I'm hooking my bow a bit when I'm playing and it's making my bow squeal on the E string and rasp a bit on other strings (finally found out what's causing it ).

I've looked up Simon Fisher's Basics but his exercises need a second person and I'm on my own. I don't have a mirror either.

Does anyone have any exercises to improve bowing parallel to the bridge? It's really strange because I bow quite straight in my lessons but make a horrid noise at home. Despite my teacher's suggestions I think the problem is getting worse. The noise is really putting me off playing and my wee heart is sinking

Do you think my 'heavy' bow could be making it worse?

I have seen a "bowstraight" device on the web - but never tried it, and don't know anyone who has. But you never know - it might just be something that would help you. Try www.simplystrings.com.

Your heavy bow could be affecting your bow straightness, simply because it will tire your arm muscles more, perhaps encouraging you to fall into bad habits. Why not ask your teacher, or see if you can temporarily borrow a bow off another friendly player to see if it makes a difference.

Thank you... mmm the bowstraight device does look interesting but would it damage the bow? I do have an old student bow that I could use to try it - I just think if the bow or bow hair rubs on the foam it might do some damage?

Has anyone tried this thing? (I think I'll get one.. I'm getting desperate )

The bow-straight can be quite helpful, as long as while you're using it you pay close attention to what your right arm is doing, otherwise as soon as you go back to playing without it you'll revert back to your old habit. Which way is the bow angling? You've either got your elbow too far forward, too far back, or you're moving your upper arm and lower arm as one when you're playing at the point end of the bow, which'll make the bow 'scissor' across the strings.

One thing you can do is this:

Just play from the middle to point only, making sure you're keeping the bow right in the middle between bridge and end of finger-board, and opening out your arm at the elbow on the down bow and closing it again on the up bow. It's at this part of the bow that the problems tend to arise because the tendency is to draw the elbow back as you go towards the point. Keep the elbow in the same place, don't draw it back. Try this on open D string (four bow strokes) and then open A string (four bow strokes) until you can keep a nice straight bow there and then report back!