Some archers develop what is known as target panic. Any archer can develop this issue, even though it only affects a relatively small percentage of them. This post is aimed at providing those who are unlucky enough to get target panic with some archery tips in an attempt to remedy the problem.

What is target panic?

Target panic is a psychological state in which an archer has an undesired and sudden impulse for a premature release. The way target panic manifests itself is dependent on the form of the archer as well as the equipment, but a premature release is the common theme that is at the core of the problem.

This issue could affect beginners and experienced archers alike, and many great archers and bowhunters had to go through this.

If you’re wondering about the cause of target panic, the simplest way to put it is that its causes are psychological. It’s not a disease and it’s not specifically a form issue, but its root is psychological and it can be overcome. What you need to know is that you are actively thinking about the release, or premature release, making this thought the main contributor to the issue.

Archery tips to cure target panic

Considering target panic is not a real form issue, this means that archery lessons concerning form issues will not help. In essence, you need to reprogram your behavior in some way so that the thoughts occurring in your mind about target panic gets pushed away or you get desensitized to it.

For this, there are 4 techniques I know of that are effective:

The first technique is what is called the “button” technique. This is a technique that should be used every time you’re shooting your bow. It was first introduced in the book Instinctive Archery Insights by Jay Kidwell, and has been very popular among archers. It has allowed many archers to end their target panic and stimulus confusion, as well as help many archers that do not have target panic to focus better on the target and improve their aim and accuracy and different distances. Explaining the technique here would take pages and pages, and I couldn’t explain it as well as Jay, so I highly recommend you check out his book Instinctive Archery Insights: Revised Edition, as there is a whole chapter (4) dedicated to it.

The second technique involves shooting blind. This technique helps the mind relearn that the release is associated with the acquisition of the. First, you choose a very large target area; you face that area, and then close your eyes.

Now, imagine a target in front of you. With your eyes still closed and with the target in front of you, go through the shooting process, and follow-through with your shot. After 4 or 5 shots, open your eyes, and shoot at an actual target. As soon as you feel target panic again, go through the whole blind shooting process again. This creates new healthy associations to target acquisition.

The third technique is very simple, and involves entirely removing the target and then practice shooting at a blank target for a few days or even weeks. This helps retrain the mind to get rid of the premature release confusion.

The fourth and last technique is the visualization technique, a form of self-hypnosis and mental training. This involves imagining you going through all the stages to shoot a bow with a perfect release. This means you start with the first step of locating the target and taking correct archery stance, up till the follow-through and the arrow hitting the bullseye. It is best to use this when you’re not actually shooting. This is a technique that has been used effectively by many popular athletes and is very popular when it comes to sports performance. The reason this technique works is that your mind is getting the practice, which in turns causes your body to get into the act of learning. I recommend using this technique whether you have target panic or not, as there has been research that demonstrates its usefulness combined with actual practice

In conclusion, you should now understand what target panic is, or at least the symptoms by which it is identified. There are also many techniques that I specifically oriented as archery tips to help whoever has target panic, and even one technique that could help improve the skills of those who do not have it. There is no harm in combining several of these techniques, and it is in fact encourage, so do them, get rid of target panic, and enjoy the sport again.

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1. Archery Lessons: Archery Release Activation Techniques
2. Archery Tips: How to Stop Hitting Your Arm
3. Archery Tips For Beginners

I made an earlier archery lessons post about the types of archery release available and provided you with some information about them, but I did not cover how they work and how you actually activate them.

A piece of advice for beginners though: Start off without a release and learn how to shoot a bow right first before worrying about getting a release. Check out some archery tips and perfect your archery form.

There are 3 basic types of release activation techniques with a few more subtypes:

• Squeezing
  • Whole hand
  • Small trigger
  • Big trigger
• Pulling
  • Whole hand
  • Grip Deformation
• Expansion

Squeezing (Whole Hand)

This technique involves squeezing the whole hand gently until the shot goes off, which works especially well with trigger releases. With this technique, it is usually a good idea for the springs in the release device to be stiff, simply because excessive sensitivity is not required.

