Joined
·
6,458 Posts
I've been thinking a lot about this lately, especially after seeing so many videos. I tried to make a video, but couldn't upload it from my phone due to file size. I have one that is horrible footage already in photobucket I will post, sorry in advance for the poor lighting. Ok so let's talk about getting your "Back" into the shot, or executing the shot with your "Back". We have all heard you should not be pulling with your arms. Is that a myth, cause I see a lot of guys doing it.
1. What muscle is flexed to move the scalpula to execute the shot? Rhomboid.
2. The scalpula should move "down" and inward towards the spine? I hear this is true, but can't see how it can move down if your only using your rhomboid muscle?

Note this muscle attaches upward of shoulder blade, so it cannot pull downward and inward. Guys that feel it move downward are engaging their lat's.

I'm not sure if the guys who came up with back tension are using multiple muscle groups, or maybe not realizing they are and are calling them by the wrong name? I've never heard of using your lat's to execute the shot, but how else do you explain the downward motion many talk about? I sure don't feel any downward motion when I engage my rhomboid muscle.
3. A formaster will show if your using your back? False, it will only show if your relaxing/collapsing after the shot.
I have figured out a way to demonstrate if your really only executing the shot with your rhomboid, or if your pulling with your arm. You could be doing both. Let's look at that rhomboid picture above, how far do you suppose it can contract and move the shoulder blade? 1", 2",10"? Every body is different, so you will have to test yourself and see. Stand facing a mirror, then turn your head and draw your imaginary bow and anchor. Now only flex your rhomboid to pull your scalpula inward. Your string hand will move, how far did it move? Go back to anchor and repeat a few times and note in mirror how far it's moving. Are you only engaging your rhomboid, or are you pulling your arm around? Can you feel your rhomboid knot up and stop moving? If you can't, your not engaging it. Mine personally doesn't move more then 2-3". That distance would put my string hand by my cheek/ear. Where does yours end up? Ok, so now that you have this position figured out(your max travel), how does your hand end up further back after you execute the shot(if it does)? The only plausible answer is your inducing arm muscles to extend its travel. Should we be engaging arm muscles, or should it truly be back muscles only, or a combination of both? If you are touching your shoulder as a conclusion, you are inducing different muscles to do that. Is that good or bad? Can you induce that the same every time? Is that a variable that you shouldn't really be adding? The dead release "should" be the most accurate, since the less movement from anchor you do, the better. However the dead release can allow collapsing, so many avoid it for that reason. So the next best thing would be pulling with the rhomboid only, since we tested it and found its travel is short, but long enough to pull through a strong shot.
That's a lot of typing on a phone, more later.
What's your thoughts/comments?
1. What muscle is flexed to move the scalpula to execute the shot? Rhomboid.
2. The scalpula should move "down" and inward towards the spine? I hear this is true, but can't see how it can move down if your only using your rhomboid muscle?

Note this muscle attaches upward of shoulder blade, so it cannot pull downward and inward. Guys that feel it move downward are engaging their lat's.

I'm not sure if the guys who came up with back tension are using multiple muscle groups, or maybe not realizing they are and are calling them by the wrong name? I've never heard of using your lat's to execute the shot, but how else do you explain the downward motion many talk about? I sure don't feel any downward motion when I engage my rhomboid muscle.
3. A formaster will show if your using your back? False, it will only show if your relaxing/collapsing after the shot.
I have figured out a way to demonstrate if your really only executing the shot with your rhomboid, or if your pulling with your arm. You could be doing both. Let's look at that rhomboid picture above, how far do you suppose it can contract and move the shoulder blade? 1", 2",10"? Every body is different, so you will have to test yourself and see. Stand facing a mirror, then turn your head and draw your imaginary bow and anchor. Now only flex your rhomboid to pull your scalpula inward. Your string hand will move, how far did it move? Go back to anchor and repeat a few times and note in mirror how far it's moving. Are you only engaging your rhomboid, or are you pulling your arm around? Can you feel your rhomboid knot up and stop moving? If you can't, your not engaging it. Mine personally doesn't move more then 2-3". That distance would put my string hand by my cheek/ear. Where does yours end up? Ok, so now that you have this position figured out(your max travel), how does your hand end up further back after you execute the shot(if it does)? The only plausible answer is your inducing arm muscles to extend its travel. Should we be engaging arm muscles, or should it truly be back muscles only, or a combination of both? If you are touching your shoulder as a conclusion, you are inducing different muscles to do that. Is that good or bad? Can you induce that the same every time? Is that a variable that you shouldn't really be adding? The dead release "should" be the most accurate, since the less movement from anchor you do, the better. However the dead release can allow collapsing, so many avoid it for that reason. So the next best thing would be pulling with the rhomboid only, since we tested it and found its travel is short, but long enough to pull through a strong shot.
That's a lot of typing on a phone, more later.
What's your thoughts/comments?