I got my new recurve yestersay and when I shoot it the arrow will not touch the arrow plate when I come to full draw and I have to wiggle it around. What do you do in this case, try to twist the string as you pull it back? This is the first recurve bow I have owned. I must be doing pretty good, this morning I could hit the block target a 4 yards without using sights : )
A few thoughts/questions: Have you tried canting the bow as you draw? Gravity will help keep the arrow nestled properly. When you knock the arrow are you seating the arrow on the rest and then bringing the arrow back to the string? (I've seen folks knock arrows at 90 degrees to the bow/string plane, which can twist the string and will make it difficult to keep the arrow on the shelf/plate. Last, and with a bit of care, you can use the index finger to help guide/keep the arrow on the shelf after you knock and start to draw. Make sure you move your finger before firing! The problem here is atleast twofold, a) you have to move your finger prior to shooting --I once saw a guy with a tuft of turkey feathers embedded in his finger, stripped from the fletching when he fired and b) to shift from guiding your arrow to a proper bow grip will likely require some awkward shifting while drawing or at full draw.
You could also be breaking the wrist on your draw hand, causing the string to twist. When you grab the string...whether split-finger or 3 under...get that string in the 1st joint of your fingers. Keep the back of the hand straight in line with your wrist and forearm. Don't "cup" the hand when when drawing back...keep it straight in line the whole way back to your anchor. Pull with your back, not your shoulder...that'll keep everything in line
I live in Cheraw SC , just a little south of you. Many, many years ago I attended Wingate college located near Monroe, Nc. We boys would thumb into Charlotte and then thumb back to school late at night. The fact that we could do something like that lets you know it was many years ago. I don't think I would be wanting to try something like that now I am new to archery. I bought a Mathews Z7Xtreme about 8 months ago and I am really enjoying the sport. I bought my son a Carnage and now we are having fun together. I am thinking about trying bow fishing next, and that is why I bought the recurve. I really feels funny shooting the recurve after shooting the compound with the sights and all. I would be lucky to hit an elephant now let alone a fish.
When you grab the string, hook deep (second joint, maybe). As you draw, relax your fingers a bit and let the string roll forward (to the first joint, maybe). This rolling motion, as you draw, will twist the string, and arrow, into the riser and should solve your problem.
Are you pinching the arrow with your fingers when you draw? It's best to try and not touch the nock of arrow if at all possible. Hold the string, not the arrow.
Sounds like you are pinching the arrow and turning your wrist as you draw. This is one reason I switched to a tab, I had a bad habit of pinching the string when I used a glove. Also you want the nocks just tight enough so that if you holding the bow with arrow hanging down and you just tap the string the arrow comes off. If you have to really hit it or have to pull it off the nocks are too tight. Boil some water, dip the nocks in until they are hot to the touch and put them on your string until cooled. I find this helps give a proper fit for your string thickness.
