GAS Bowstrings

    When my obsession with archery started, compound bows were just becoming a normal thing in the hunting industry. Although some people had begun using compounds, the vast majority of people were still using recurves, and I could hit apples with my recurve at 20 yards. Looking back on it, I'm not sure how I was ever able to do that. I'm glad my dad started me with a recurve, though. 

  As time moved forward, compound bows quickly began popping up all over the place. They came in many different designs, too. Most of the bows I used had steel cables and thick strings. Gradually, the strings began improving and steel cables disappeared. Different string materials quickly made their way to the market, and it became much easier to tune bows.

  Before long, aftermarket string companies began competing with each other and the vast number of choices for a string maker made it hard to know if you were choosing the best product. Over the course of the last 20 years, I've used a variety of string makers, usually sticking to one company but trying many of them. 

  Last year, Eric Griggs got back into the string business after being absent for a number of years when his love of archery landed him a job in the industry with a bow manufacturer, which ended up becoming part of a larger group with many archery related companies in it.  Having known Eric for a number of years, I've always known him to be a fierce competitor. He wants to be the best at everything he does, including making strings. He also puts everything he has into achieving the goals he sets for himself.

  Since I know how much he puts into his business, I knew I wanted to veer away from the longtime string maker I had been using and try something new. I began seeing issues with the strings I was receiving from another aftermarket string company. The servings were separating, and the overall quality of the strings had gone from being the best in the business to marginal at best. I had used this company for about 20 years. 

  After deciding to switch to GAS Bowstrings, my equipment has worked flawlessly. After installing strings on my PSE Supra Focus on Saturday, the peep never moved a centimeter after putting it in and shooting a hundred arrows. After setting the timing on the bow and checking it again after shooting a number of arrows, I was amazed to see that the timing was still dead on. 

  I could go on and on about the strings, but I'm sure you get the hint. When something is as good as this, there really isn't much reason to keep talking about it. If you need a new set of strings this year, I would seriously consider giving GAS Bowstrings a shot. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. If you have any issues with your strings after installing them, Eric and his staff are wonderful to work with, and you can contact them with any of your concerns. Since they are archers, they can relate to everything you can throw at them, and they will do their best to answer your questions and fix any issues that you might encounter. 

  The ability to choose your string colors and servings makes it nice for people who like to have their bows stand out in a crowd. You can get anything you want, and the quality of your strings will be second to none. 

  If you're new to the aftermarket string arena, I can assure you that this company is one that you should support. There aren't many companies that put the customer first. When you find a company that is more concerned about trying to make you successful with their products than they are about making themselves successful by having you buy their products, you know you have found a winner. 

  GAS Bowstrings is also on the verge of introducing some great new things in the string-making world. Keep your eyes open for the big announcement in the coming days. This is something that you definitely don't want to miss. When you think nothing better can happen in the string world, GAS Bowstrings comes along and shows the consumer that it's about the shooters and making the best possible strings for them. They want the shooters to have the most reliable strings they can get, and they want people's bows to perform flawlessly.

  I've attached a picture below with all of the contact information for GAS Bowstrings. Do yourself a favor when it comes time to change your threads, and call Eric and his crew. Let the new sheriff in town keep your bow on a straight line to the winner's circle. There's a reason why GAS Bowstrings tag line is, "Fuel Your Success." It really is that easy, pull up to the GAS pump and fill it up. You won't burn through this fuel when you're speeding to victory.

An Addiction?

 

It's amazing how my bow has the ability to turn me into a liar. Just a few days ago I said that I wasn't going to be shooting my bow very much this winter/year. After going to the range, I changed my mind. I just enjoy launching arrows.

  I went back to the range today because I knew some of my buddies were going be there. I haven't seen them since August, so I wanted to be there to catch up on everything that has happened over the last few months. I also wanted to shoot with them since they've been shooting for about a month now. It's always good to stand side by side with guys who shoot well. It creates a little more tension and creates an atmosphere which replicates something a little more than when you're shooting alone.

  When I went to the range today, I had every intention of working on maintaining pressure on both ends throughout my shot. That was the primary goal. Everything else would be secondary. During warmups, I felt a little shaky and realized I was gripping the release and pulling with my arm instead of maintaining pressure in my back. It was causing the release to hang up longer than normal and fire inconsistently.

  Since some of the guys are going to the Lancaster Classic, they were shooting at the vertical target, so I decided to do the same. I decided to start the year with a BHFS setup in case I decide to go to Lancaster at the last minute. I figured I wouldn't have enough time to put into it to throw a scope and long bar on the bow. I figured I would be able to shoot a little bit and still be somewhat competitive.

  I'm having a hard time seeing the pin on the target. Although I use a really large pin, I'm having a hard time telling where it it on the target when I'm aiming. I think it could be from a combination of things. I'm not sure if I need a larger peep, smaller pin or larger pin. After I shoot a few more rounds, I'll figure it out.