Squeezing (Small Trigger)

This technique involves applying the squeeze directly to the trigger lever. The issue with this technique is that when a shooter gets what is called “target panic” (Which happens to a lot of people), they suddenly jerk the trigger, causing bad shots. For this reason, archers need discipline and focus to apply this squeezing technique effectively and correctly.

Squeezing (Big Trigger)

This technique involves squeezing the pinkie and ring fingers. This is less tension than working the entire hand, and makes the release rotate. For this reason, this technique works very well with rotary releases devices. In addition, if you’re using a thumb trigger, the trigger gets pushed into the base of the thumb which causes the arrow to be fired, and so the techniques works well with thumb trigger devices as well.

Pulling (Whole Hand & Grip Deformation)

Pulling is not exactly a separate technique in itself. The act of pulling causes their grip to behave as if they’re squeezing their entire hand, indirectly triggering the whole hand squeezing technique.

The other thing it does is induce grip deformation. Grip deformation takes occurs in one of two ways:

• The hand slowly relaxes, deforming the grip of the hand on the release device.
• You increase the pull, while deforms the grip of the hand on the release device.

With the first method, it is important to make sure not to let the release device fly down range.

The way this works is that deformation of the grip allows the release device to rotate in the hand, and when it’s a slow and nice deformation, this results in a nice and slow surprise break.

This makes it so that rotary devices work extremely well with grip deformation. When it comes to trigger devices though, with a thumb release, grip deformation looks a lot like a big trigger squeeze. This is because the thumb release will rotate with grip deformation, and it will set itself off by pressing into the thumb.

Expansion

Expansion is more complicated than the other release techniques. It is more used in recurve archery and has been in use since ancient times to break the shot, and was widely used in traditional Japanese and Korean archery.

The idea behind the expansion technique is to put a very small amount of extra force on the bow to open it enough to break the shot. Koreans shoot this way at the Olympics if you’re interested in checking out some videos of it. You will always take some archery tips from watching professionals, especially if you’re a visual learner.

For more info concerning the expansion technique, there’s a book about traditional Japanese archery that covers it in more detail entitled “Kyudo: The Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery” by Hideharu Onuma, Dan Deprospero, and Jackie Deprospero. It’s an interesting book that will surely provide you with many archery lessons.

In summary, it is widely believed that the best techniques involve pulling to induce grip deformation, or big trigger squeezing with a bit of gentle pulling, but it is important to know that you can combine the various techniques and that practice will allow you to figure out what provides you with consistency and comfort.

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1. Archery Lessons: The Archery Release
2. Archery Tips: How to Stop Hitting Your Arm
3. Archery Tips For Beginners

In the series of archery lessons, this article will provide and cover information related to the archery release.

It is most common to think of fingers holding the bowstring, but many people who shoot compound bows use a mechanical release device to hold and then release the bowstring when it is time to fire the arrow. The mechanical release device actually lets the string go without the archer having to hold the bowstring itself.

With that out of the way, it is widely believe that an archery release allows you to shoot more accurately and consistently. My advice is to try and perfect your form without using a release, and to put in use some of the archery tips covered in other posts before you think of using a release.

There are many companies that make archery releases. Some of the well-known brands include Carter, Zenith, and T.R.U Ball, but there are many more.

Before we go into more details, it is important to talk about safety in archery lessons. Release devices are dangerous. This is due to the fact that during the draw process, they often cross in front of the teeth and nose, which could cause injuries if the device is accidently released right in front of the face. This means that you have to be careful to not activate them as you’re getting to your anchor point.

With that out of the way, there are 3 basic types of archery releases: Rotary, Trigger, and Tension.

• The rotary device goes off when the handle is turned away from the portion that holds the bow string. These devices are sometimes called “back tension” releases.
• Trigger releases usually have a lever that gets pressed in to release the string. The lever comes in one of 3 locations:
  • Thumb: The most common style
  • Index Finger: Mainly used by hunters and is not always suitable for target archery
  • Pinkie
  • The tension release gets activated as a result of increasing tension, usually a slight pull at full draw.

