If you are a right-handed archer and your arrows are consistently kicking to the left as you shoot, there are a few potential causes for this issue that are worth investigating. In this article, we’ll walk through some of the most common reasons arrows can kick left and provide tips on how to correct it.
Improper bow hand grip
One of the most common causes of leftward arrow kick is an improper bow hand grip. As a right-handed shooter, your bow hand should be relaxed with even pressure across the front of the grip. Gripping the bow too tightly, especially with more pressure on the right side of the grip, can torque the bow and cause the arrow to kick left upon release.
Make sure your bow hand grip is relaxed and that gripping pressure is even across the entire grip. You can experiment with relaxing your right hand fingers or shifting your thumb position slightly to even out pressure. Using a finger sling can also help maintain a relaxed grip.
Bow hand position
Along with your grip, the overall position and alignment of your bow hand can also influence leftward arrow kick. Your bow hand knuckles should be at about a 45 degree angle upon anchor. If your knuckles are rotated too far clockwise, it can cause the riser to tilt left upon release, sending the arrow left.
Focus on keeping your bow hand knuckles vertically aligned and avoid collapsing your bow hand wrist. You can also try pushing your bow hand slightly outward from the bow – this should help keep everything aligned. Keep your release elbow up and back to help maintain proper bow hand orientation.
Improper arrow spine
Using arrows that are too stiff or weak in spine for your bow setup can also lead to accuracy issues like a left miss. With a right-handed setup, arrows that are too stiff will often kick left after being shot from a bow that isn’t strong enough to properly flex the arrow.
Always match your arrows to your draw length and bow poundage. Consult a spine chart or use an online calculator to determine the optimal spine for your setup. It may require some trial and error with different spined arrows to find the best match.
Rest position
The horizontal position of your arrow rest can impact left and right shot impact. A center shot rest setup typically works best for most bows and shooters. But if your rest is set too far to the right, it can cause the arrow to kick left off the bow upon release.
A good starting point is usually 13/16″ to 3/4″ from the inside of the riser to the center of the arrow shaft. Fine tune your rest position incrementally from there while shooting at close range until you achieve optimal arrow flight and impact.
Nocking point position
Similar to rest position, an incorrect nocking point location vertically on the bowstring can make your arrows go left. A nocking point that is too low will often cause leftward impact issues.
A good starting point for nock height is typically at or very slightly above perpendicular, measuring from the rest/arrow shaft to the string. You can fine tune height in small increments. Make sure to tie in both the top and bottom nock locators securely.
Bow hand pressure
Applying excessive pressure with your bow hand, especially as you draw back, can also lead to accuracy issues like leftward kick. This extra pressure essentially pushes the bow left upon release.
Try to relax your bow hand as much as possible while at full draw. Visualize pushing forward gently rather than gripping with the riser. You can also experiment with relaxing pressure at different points of your shot sequence to isolate when extra tension creeps in.
Grip position
An improper bow hand grip position can also contribute to arrows impacting left of target. Be sure your bow hand grip falls in line with the central vertical axis of the riser for optimal alignment.
Use the angle of your knuckles as a reference point. Your knuckles should form about a 45 degree angle straight back upon draw for optimal grip alignment. This will help eliminate left/right torque induced by an off-center grip.
Release execution
Issues with your release execution itself can also potentially lead to accuracy problems like leftward misses. Collapsing your release elbow or “pushing” the release can cause the bow to tilt left upon firing.
Focus on pulling through the shot with proper back tension. Keep your release elbow up and behind your head. Make sure you’re gripping the release properly with a relaxed hand. Consistent form is key for clean arrow flight.
Bow hand torque
Torquing the bow left as you draw, anchor and execute your shot can all influence arrows to kick left. The slightest bit of extra left hand pressure or twist can send arrows off target.
Strive to minimize bow hand torque throughout your entire shot sequence. Use a finger sling, relax your grip pressure, and be mindful of any inadvertent lateral pressure. A bit of conditioning exercise for your bow hand and arm can also help build strength and stability.
Loose arrow rest
If your arrow rest is loose and can shift left and right, this may be a contributor to inconsistent arrow flight and leftward impact. An arrow rest that isn’t firmly fixed in position can allow the rest to be pushed left during the shot.
Check that all rest mounting bolts are tight and secure. Use Loc-tite as needed to help prevent screws from vibrating loose over time. You may need a larger diameter mounting bolt for a tighter fit in some rest mounting holes.
Loose stabilizers
Similarly, any stabilizers or accessories that are too loose can also allow undesirable lateral bow movement as you shoot. This unwanted torque can push arrows left of the intended impact point.
Verify that all stabilizer, quiver, sight and other accessory mounting bolts are properly tightened on your bow. It’s a good idea to periodically check all accessories to ensure nothing has rattled loose from shooting vibrations.
Faulty arrow flight
Sometimes arrow kick can be the result of larger underlying arrow flight issues. Noisy, oscillating or otherwise unstable arrow flight means something is wrong.
Use paper or bare shaft tuning techniques to diagnose and correct any flaws in arrow flight. Issues like fishtailing, porpoising or planing can all cause accuracy problems and leftward impact misses even at shorter distances.
Left eye dominance
For some archers, being left eye dominant can also result in arrows grouping slightly left of the aiming point, although this is rare. If you are strongly left eye dominant, it may influence you to subconsciously aim slightly left.
In some cases, shooting with both eyes open and training your brain to select your right aiming eye can help overcome this issue. An eye patch or closing your left eye when shooting can also work.
Wind conditions
Don’t rule out environmental factors when troubleshooting arrow kick as well. Shooting in unpredictable, gusty wind conditions can certainly result in arrows impacting left or right randomly.
Try to shoot only when wind conditions are relatively calm and consistent. Alternately, you can learn to properly read wind factors and adjust your sight pins accordingly to compensate when needed.
Conclusion
Leftward arrow kick can be frustrating, but is usually fixable with a methodical approach. Carefully assess your grip, bow hand orientation, release mechanics, arrow setup and anything else that may contribute. Filming yourself at full draw can reveal issues. Take incremental steps to isolate and correct anything amiss until your arrows are arcing straight towards the target.