Archery is defined as the art, practice, or skill of shooting bow and arrow. It is a simple skill to pick-up but a hard one to master. In this article, I will provide you with some archery tips that will allow you to understand how to shoot a bow with greater accuracy.
Form is one of the most important factors in archery, and it takes time to perfect. In the simplest way, archery form can be summed up as the following: Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart, weight even on both legs, perpendicular to the target. Put your arms up straight as to form a T and look at the target, then touch your face with your drawing hand.
While a very simplistic description, it is the foundation on which all archery techniques and form are built, and it will take you further than you can imagine.
With the foundation established, we can now move on to the archery tips that will help you improve your accuracy and make the learning curve easier.
First of all, one of the first mistakes a lot of beginners do is related to the forward hand’s grip (bow arm) on the bow. Most of them try to grip it hard, but that only causes it to turn and twist, making the shot inaccurate. The forward hand’s grip on the bow should be soft and relaxed.
Second of all, when it comes to pulling grip, you should have a strong grip on the string using a traditional 3-finger grip where the index finger is over the nock, and both the middle and ring fingers are below the nock. Keep some space between the index finger and the middle finger to avoid pinching the nock.
Third of all, an archer should have a couple of good anchor points for the pulling hand and string. An anchor point is defined as the place on an archer’s face where the hand is placed consistently with the bowstring at full draw. Find a proper and comfortable anchor points where you’re pulling hand can rest, and you will greatly increase your accuracy. An example of this would be your index finger resting under your chin with the bowstring touching or almost touching your nose. Anchor points can change depending on whether you have archery sights or not, and/or release aids.
Fourth of all, you should follow through with your shots. This involves maintaining the position of your bow arm on release until the arrow hits the target. This is due to the fact that moving your head or dropping your bow arm will unintentionally lead to ruining your aim and the arrows landing low.
Fifth of all, you should relax. While not related to strict archery technique, it is advice that should be given in any archery lesson. If you are nervous or anxious, there is a much higher chance that you will jerk the bow and throw your aim off and be less alert, which leads us to the next point.
It is harder to concentrate when you’re nervous and anxious. It is true in the different facets of life, and it applies to archery. Clear your mind and focus on the target. You only need to do this for around 10 seconds at a time, and you will see your accuracy increase.
These archery tips might help you improve your technique and accuracy, but it is up to you to practice and master the form. As it is said, practice is the best of all instructors, and no matter what archery techniques anyone gives you, you will need to practice to become a better archer.
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