The 2 most common archery release types are the trigger thumb release and trigger index finger releases.

The trigger index finger release usually comes in a wrist style where a strap is attached to your wrist and the trigger is release by the index finger. This type of archery release makes it easier to hold the bow back at full draw. This is one of the cheaper types of releases.

The trigger thumb release is more recent than the trigger index finger release, and is in general lighter and easier to use. It is usually handheld, and is activated by the thumb. This type of archery release is usually more expensive than the wrist style, but it is very easy to use.

These 2 types of releases are recommended for beginners as they are the easiest to use. Tension or automatic releases are not recommended for bowhunters because the sport requires a lot of patience and sometimes a longer aiming time.

This concludes the first of archery lessons regarding the archery releases. In the next article, I will cover the activation techniques of archery releases to get a better idea of how they work.

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One of the most common and annoying things that a beginner archer experiences when shooting a bow is having the string slash the bow arm. This article will provide you with the necessary archery tips to help you solve the problem.

The issue comes from the string not going straight back to its original position. What happens is that when the bowstring is released, the pressure of the fingers makes the string vibrate from side to side. This causes the string to go back and hit your arm, causing minor to serious pain.
Even if it’s not a big issue, archery is not about pain. This can get annoying and you want to make your experience as painless as possible.

The first thing you can try is to look at the fingers with which you grip the bow. Make sure your hand is fairly close to the inside but not too close. You can do this by checking that there is a straight line going down from the grip across the hand. If this is not the case, and there’s a large portion of your hand that is within that line, then adjustments need to be made. This type of grip puts too much of an angle from your wrist on to the bow, causing the arm to push into the string’s plane of motion. Otherwise, if your hand is too far out, the grip puts additional pressure on the thumb and the hand could slip out of the grip, causing the same backlash as when the hand is too far in. The correct hand position is in-between the 2 cases. This grip will feel natural and will flow right.

The next thing you can try is to position of your bow arm. In order to stop the backlash, it is important to position your elbow right. The best position that gets you a clear release is when you rotate the elbow inward and slightly downward. This gets your arm away from the string, and should allow your arm to avoid contact with it. It is important to not over-rotate and to keep the position of the hand steady.

These are the main 2 things you can do to stop the bowstring from hitting your arm. If they don’t fully stop this, then there are a couple of more things you can attempt.

The next thing to try in this case is to attempt switching your archery stance to an open one if you haven’t already. Opening up the stance will give you more space between the bow arm and the string, creating a larger triangle between the anchor, bow shoulder, and bow hand.

In a lot of archery lessons, the open stance is usually recommended for more advanced people who have already learned how to shoot with a closed stance, so it’s recommended to do the first 2 steps correctly before attempting the stance switch. With this out of the way, the way to obtain an open stance is to start out with a closed even stance, and then move the back foot (i.e. farthest from the target) a bit forward, so you end up with a wider stance. If you are a female archer, then you have most likely been already recommended this open stance to avoid the string hitting your chest.

If you have tried all previous steps and they are still not working, the last thing to check is if you are anticipating the shot. This is a common mistake among beginner to intermediate archers who extend their arm before the arrow is let go from the bow, causing them to throw their bow arm directly in the path of the string. This also usually causes the arrow to fall short of the target. The solution to this is to simply not anticipate the shot and to let the release be as natural as possible.

Correcting this takes practice. Practicing correct form is as important as anything, and no one good got there by just reading on correct form without practicing. These archery tips should help you avoid the string hitting your arm, and will allow you to put those burns, minor or serious, behind you.

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1. Archery Lessons: Archery Stances
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Stance is one of the basic and most important parts of correct archery form. It is the first step to shooting an arrow, and so is one of the first things taught in archery lessons.

The importance of stance in archery comes from the fact that a correct stance allows the archer to both distribute their body weight better, and to end up with more consistent shots. The reason for this is that the foot placement can actually affect arrow flight.  Your body has a natural centering point, and if your feet are not positioned correctly, the shot will be directed towards your centering point during the shot causing an inaccurate arrow path. When looking for archery tips to improve your accuracy, stance is one of the first steps to master before looking for more.

