Tip of the Day
To reduce lateral variation ( arrows going left and right in the same end ) make sure you line the string up on the same place in the bow window each time.
By lining the string up in the same place each time you are keeping your head in the same line. A major cause of lateral variation is changing head position so ensuring that your head is in the same place every time will reduce the spread of your arrows to left and right
Jargon
Bow window. The recessed area above the grip - sometimes known as the string window
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Thursday, 22 October 2009
No longer a novice
It seems only yesterday that I completed my beginners course. Hard to believe that it is really a year which means that I can no longer call myself a novice. Now I have to start shooting “grown up” distances rather than the maximum of 60 yards which I have so far confined myself to. Of course, I don’t have to really, but the end of my novice year feels quite significant and I feel I need to push myself further now.
So what has my first year of archery meant to me? Events are sometimes too flippantly described as being life changing experiences and I might run the risk of that accusation here. But, for me, taking up archery has had a considerable effect and become a significant part of my life.
Learning new skills, feeling pride in slow but steady progress, making new friends, enjoying the camaraderie of the club , breathing fresh air on the shooting field and travelling to tournaments with mates are just some of the benefits that I have received from taking up archery. All of these are thanks to the excellent atmosphere and support provided by the members at my club, AC Delco Bowmen, and especially the coaching team.
Perhaps the most precious aspect of archery for me is being able to shoot regularly with my daughter who completed her beginners’ course during the summer. Having such a shared interest is invaluable in developing a healthy parent / child relationship and I would recommend archery as a means of achieving such to anyone.
One of the great things about archery is that you can set your own, realistic, goals. Mine this year were to use a clicker comfortably and achieve third class “status”. I am pleased to say that I have accomplished both. Next summers target will be second class, shooting 70 yards with carbon arrows and a 36lb bow. Oh, and 500+ in a Portsmouth round.
High point of the year: my daughter achieving second class status after her first three competitive shoots.
Low point of the year: my effort at 60m in my first outdoor tournament, the Easter FITA. Every cloud has a silver lining though and my problem was identified as two fold. 1. Make sure your sight is parallel to your riser ( thanks to Adrian for working that one out) and 2. When shooting sighters make sure you know where the arrows are going / have landed. Resolved by the purchase of a spotting scope and getting a friend to stand behind and watch sighter trajectories. Fortunately things could only get better.
Best advice received: too much to mention really, but Adams tip about shoulder blades sticks out. “Keep the gap between them the same and move it towards the target”. Think about it and it makes sense!
So what has my first year of archery meant to me? Events are sometimes too flippantly described as being life changing experiences and I might run the risk of that accusation here. But, for me, taking up archery has had a considerable effect and become a significant part of my life.
Learning new skills, feeling pride in slow but steady progress, making new friends, enjoying the camaraderie of the club , breathing fresh air on the shooting field and travelling to tournaments with mates are just some of the benefits that I have received from taking up archery. All of these are thanks to the excellent atmosphere and support provided by the members at my club, AC Delco Bowmen, and especially the coaching team.
Perhaps the most precious aspect of archery for me is being able to shoot regularly with my daughter who completed her beginners’ course during the summer. Having such a shared interest is invaluable in developing a healthy parent / child relationship and I would recommend archery as a means of achieving such to anyone.
One of the great things about archery is that you can set your own, realistic, goals. Mine this year were to use a clicker comfortably and achieve third class “status”. I am pleased to say that I have accomplished both. Next summers target will be second class, shooting 70 yards with carbon arrows and a 36lb bow. Oh, and 500+ in a Portsmouth round.
High point of the year: my daughter achieving second class status after her first three competitive shoots.
Low point of the year: my effort at 60m in my first outdoor tournament, the Easter FITA. Every cloud has a silver lining though and my problem was identified as two fold. 1. Make sure your sight is parallel to your riser ( thanks to Adrian for working that one out) and 2. When shooting sighters make sure you know where the arrows are going / have landed. Resolved by the purchase of a spotting scope and getting a friend to stand behind and watch sighter trajectories. Fortunately things could only get better.
Best advice received: too much to mention really, but Adams tip about shoulder blades sticks out. “Keep the gap between them the same and move it towards the target”. Think about it and it makes sense!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Record Your Classification
Tip of the Day
Don't forget to let your clubs Records Officer know your scores so that he can work out your classification and handicap.
At the end of the summer season send your qualifying scores, together with details of where they were shot and which round they were shot in to your Records Officer. He / she will then be able to work out your classification for the coming year and your handicap.
Classifications and handicaps are too complicated to be able to explain quickly here, but here is a link to a site which is very useful in helping understand them and also provides an online handicap and classification calculator.
http://www.saints-sinners.org.uk/members/handicap_calc.php
Don't forget to let your clubs Records Officer know your scores so that he can work out your classification and handicap.
