the more i learn. Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudd Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Back Tension 4. rotate the release conciously ,7.just hammer it.those methods would be more so called "triggering"Tony's methods are right on the money, it's just a little hard to demonstrate it on the comp.. best advise ,go to a local pro shop for a little one on one help or purchase a shooting simulator and practice your a$$ off. if your interested in a simulator and can't find one let me know,I might be able to hook you up with one , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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