In general, there are 4 archery stances, each with their pros and cons. One thing to note is that all archery stances require the feet to be shoulder width apart, or at most a bit wider, with the weight evenly distributed on both legs.

Archery Even Stance

The even stance is also known as the square stance. In this position, the feet are in-line with each other and draw a line perpendicular to the target. The main advantage of this position is that it is a very natural one that can be easy to reproduce. It’s a good position for beginners to start with, but it also has several disadvantages. The stance provides but a small base of support in the front to back plane. This causes the body to be put in a non-sturdy position, so in situations with relatively strong winds, the body could be blow off balance. In addition, if the archer has a big or broad chest, then this stance will lower the area available for string clearance, possibly causing the string to hit the body or the archer’s bow arm.

Archery Close Stance

The next stance is the close stance. In this position, the front foot (i.e. closest to the target) is forward from the front of the body such that the heel of the front foot is aligned with the toes of the back foot (i.e. farthest from the target). It gives a stable support base and provides an excellent alignment of the arm and shoulder with the target. The stance isn’t without its drawbacks though. The close stance reduces the area available for string clearance, even more so than the even stance, which could cause the string to touch against the body. In addition, this stance tends to make the archer lean away from the target, causing the archer to often overdraw.

Archery Open Stance

The next stance is the open stance. In this position, the front foot is towards the archer’s backside, such that the heel of the back foot is aligned with the toes of the front foot. Similar to the close stance, the open stance provides a stable support base. The other advantage is that it fixes the leaning away problem of the close stance. Archers who use this stance are less likely to lean away from the target. Of course, there are disadvantages as well. This stance tends to make the upper body twist towards the target, and will make the archer use the much weaker arm muscles more than the back muscles during the draw, especially if the archer is opening up their shoulders too much.  This last issue could possibly be minimized if the archer squares their shoulders to the target, enough to use the back muscles to draw.

Archery Oblique Stance

The fourth and last stance is called the oblique stance. In many ways, it is similar to the open stance, and some instructors do not make the distinction between them during their archery lessons. For our purposes, this stance is a bit different. The archer places the big toe of their front foot on a line and pivots it 45 degrees to the target. The heel of the back foot is then placed in line with the big toe of the front foot.
The oblique stance has many advantages; first, it provides the best amount of clearance for the bowstring when arrows are released. Second, it puts the body in total and complete equilibrium. Third, it allows you to see the target very clearly, allowing for better aim. The main disadvantage of this stance though is that it is hard to maintain, and so is mostly used by expert archers only.

These are the 4 stances available in archery. Experienced archers believe that small stance deviations can cause sighting and aiming problems. For this reason, marking the placement of the feet on the shooting line when you’re first starting out is recommended.

The best archery stances are widely believed to be the open and oblique stances. There is a wide array of opinions on which stance a beginner should start with though. Some start beginners with a closed stance, some with an even stance, and others with an open stance. It is up to you to experiment and find what works best for you.

Do not forget that stance is one of the first and most important steps in your archery lessons. Practice and figure out what works comfortably for you. Once you have your stance down, then you can focus more on the next major steps in shooting a bow and arrow.

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1. Archery Lessons: The Mental Checklist
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An often overlooked part of archery lessons is that of the mental checklist. I provided earlier some archery tips oriented towards beginners to try and improve their shooting technique, and now I will show you how a mental checklist or program might be one of the missing links in perfecting your form.

Focus and concentration are key elements in the success of any archer. Competitive archers and bowhunters are often under pressure that could cause them target panic or otherwise cause their thoughts to wander around, affecting their concentration, relaxation, and focus, which leads to missed shots. In fact, when asked about focus and concentration, many elite archers have said that it’s easy to stay focused when you have a mental checklist to go through.

