Q71 - How can I have a tight anchor as well as a relaxed upper arm?
Last Updated 16/04/2014 at 04:25:36 PM EST
Dear Mr. Lee,
I have studied your book intensively and rebuild my shooting style within the last year.
I have one question about the transfer and anchor which I do not quite understand.
You explain that in transfer one should take over as much power as possible by the muscles of the back, especially the trapezius region. The muscles of the drawingarm and hand should be as relaxed as possible.
On the other hand you say that one should have a firm anchor point in the face, that you should press the hand tightly into place.
In order to have a tight anchor one has to engage the biceps/brachialis muscle to stabilize the elbow joint. If the biceps is totally relaxed one cannot archieve a tight anchor. Without stabilising the elbow joint it is quite easy to push the hand laterally out of alignment. Therefore no firm anchor is possible.
Would you mind explain to me where I should place the priority? A tight anchor in the face or a relaxed overarm?
Thank you very much.
Kind Regards.
I have studied your book intensively and rebuild my shooting style within the last year.
I have one question about the transfer and anchor which I do not quite understand.
You explain that in transfer one should take over as much power as possible by the muscles of the back, especially the trapezius region. The muscles of the drawingarm and hand should be as relaxed as possible.
On the other hand you say that one should have a firm anchor point in the face, that you should press the hand tightly into place.
In order to have a tight anchor one has to engage the biceps/brachialis muscle to stabilize the elbow joint. If the biceps is totally relaxed one cannot archieve a tight anchor. Without stabilising the elbow joint it is quite easy to push the hand laterally out of alignment. Therefore no firm anchor is possible.
Would you mind explain to me where I should place the priority? A tight anchor in the face or a relaxed overarm?
Thank you very much.
Kind Regards.
February 5, 2012
from H.S. of Germany:
"Dear Mr. Lee,
I have studied your book intensively and rebuild my shooting style within the last year.
I have one question about the transfer and anchor which I do not quite understand.
You explain that in transfer one should take over as much power as possible by the muscles of the back, especially the trapezius region. The muscles of the drawingarm and hand should be as relaxed as possible.
On the other hand you say that one should have a firm anchor point in the face, that you should press the hand tightly into place.
In order to have a tight anchor one has to engage the biceps/brachialis muscle to stabilize the elbow joint. If the biceps is totally relaxed one cannot archieve a tight anchor. Without stabilising the elbow joint it is quite easy to push the hand laterally out of alignment. Therefore no firm anchor is possible.
Would you mind explain to me where I should place the priority? A tight anchor in the face or a relaxed overarm?
Thank you very much.
Kind Regards."
"Dear Mr. Lee,
I have studied your book intensively and rebuild my shooting style within the last year.
I have one question about the transfer and anchor which I do not quite understand.
You explain that in transfer one should take over as much power as possible by the muscles of the back, especially the trapezius region. The muscles of the drawingarm and hand should be as relaxed as possible.
On the other hand you say that one should have a firm anchor point in the face, that you should press the hand tightly into place.
In order to have a tight anchor one has to engage the biceps/brachialis muscle to stabilize the elbow joint. If the biceps is totally relaxed one cannot archieve a tight anchor. Without stabilising the elbow joint it is quite easy to push the hand laterally out of alignment. Therefore no firm anchor is possible.
Would you mind explain to me where I should place the priority? A tight anchor in the face or a relaxed overarm?
Thank you very much.
Kind Regards."
Dear Dr. H.S,
Coach Lee agrees with your concerns. We do need to have a solid/firm anchor, but not excessively so, otherwise our focus will shift away from our back muscles. As you said, we cannot totally relax the muscles, biceps, triceps and back of the hand as well, so we need to maintain some tension on those parts. However, the intensity of the archer's focus should be on the back muscles, not anywhere else. Please note that this is a concept and not something that has been, or can be scientifically measured.
Coach Lee agrees with your concerns. We do need to have a solid/firm anchor, but not excessively so, otherwise our focus will shift away from our back muscles. As you said, we cannot totally relax the muscles, biceps, triceps and back of the hand as well, so we need to maintain some tension on those parts. However, the intensity of the archer's focus should be on the back muscles, not anywhere else. Please note that this is a concept and not something that has been, or can be scientifically measured.