Think of your bow arm as an inanimate pole over which you have no control. It just sticks out there at a 90-degree angle to your upper body. Pretend that you cannot move it independently. Your fingers will not move and neither will your hand or forearm. If you want to adjust your aim, you have to move your entire upper body. For example, suppose when you reach full draw and settle into a solid position that your sights are above the spot you want to hit. Rather than dropping your bow arm, bend at the waist. This maintains the important 90-degree relationship.

If your sights are right or left of the mark, turn at the waist to adjust your aim. Do not be tempted to move your bow arm independently of your upper body. That will cause a break down in shooting form. It is far better to let the larger muscles of your legs, hips and waist control where your bow is pointed.

Here are two more tips that will help you create a rock solid bow arm.

UNLOCK YOUR ELBOW

Your bow arm needs to be relaxed at full draw to permit steady aiming. Tension will translate into a jumpy sight pin. By simply unlocking your elbow, even if only slightly, you may reduce the tension in your bow arm and turn it into a shock absorber. You can also bend your elbow more if you choose, without giving up accuracy. Some bowhunters who hunt in cold climates shoot with a more dramatically bent elbow in order to accommodate thick clothing.

If you decide to shorten your draw length by bending your elbow, you should know two things. First, your arrow speed and penetration energy will both go down because you are reducing your bow’s stored energy. Second, your elbow must point more or less toward the ground to keep from hurting your accuracy.

A LOW SHOULDER

Occasionally I see shooters permit the draw force of the bow to push the shoulder of their bow arm upward and back.
This is not good form. Do not permit your shoulder to lift. Keep your upper arm resting down and relaxed, hanging on the shoulder. When your shoulder comes up out of this alignment, you must rely on your muscles to keep the arm steady. These muscles are not as stable as the bones of the shoulder.

Your bow arm is an important part of the shot, yet bowhunters often overlook its proper function. Keep the arm and shoulder properly aligned with your upper body and keep them relaxed and you will shoot much better.