At the end of the summer season send your qualifying scores, together with details of where they were shot and which round they were shot in to your Records Officer. He / she will then be able to work out your classification for the coming year and your handicap.
Classifications and handicaps are too complicated to be able to explain quickly here, but here is a link to a site which is very useful in helping understand them and also provides an online handicap and classification calculator.
http://www.saints-sinners.org.uk/members/handicap_calc.php
Monday, 12 October 2009
Pulling through your back
Tip of the Day
If you are a right handed archer let your right shoulder blade follow your left shoulder blade towards the target when completing your draw.
Whilst struggling to "push" my bow corectly by "pulling on my back" and not my arms, a colleague pointed out that when completing your draw correctly, the gap between your shoulder blades should remain the same but migrate towards the target. That way you maintain the line to the target whilst increasing the power of the shot. This was a bit of a eureka moment for me as I instantly understood the feeling of what I was supposed to be doing. Now I just need to practice, practice, practice.
To get the correct feeling in your shoulder blades stand straight without a bow and hold both arms out at shoulder height, pulling your shoulder blades together. Then fold your drawing arm in to get to shooting position. This is what your back should feel like approaching full draw. Then practice moving your shoulder blades together towards the target. That is what it should feel like immediately prior to release.
My consistency has already increased using this technique and so looking forward to score improvements as well.
If you are a right handed archer let your right shoulder blade follow your left shoulder blade towards the target when completing your draw.
Whilst struggling to "push" my bow corectly by "pulling on my back" and not my arms, a colleague pointed out that when completing your draw correctly, the gap between your shoulder blades should remain the same but migrate towards the target. That way you maintain the line to the target whilst increasing the power of the shot. This was a bit of a eureka moment for me as I instantly understood the feeling of what I was supposed to be doing. Now I just need to practice, practice, practice.
To get the correct feeling in your shoulder blades stand straight without a bow and hold both arms out at shoulder height, pulling your shoulder blades together. Then fold your drawing arm in to get to shooting position. This is what your back should feel like approaching full draw. Then practice moving your shoulder blades together towards the target. That is what it should feel like immediately prior to release.
My consistency has already increased using this technique and so looking forward to score improvements as well.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Try something for the first time - Barebow
Tip of the Day
Experiment - try shooting barebow, it becomes great fun after some brief initial frustration. Probably best to start at one distance short of your usual maximum.
My daughter who started shooting after a beginners course in May had achieved two second class scores. To achieve her classification she needed a third and we thought we had run out of tournaments before the end of the outdoor season. At the last minute we found a Western series of rounds taking place about 25 miles away from home. A quick phone call to the organisers secured her a place wherupon I discovered that there was a senior shoot taking place at the same time. Only problem was that it was for barebow only. Having never shot barebow before and somewhat worried about making a fool of myself, I opted to shoot rather than sit and watch all day.
How glad I was that I took part. After a disastrous start at 60 yards, scoring a max of 11 and a minimum of "nil point" on consecutive ends, I finally achieved a score of 41 in the final end at that distance. C'est la vie! Fifty yards resulted in a marked improvement, only missing half a dozen times or so out of 4 dozen. No world beating scores but certainly enough to satisfy me and encourage me to try again.
Coupled with that and the excellent encouragement from the skilled barebow archers at the shoot, the experience certainly makes me believe that mystique should be cast aside and barebow shooting given a go.
My next attempt at doing something for the first time will be field archery. I had been wondering about how to find out about field archery locally so at the barebow shoot I was delighted to meet a chap from a local club who shoot field regularly. He invited my daughter and I along and we are both really looking forward to giving "field" a go.
And to cap a great day, my daughter, shooting a Short Junior Western, achieved her third second class score with which we are both mightily pleased.
Jargon
Barebow - archery without techno trimmings. No sight, long rod or clicker. Only a button allowed.
Field archery - walking through countryside, usually woodland between targets set up at various distances, some of which are known aand some of which need to be estimated / worked out!
Western rounds - imperial round of 4 dozen arrows at each of two distances
Short Junior Western - 4 dozen at 30 yds and 4 dozen at 20 yds
Experiment - try shooting barebow, it becomes great fun after some brief initial frustration. Probably best to start at one distance short of your usual maximum.
My daughter who started shooting after a beginners course in May had achieved two second class scores. To achieve her classification she needed a third and we thought we had run out of tournaments before the end of the outdoor season. At the last minute we found a Western series of rounds taking place about 25 miles away from home. A quick phone call to the organisers secured her a place wherupon I discovered that there was a senior shoot taking place at the same time. Only problem was that it was for barebow only. Having never shot barebow before and somewhat worried about making a fool of myself, I opted to shoot rather than sit and watch all day.