Definition: A mental checklist is a set of steps and procedures that the archer follows throughout the practice of shooting an arrow.
Different archery lessons and teachers could define this differently, but it all comes back to the same thing.

In general, this checklist is consistent when the situation is consistent. What this means is that the checklist itself could vary daily depending on the conditions in which the archer is shooting. For example, it is common for an archer shooting at a target on a sloping hillside to unwittingly cant the bow. The addition of a reminder to level the bow inside your mental checklist for this specific situation will change the checklist, but will allow the archer to fix their shooting technique when faced with the situation.

The mental checklist is a helpful way to proceed through the shot setup. It reminds you to focus on the necessary steps of shot preparation and leaves you very little time to be nervous or to focus on other things. For this reason, it is important to practice and rehearse it regularly to ingrain it in your mind so that it becomes a second habit that comes easy to you when shooting.

Everybody has a different shooting style. For this reason, I recommend you begin the development of your own mental checklist by identifying the keys to success that are pertinent to your shooting style. It can include a step-by-step list of assuming correct shooting form, as well as address the bad habits that you tend to fall into. You can also write it and style it any way you want.

Considering this, it doesn’t hurt to have some help, so here is a sample mental checklist that contains a skeleton list of the keys to success.

1. Stance

a. Assume stance
b. Nock arrow

2. Draw & Aim

c. Set bow hand
d. Set draw hand hook
e. Raise bow then draw
f. Anchor
g. Align the sight and level the bow
h. Steady the bow

3. Release & Follow-Through

i. Tighten back muscles
j. Relax draw hand to release
k. Keep bow arm up and steady

For an example of customizing this to your needs, let us assume that one of the mistakes you make that affect your aim is that you grip the bow handle tightly. This is a very common mistake among beginners, and to correct this, you might choose to add a reminder to the checklist between points c and d that says “Relax grip on bow hand”. When going through this checklist and you get to that point, you will notice that you have a strong grip on the bow and relax it. It’s a perfectly good use of archery tips inside your mental checklist.

To practice your mental checklist, copy it to a sheet of paper, and either attach it to the upper or lower bow limbs, or put it in front of you on the ground, written in a font that’s large enough to read at those distances. Use this checklist when practicing for the next 2 or 3 practice sessions, and then attempt to recite the checklist without looking at it. When you can recite the checklist without looking at it, start shooting without it, but make sure to mentally go through it on every shot. If you happen to forget, you can keep it the written checklist in one of your pockets to refer to it at any point during, before, or after practice.

In addition to this, you can practice by reciting the checklist out loud for every shot you take. During the anchor and aiming, it is usually better to do this silently to not affect your form.

The mental checklist or program will help you execute each of your shots consistently while keeping you focused and concentrated on what needs to be done. This is an important part of all archery lessons, and you will notice a big difference in your technique and aim as the mental checklists becomes easier to remember.

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1. Archery Tips For Beginners

It is natural for kids to become interested in archery. It is prevalent on TV, in movies, and in books. It’s also a relatively popular sport in many places. If you’re a parent that participates in archery, it will be natural that your kids will want to try it too, but before you give them any archery tips, there are several equipment requirements and precautions to take when it comes to youth archery.

The first thing to understand is that archery is not a cheap hobby. It can require a decent investment at first, but there will be no need to spend money for a long time until an upgrade is required. Many archery clubs can provide a bow when trying the sport, which can allow the child to try their hand at archery before investing in the equipment.

Youth Archery Bows

Archery is the practice of propelling arrows using a bow. This means that a bow is the main component of the sport. Many manufacturers create bows that are specifically oriented for children, and some of them even offer to upgrade the bow as the child grows. Considering this, the most important factors when buying a bow are the draw weight and draw length.
In general, depending on the kid’s size and age, a comfortable draw weight can range between 10 and 35 lbs. This is just an estimate though, and for that reason, it is a good idea to consult a specialist in youth archery bows when looking to buy one.
Figuring out the correct draw length is important for many reasons. It can affect power, accuracy, reference points, comfort, and more. A quick way to figure out the average draw length is to measure the arm span from the finger tips, and then divide by 2.5. It is recommended to consult a bow specialist to make sure you have measure the draw length correctly.

