Archie's Archery Depot

More Info On Bow Tip:

A couple days ago I fielded a question asking how to play ponticello easily and with a great sound. Now, in case you didn't know this, ponticello is a 'special effect' in a violinist's bag of tricks. It is produced when the bow tracks so close to the bridge that the string produces many higher frequencies not part of the normal overtone series. The result is a kind of eerie, windy color to the sound.

Now, there are two issues that make the execution of this effect a little more challenging than drawing a pure tone.

First, it is critical that the bow track right next to the bridge without deviation. You'll notice that when you draw a normal tone, the bow can wander back and forth between bridge and fingerboard to some extent without negatively impacting the sound - one likes to avoid this, but it can happen. As soon as the bow wanders from the bridge in ponticello, however, the effect disappears immediately.

The second issue is control. Because the bow is not fully 'in the string,' as we say in string parlance, there is, in fact, a greater tendency for hidden tensions in the bow arm to manifest in just the wandering mentioned above.

Sometimes, as when the bow suddenly passes OVER the bridge - and this happens to everyone at one time or another - this 'wandering' becomes more akin to an alarming betrayal.

So, how to practice this technique so it is secure and well behaved?

First thing I would do is some slow, quiet, long bows ponticello to get in touch with the purity of my bow stroke, from tip to frog. Once you've gotten a sense of the bow placement, you can begin playing some scales and arpeggios using the entire length of the bow; very smooth, no spaces between the notes. At first you may want to play single notes per bow. As the constancy of the bow stroke increases, however, I suggest you slur notes together until reaching eight or twelve to a stroke.

Gradually you will also increase the weight on the string - relaxed arm weight.

Now, ponticello is also often called for in combination with tremolo, a fast, repeated, and unmeasured stroking of one note. And to practice this variant I recommend arriving at tremolo by starting at a slow rate of speed using just the forearm. From there gradually increase the speed and narrow the travel of the bow. As you stroke more rapidly begin to add arm weight, if, that is, you need to perform the effect in forte.

The secret to all this is the purity of your detache. I do not use my wrist - unless I'm feeling quite lazy - to produce the tremolo; simply the forearm. In short, the elbow joint must be absolutely free of restriction.

Ponticello really forces you to separate the vertical weight of the arm from the relaxed horizontal movements of the arm. It requires absolute freedom in the joints of the right arm. And these together make it an excellent tool for sharpening the efficiency and purity of your bow arm.

Clayton Haslop is the Concertmaster on many Hollywood movie soundtracks including The Matrix movies, Titanic, Avatar, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Star Trek, Up, Jurassic Park, Apollo 13 and The Perfect Storm. Clayton Haslop's bestselling Instructional DVD courses are used by beginning violinists to professionals worldwide.

Tips For Bowhunting Deer - The Rise of the Compound Bow

Tips For Bowhunting Deer

The evolution of the bow and arrow has occurred over thousands of years, but it has only been in the last few decades that major advances have been made in the bows used for bowhunting deer.

Longbows and recurve bows have been used for centuries. Today the current sport of bow hunting has changed completely due to the overwhelming use of the compound bow as most hunters choice for their bow hunting equipment.

Through the use of cables and pulleys, the design of the bow is such that the hunter can pull back the bow through its draw weight and then the action of the pulleys allows the pull needed to hold the bowstring back to be highly reduced. This effect is commonly called 'let off' and allows the bow to be held at Full Draw with considerably less effort than standard bows. Tips For Bowhunting Deer

Because the hunter is not straining to hold a high powered bow steady as he aims his shot, The amount of reduction in the amount of force needed to hold the bow at full draw is typically 50% to 65% of the bows designed draw weight. Some extreme bows claim let off in the 90% range.

These changes in bow design have made the compound bow an extremely accurate tool when bow hunting deer. Combined with modern technology in material design both for the bow and arrows, accuracy and ease of use has increased orders of magnitude over previous bow types. A compound bow has many advantages. It is lighter in weight, shorter and easier to carry and maneuver, and made of materials that require less care and worry about being damaged by the elements. Tips For Bowhunting Deer

Accessories for the compound bow include trigger releases, different types of sights including cross hair and pin sights, stabilizers or v-bars which help to stabilize the bow before the shot, and various specialized arrow rests that help ensure accuracy.

There are many different variations of styles, sizes, draw weights, pulley configurations and types of compound bows available today. Bows are designed with the end use in mind as well as the size and physique of the hunter. Bows for hunting whitetail deer do not need to have the power of those that a hunter might use for bear or other big game animals.

The experience and guidance of other accomplished bow hunters is of major help if you are first looking to get a bow. Do your research before you make a decision. While low price is always attractive, try to acquire the highest quality bow that fits in your budget.

The sport of bowhunting deer is one of the most enjoyable outdoor hunting sports. The season is long, much longer than for gun hunting, and the quiet times in the woods when you are on a hunt can be an extremely agreeable and gratifying experience. Tips For Bowhunting Deer

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How can i make my cheerleading Bow and Arrow better?

I can do th bow and arrow in cheerleading, But i wannt to make it better. Any tips?
i can do it i just want it to be great! also how can i get the other leg flexible enough to do the same?

Stretch a lot!! Do a lot of splits and over-splits. And just keep doing that. While I watch TV I stretch and to me that makes it a lot easier for me for some reason.

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