For the last 15 years I have been shooting purely instinctive, that is to say burning a whole in the target and releasing. My accuracy with regular is good, I certainly would say fantastic. Typically holding hand size targets at 15-20 on normal days to several arrows in a half dollar on good days. I’ve noticed since my shoulder injury that my consistency has fallen quite a bit. I’m shooting the same weight but something is just off about my form and release and I have been really struggling to hold better than paper plate most days now. Ive limited myself to 15 yards for the season and have to put three arrows in a 4x4 inch square before I go out for the morning.

Enter three under, I’ve never shot this way before but after reading some stuff on shooting a fixed crawl I decided since it is a prerequisite I would try it out. My groups instantly tightened again with surprising accuracy. I am going to wait until the season is over to really experiment with it any more and tune for it but this might be the way forward. Anyone else make the switch as of late and have any advice?

I’ve shot this way for several years. You can certainly still shoot instinctive using a 3- under anchor (you can see the arrow at anchor, helping with left/right alignment, but not necessarily be aiming with the arrow tip). Or you can aim with the tip for a while until your mind registers what the gap is between the point and target automatically. It is actually easier to do than it is to explain. Things that I found that worked for me was to set my string nock 5/8” above center and leave my arrows longer; 31-32” for my 28” draw. It especially helped me with first shot confidence in the woods.

No, not yet but I have been thinking about it. A guy whose name you would recognize told me he made the switch and was so pleased after awhile that he will never go back.

My shooting experience has been similar to yours after some mini strokes, and triple bypass.

Switched about ten years ago and never looked back.

I shot split for at least 40 yrs. I switched to 3 under a few yrs ago to avoid nock pinch. I shoot instinctive also. If you try it...give it some time,it took me a while to transition but now it is 2nd nature. Eventually you will settle in and relax with 3 under.

I made the switch 1 year ago. I hunted that way last fall. I had always shot instinctive as you described. I would say I still shoot mostly instinctive. I notice the arrow more as I shoot. I struggled with target panic for years and the different anchor point helped with that. I had to commit to it for it to work for me. At first it felt odd, but eventually became natural. The noise level became quieter as well. I can't explain that. One thing I didn't consider was its easier on my fingers. I suffer from arthritis. My consistency is better. I've been pleased with the results.

Sometimes it's easier to get off the string with three-under and may give you a much crisper loose. It varies from shooter to shooter. It mostly just gets the arrow closer to the eye for better (?) short range accuracy. I never found the need to change from split since you can simply vary the hold anytime you want; string walkers have done that for decades and can work easily through it in a single shoot.

If it feels odd, it's because it was never part of your archery experimentation, but it's just another way to hold the string. As for the noise thing, some find it noisier, some find it quieter, some find no difference. Actually, I've encountered both, but attributed it to a slight tiller/limb balance affect, since shooting 3 under actually gets your draw/release closer to the center of the bow.

But anyway, no reason to not know how to do any hold and loose that will help you on the range or in the hunting woods. Simply learn what your bow will do and use what works best for the situation. To just settle on one can limit your ability to shoot those crows sitting in the top of a dead ash tree at a hundred yards. :)))))

Crows can carry on, my concern is mostly for whitetail only now and maybe some small game. The slingshot tends to get carried for squirrels and rabbits. Do y’all use double nocks when you use three under?

I learned to shoot that way in aboutv1967. I do and have shot using lots of different methods. 3 under, sit, stringwalking, face walking, thumb ring, etc.

Doesn't matter which one you decide on. What does matter is that you stay with it.

If your consistency went from consistent hand size groups at 20 yards (which would put you in the top 10% of shooters in the world) I would be trying to figure that out.

switch back and forth for years. Never finding any lasting consistency with either

Really drove myself nuts researching and listening to other folks suggestions. Not that either is bad.

finally stuck with 3 under and will likely never change. I pay little if any attention to the arrow though I can see it so Unintentionally I may be referencing it.

With a severe one track mind and bad memory i cant seem to gap shoot and don’t want to do a fix crawl.

All my shots other than for fun is 20 and under. I’m my opinion that’s where instinctive shooting shines.

Though I have shot about the same with both styles. 3 under just fits me a little better and the key is finding what works for you best if it’s even only by a small margin.

Well I stayed with split for 15 years and if groups as big as my outstretched hand , (around 8-9 inches) puts me in the top ten percent of shooters color me surprised.

As far as the double nocks it depends off you put your arrow on top of or underneath the nock locator. And some do and some do use 2 nock locators

Boker, I think that’s more what’s going on. I don’t think I’ve ever been consciously looking at the arrow but as a lot of people say bringing it closer to your eye probably is just helping me with alignment in my peripherals. I’m still just staring at a target it’s just there is more data to work with when the arrow is so close I think.

Falcon,

3 under shooter here. Yes to double nock sets. All the wear I see on my tied in nocks is on the lower nock, indicating downward pressure from the arrow at release. The direction and amount of pressure likely varies with shooter, nock height and arrow weight.

Smart choice to leave us Corvids be. GDS, our scout is watching you... :)

Went from compound to recurve and 3 under. I serve 2 nocking points ( brass cuts my

nose ). Middle finger corner of my mouth, thumb knuckle in hole under ear and a kisser

button as a third point, silent clicker and for back tension.

Switched about 18months ago to three under. Set up for point on at 20yds (not so hard with 32" arrows..), after a few weeks scores had improved 10-15%. After a year scores up 20-25%.

Neat observation I made- if I return to split I am very close to point on at 30yds.. And with a shift a bit lower on string I am point on at 10yds.

So I ended up a stringwalker now. While my shooting did not dramatically improve at 10yds, it sure did at 30yds.

Like Clay above. I had problems w finger pinch. Switched to three under 20+ years ago. I think it took about a month to get used to. My accuracy improved too. Second nature now. I used a thin leather home made tab for practice but hunt bare fingers.

I should have mentioned, kisser button touching my eyebrow.

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