Arrows

Arrows are as essential as bows. Arrows need to be fitted to the bow’s draw length and weight. The best way to figure this out is to talk to a specialist when shopping for equipment.

Archery Quivers

Quivers help protect arrows from damage, and make carrying them easier. They come in a variety of styles and types. Some of them can be attached directly to the bow, while others can be attached to a belt or slung over the shoulder. The latter are recommended for beginners.

Bow Sight

A bow sight is a device mounted on the bow itself that helps with aiming arrows. It will help young archers deliver accurate shots faster. This makes archery more fun for them because they will enjoy hitting the target more easily.
Bow sights come in a variety of styles and prices. For a beginner, a basic bow sight with 1 to 3 pins should be more than enough.

Mechanical Release

A mechanical release has several advantages when it comes to accuracy.  It will prevent string twist, and help improve accuracy in different ways, but it is recommended to start off with a finger release before transitioning to a mechanical release.

Arm Guards

Arm guards are useful but not necessary. Beginners to archery usually have many form problems that could cause the bowstring the hit the archer’s forearm, leading to bruises. An armguard will prevent those bruises.

The Proper Way to Get Started With Youth Archery

Patience, discipline, and perseverance make an important part of archery. It is recommended that children be signed up to archery lessons in a local club at the start so they can be taught all about safety in archery, as well as the basics.

The equipment used in archery can be lethal, so it is very important to focus on safety and make the kids understand that bows and arrows are not toys, and that safety comes before everything else.

Once safety is made clear and understood, the next step involves teaching the child the basics and foundation of archery. This includes, stance, stringing a bow, how to knock an arrow, and the proper way of removing an arrow from the target.

For some simple yet important tips, you can refer to the Archery Tips For Beginners article.

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Archery is not as physically demanding as some other sports, but archers can benefit from more than just regular archery tips. Being a good archer requires more than just a good eye; it also demands powerful shoulders, back, arms, and grip. This can be achieved through some simple strength training.

Archery lessons rarely cover strength training, but there are many advantages to it:

• It allows you to increase the draw weight on your bow. A heavier draw weight allows your arrows to have a flatter trajectory during flight.
• It allows you to maintain balance and keeps you steady as you aim due to the muscles being able to handle more weight.
• If you’re into bow-hunting, it allows you to go for bigger game.
• It protects your joints and tendons from possible damage.

There are many archery exercisers out there on the market that can provide a decent workout, but unfortunately, it only allows you to train one specific movement. While it’s usually a good idea to include sport specific training, it is also very important to strengthen supporting muscles, in order to avoid imbalances that can cause injury.

Considering this, one of the most important muscle groups in archery is the upper back. It plays a major role in the pulling motion, and the stabilization of the bow and bowstring. It is important to have a strong back for both archery and regular day to day activities.

There are 2 exercises that I highly recommend for strengthening the upper back: Pull-ups, and bent-over rows.
You can usually do both of these exercises at home. You can get a door-mounted pull-up bar for pull-ups, and all you need for bent-over rows is some weight (usually dumbbells, or preferably a barbell). If you do not have access to dumbbells or a barbell, do not worry, there is a perfectly good replacement for bent-over rows that you can easily do at home.

Pull-ups work a large number of muscles in your back, shoulders, and arms. To perform them, grasp a sturdy bar with a firm overhand grip (palms facing away), hands at shoulder-width, then hang from the bar with your arms straightened. From this position, pull yourself up till your chin is over the bar, and then lower yourself to the initial position.

If pull-ups prove to be too hard, you can try doing chin-ups, which involve grasping the bar with an underhand grip (palms facing you). If this is still difficult, then I recommend you start doing negatives where you jump up to the bar, and then hold the top position for 3 to 5 seconds before lowering yourself down. Progress on pull-ups takes patience and time, but they will make you much stronger.

