2012 by StickBow Archery and Michael Lee
Michael Lee and Stickbow Archery's
Top Ten Tips for Begining Archery
So, you are considering getting started in Archery or Bowhunting! Allow me to introduce to you some great tips and techniques to get you started along the right path. Archery, just shooting a bow, is a great activity that will help get you back in shape, promote healthy mental activity (you have to focus and concentrate!), help you meet great people, and get you outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air!
Get an idea of what appeals to you so you can make an informed decision. Do you think that Traditional bow shooting is more appealing than modern? Wood shafts over alumininum? There are many choices that you can make, and it is important to be well informed so that you make the right decision when the time comes.
Two: Get in Shape!
Consider improving your conditioning and strength.
Physical strength is an important aspect of the sort. Consider working on all of you conditioning, and perhaps a few specialized strength excercises for more power in your back and arms. Face it, the stronger you are, the more control you can exert over your shooting.
Three: Try it out first!
Find a club or a shop that will allow you to try out different bows until you find the one that appeals to you best. Again, remember that aesthetics play as big a role in your comfort and ultimately skill, as any other factor.
Four: Get a mentor!
It's really important to find an Archery club where you can take a few lessons. If you have a good friend that has introduced you to Archery, work with him to learn the proper form and techniques that will make you an effective archer. If you're lucky, he might just be your own Mr. Myagi.
5. Master the basic archery techniques
Most instructional books refer to 10 basic steps to shoot an arrow, from stance, finger placement, hand placement, bow arm, drawing, anchoring, holding, aiming, release and follow through. These need to be mastered, but in order to use it to improve, the archer also needs physical fitness and mental fitness.
5. Be patient with archery training
Learning to safely shoot a bow and arrow takes only a few minutes, and with proper instruction, most people can hit the centre of an archery target from a reasonable distance within a few tries. However, don’t expect to instantly be a master – an archer requires years of training to reach a good competitive level.
6. Select the right archery equipment
If you are required to provide your own equipment then select specialist beginner equipment that will help train you. This means using a properly-sized bow that pulls at a light poundage (with less effort), and arrows that are long enough so as not to pull past the arrowrest when you are at full draw. It is best to consult with a club expert in any case before making a purchase.
7. Practice makes perfect in archery
There is no short fix for becoming an excellent archer. Hours of practice and dedication are required to reach a decent standard. One good way after making good progress would be to test yourself under competitive conditions.
8. Make notes to monitor archery progress
Keeping a record of training sessions, writing down how many arrows you have shot, your scores, the weather conditions, and any minor adjustments made – everything that will let you know how you are progressing. To remind yourself how far you have come will help with your motivation to further improve.
9. Enjoy yourself when doing archery
Don’t get uptight! If you can't forget about any mistakes, then the next arrow is likely to be just as bad, if not worse. By all means learn from a mistake, but adopting the right attitude can make archery enjoyable and lead to vast improvement.
10. Know when to call it a day
It is good to know when you have had enough. If your muscles are flagging, or you’re in a bad mood or hungry, then stop. Practice is only good if you're practicing with good form.
Keep your fletching dry!
Michael Lee
Stickbow Archery™
Michael Lee’s Stickbow Archery™ Blog