  As I progressed through the round, I made a lot of great shots. I'm still searching for the feel, but it's early, and I've only shot my bow a few times. I feel comfortable with the process right now, which is half the battle in this game. I'm still trying to figure out why I'm shooting 9s. It doesn't feel like my shots are bad enough to shoot any arrows out of the 10. I did shoot two arrows today that deserved to hit where they landed. One of them hit dead low, and the other one hit to the right. I can understand those two hits.

  When the day was done and I added my score, I was satisfied to see that it came out to a 635. I figured it was pretty good for a BHFS setup and 23 shafts. I'm still hemming and hawing about what arrows to shoot indoors. I think I've finally narrowed it down to the same arrows I've used for the last 15 years, which are 2613s, or I might try Black Eagle PS26s. I don't really want to spend any money on new arrows, so the trusty aluminum will probably end up in my quiver. I was happy to see that I had 41xs, but I was disappointed with the six 9s. I'll keep working on the execution and improve that in the next few weeks.

  My goal of focusing on maintaining pressure worked well. I did well with the work I put in today. I found myself off track a few times, but I quickly fixed the issues causing me to go there and put myself back in the place I needed to be. I'll keep working on this and see if I can improve with a few other things at the same time.

  I'm going to see Mark Myers this week to work on a few things. I look forward to seeing Mark. He takes great pride in what he does, and he is always willing to help people of all skill levels. I'm a tough nut to crack, so he might have his hands full with me, but I have faith in his abilities and his suggestions.

  I think I'm an archery range rat. I can't seem to stay away, even if I say I'm not going anywhere near the range. When hunting season closes, I go back to what I know: shooting arrows.

The Indoor Grind Begins

Well, it seemed like hunting season was never going to end this year, and I kind of liked the feeling. Most people who know me know that my life revolves around archery, but archery always comes second when I throw hunting into the mix.

  Although I've found some limited success on the archery trail over the years, the success doesn't remotely compare to the things I've gained through hunting. Hunting has given me the ability to write books, give seminars, appear as a guest speaker, write columns for magazines, and offer my opinions on a panel of expert deer hunters. I guess the success I've gained through hunting gives me a different perspective of many of the top archers out there. Some people consider me an expert because I've been lucky enough to take a lot of big deer. Unfortunately, I don't look at myself the same. I think I've just been lucky to take them because I spend an exorbitant amount of time in the woods unlike the vast majority of other hunters. I bust my ass to locate big deer and attempt to kill them. That's what drives me. I enjoy shooting my bow in archery competitions, but I live to hunt. That's what butters my bread.

  I still have a few days of hunting season left in New York in the zone I live in, but I started shooting my bow indoors the other day. I just wanted to make sure I could shoot 60 arrows without killing my shoulders and elbow.

  After finishing the round on Monday, I felt pretty good. I didn't have any pain in any part of my body, not even my back. My back usually pays the price from standing on the cement floor while shooting. I also didn't have any pain in my elbow. That was the most significant thing I noticed. It was the first time I didn't have elbow pain in the last two years. I pray that it stays that way.

  I hung a target and started shooting. I only shot two practice ends and went live. I wanted to see how  I could perform on a Lancaster round. When it was all said and done, I shot a 595 with 35 Xs for a 630. I considered that a success since I hadn't touched that bow since early October. I shot a TruBall HBC 4-finger release for the entire round and used SuperDrive 23 arrows.

  I went back to the range on Thursday after work to shoot a few more arrows. I wanted to practice maintaining pressure on both ends. During my practice, I gained a lot of confidence. It brought me back to the year I shot 42Xs at the annual Guan Ho Ha 450 Vegas tournament. The feeling in my back was exactly the same as it was the day I shot in that tournament. When I can feel the pressure being maintained in my back, I feel like I can't miss. I will continue to work on that as I move forward. Proven results don't lie, and I know that I shot one of my best rounds ever shooting that way and feeling the pressure stay steady in my back. If I put all of my focus on that, I believe I will be able to turn back time and perform at that level once again.

  Since my mind runs wild like a hamster on a spinning wheel, I decided to do something after my practice session to see what would happen. I decided to shoot the release my squeezing my ring finger to fire the release. I've used this method for many years. I maintain back tension and squeeze my ring finger. I wanted to see where the arrow would hit in comparison to shooting the way I've become accustomed to shooting.

  Amazingly, I ran off 21 shots this way and missed the baby X twice, both times barely out, one to the left and one to the right. Neither of the SuperDrive 23s cam close to touching the 10 line. I pulled the last three arrows and headed out of the range shaking my head. I guess I can still be a squeezer if I  have to be. I'm working to avoid that, but the results don't make it easy. In some ways, it feels good to know that I can activate the release in two entirely different ways and still find the center of the gold regularly.

  I'm not sure how much I will be shooting this winter. The shipment of my latest books will be arriving next Monday, and I need to focus all of my efforts this year on promoting and selling my books. If anyone out there can think of someplace that would like to host a seminar along with a book signing afterward, I'd be all ears. I've traveled all over New England and New York doing that type of thing for the last 10 years, and I'm always interested in any potential leads.

  I hope everyone has a great indoor season and finds success in whatever they're working on improving. I feel great about the things I changed last year. I have a feeling they will really show this year and help me during crunch time.