The front shoulder can be a problem for many archers. Generally it is because they aren't aware what their shoulder is doing, as they concentrate on other matters, like aiming or thinking of the draw elbow etc.
Try this simple exercise so you will know for yourself what is going on.
Stand up straight with arms by your sides. Shrug both shoulders up as if trying to reach your ears, and you will find they stop some way short.
If you do this in front of a mirror you will see them rise up and close in towards your neck.
Then drop them deliberately and see the difference.
Repeat the shoulder shrugging; but this time with both arms out at shoulder level. In front of the mirror you will see the shoulders rise and move closer to your neck, just as before.Then drop them, leaving the arms out at shoulder level.
Next, do a few shrugs with arms by your side and mix in a few with arms out at shoulder level.
With a mirror you will see a difference at your shoulders, and without the mirror you should feel the difference too. There will be less movement with the arms out at shoulder level.
The final part is to raise your arms out to the side at shoulder level and shrug both shoulders up then let them drop with the arms still out. Then try to get the shoulders lower down and notice you have to make a slight effort as they naturally stay a bit high with your arms out.( as the bow arm would be when shooting.)
Once you can feel what is needed to get both shoulders down, you will be able to mange that just using the bow arm out to the side....... Shrug..... Allow to drop...... Press a little further to ensure it is low as possible.
So, when you lift the bow, the bow shoulder needs to be down at the start and down at the finish and you need to be pressing it down all through. If it starts high it will just get higher.
Try this simple exercise so you will know for yourself what is going on.
Stand up straight with arms by your sides. Shrug both shoulders up as if trying to reach your ears, and you will find they stop some way short.
If you do this in front of a mirror you will see them rise up and close in towards your neck.
Then drop them deliberately and see the difference.
Repeat the shoulder shrugging; but this time with both arms out at shoulder level. In front of the mirror you will see the shoulders rise and move closer to your neck, just as before.Then drop them, leaving the arms out at shoulder level.
Next, do a few shrugs with arms by your side and mix in a few with arms out at shoulder level.
With a mirror you will see a difference at your shoulders, and without the mirror you should feel the difference too. There will be less movement with the arms out at shoulder level.
The final part is to raise your arms out to the side at shoulder level and shrug both shoulders up then let them drop with the arms still out. Then try to get the shoulders lower down and notice you have to make a slight effort as they naturally stay a bit high with your arms out.( as the bow arm would be when shooting.)
Once you can feel what is needed to get both shoulders down, you will be able to mange that just using the bow arm out to the side....... Shrug..... Allow to drop...... Press a little further to ensure it is low as possible.
So, when you lift the bow, the bow shoulder needs to be down at the start and down at the finish and you need to be pressing it down all through. If it starts high it will just get higher.