Bent-over rows work similar muscles as pull-ups. To perform them, hold a barbell with an overhand grip, bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward by bending at the waist until it’s almost parallel to the floor, making sure your back is straight. From this initial position, while keeping your torso stationary and your back straight, lift the barbell towards your belly while keeping your elbows tucked in close to your body.

If you have a bad back, I would recommend against this exercise. Instead, you can replace it with inverted rows. To do this at home, you need some basic equipment. What you need are 2 flat level surfaces with a space in between (2 chairs for example), and some kind of strong pole (a broomstick base might work). You then lie on your back on the floor under the pole, grab it, make a big chest, and then pull yourself up till your lower chest hits the bar. If you find this difficult, you can bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. Make sure your elbows are tucked in, you lead with your chest, and that you stay tight by engaging your abs.

While these exercises are perfect for archery, it is recommended you perform whole body workouts to avoid muscle imbalances. In the meantime, you can include strict push-ups and perhaps overhead presses in your workouts to balance things out.

To avoid muscle imbalance, it is a good idea to counter the pulling motion of these exercises with some pushing exercises. Strict push-ups are great for this, and so are overhead presses.

In conclusion, there are many advantages to strength training when it comes to archery. The combination of strength training and previous archery tips will help improve your archery technique and form with the goal of improving your accuracy and skills.

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1. Archery Tips For Beginners

One of the most important concepts taught in archery lessons is that of anchor points. In addition, whenever a beginner seeks some archery tips, they are always mentioned.

To understand the advantages of anchor points, we need to first define them: “An anchor point is defined as the place on an archer’s body, usually the face, where the hand and the bowstring come to rest consistently at full draw”.

This definition can be paraphrased in many ways, but it is simple to understand, and consistent in its meaning. Considering this, why are consistent anchor points so important in archery?

Consistent anchor points are important because they allow you to get a consistent grouping of shots, which can lead to improved accuracy with practice due to the consistent way you shoot a bow. If you do not have specific anchor points that you use all the time, then you will be shooting differently every time, and you will have a hard time improving your accuracy and being consistent with your shots.

There are 2 basic types of anchor points, each with its pros and cons; they are the following:

• Low Anchor Point: This refers to an anchor point that is usually on the jaw or under it, and is usually recommended for beginners. It has the following pros and cons:
  • Pro: This low under-the-chin anchor prevents overdrawing.
  • Pro: The mechanics of it allow for a 2-point contact on both the chin and the nose (the bowstring), promoting consistency.
  • Pro: The low position allows longer distance shooting with less sight movement.
  • Con: If you have large hands or a short neck, then this anchor point is not very comfortable.
  • Con: It takes time to position correctly.
• High Anchor Point: This refers to an anchor point that is usually lateral to the eye and more to the side of the face than the jaw. It has the following pros and cons:
  • Pro: It is a comfortable anchor for the majority of archers.
  • Pro: It is quickly established.
  • Pro: When shooting bare-bow, it allows the archer to site down the arrow shaft.
  • Con: It encourages overdrawing.
  • Con: It encourages creeping, where the arrow “creeps” forward during aiming.

Depending on your facial structure and the type of shooting you’re doing, anchor points can and will differ from one person to the next. That is why you need to find the anchor points that suit you best. They should be comfortable, and most importantly, consistent.

As a beginner, consider a small assignment for the anchor point archery lessons. To find your consistent anchor points with your bow, assume your stance, raise your bow, and then draw to a low anchor point with your eyes closed. Feel around for the proper position, hold it for 3 seconds, and then ease the bowstring back. Do this 10 times, and then repeat for the high anchor point.
This will allow you to find the anchor points that suit you best, and then it will only be a matter of practice to condition your muscles to the anchor points you have chosen.

In addition to this, practice with the archery clothing you would wear when you go shooting as to make sure that your clothes do not interfere with your form.

To summarize: There are 2 basic types of anchor points, low and high. Choose the one that suits you best and make sure it is consistent. This consistency will allow you to improve your skills and accuracy the more you practice. This concludes the anchor points archery lessons.

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1. Archery Tips For Beginners

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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