How glad I was that I took part. After a disastrous start at 60 yards, scoring a max of 11 and a minimum of "nil point" on consecutive ends, I finally achieved a score of 41 in the final end at that distance. C'est la vie! Fifty yards resulted in a marked improvement, only missing half a dozen times or so out of 4 dozen. No world beating scores but certainly enough to satisfy me and encourage me to try again.
Coupled with that and the excellent encouragement from the skilled barebow archers at the shoot, the experience certainly makes me believe that mystique should be cast aside and barebow shooting given a go.
My next attempt at doing something for the first time will be field archery. I had been wondering about how to find out about field archery locally so at the barebow shoot I was delighted to meet a chap from a local club who shoot field regularly. He invited my daughter and I along and we are both really looking forward to giving "field" a go.
And to cap a great day, my daughter, shooting a Short Junior Western, achieved her third second class score with which we are both mightily pleased.
Jargon
Barebow - archery without techno trimmings. No sight, long rod or clicker. Only a button allowed.
Field archery - walking through countryside, usually woodland between targets set up at various distances, some of which are known aand some of which need to be estimated / worked out!
Western rounds - imperial round of 4 dozen arrows at each of two distances
Short Junior Western - 4 dozen at 30 yds and 4 dozen at 20 yds
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Archery - a family sport
Tip of the Day
Shoot short distances with a junior club member to improve your style.
Last Sunday was a disastrous day shooting for me. I recorded my lowest score for a very long time. Didn't even manage a third class score at the Windsor we were shooting. Not quite the lowest score of the day but certainly the lowest from my club.
Happily however, this scoring low coincided with my daughter getting her first proper bow the folowing day. Having completed her beginners course a couple of months ago, her coach advised last week that she should now get some proper equipment to push her progress on.
So last Monday saw a trip to our local supplier whom I had known for some time had in stock a 23" riser which might suit. Having tried it out on the shops indoor range, purchase was made and we collected her arrows later the same day.
As a 12 year old, the distances she needs to shoot to enter competitions are 20, 30 and 40 yards, so on Tuesday at the club evening session we started at 20 with her hitting the boss consistently. On Thursday we shot again at 20 and then at 30 yards, with even better scores at 30 than at 20. On Friday she improved further at the lower distances and shot a few arrows at 40. Still managing to hit the boss most of the time and getting occassional golds and reds and regular blues.
This gave me the opportunity to shoot with her at lower distances than I normally shoot. So rather than concentrating on my scores, I concentrated on my style. I am pleased to say that it now feels much more comfortable again and my "groups" are getting tighter again.
It is great shooting with my daughter. Initial investment in something as expensive as a bow is always a risk, but I am very hopeful that her enthusiasm will continue and grow, especially as she has started off with the new bow so positively. It is a real pleasure to have a shared activity, as so many activities that young teenagers pursue tend to exclude their parents.
And the added bonus is that my style is beginning to recover and will hopefully allow me to improve again at my next tournament
Shoot short distances with a junior club member to improve your style.
Last Sunday was a disastrous day shooting for me. I recorded my lowest score for a very long time. Didn't even manage a third class score at the Windsor we were shooting. Not quite the lowest score of the day but certainly the lowest from my club.
Happily however, this scoring low coincided with my daughter getting her first proper bow the folowing day. Having completed her beginners course a couple of months ago, her coach advised last week that she should now get some proper equipment to push her progress on.
So last Monday saw a trip to our local supplier whom I had known for some time had in stock a 23" riser which might suit. Having tried it out on the shops indoor range, purchase was made and we collected her arrows later the same day.
As a 12 year old, the distances she needs to shoot to enter competitions are 20, 30 and 40 yards, so on Tuesday at the club evening session we started at 20 with her hitting the boss consistently. On Thursday we shot again at 20 and then at 30 yards, with even better scores at 30 than at 20. On Friday she improved further at the lower distances and shot a few arrows at 40. Still managing to hit the boss most of the time and getting occassional golds and reds and regular blues.
This gave me the opportunity to shoot with her at lower distances than I normally shoot. So rather than concentrating on my scores, I concentrated on my style. I am pleased to say that it now feels much more comfortable again and my "groups" are getting tighter again.
It is great shooting with my daughter. Initial investment in something as expensive as a bow is always a risk, but I am very hopeful that her enthusiasm will continue and grow, especially as she has started off with the new bow so positively. It is a real pleasure to have a shared activity, as so many activities that young teenagers pursue tend to exclude their parents.
And the added bonus is that my style is beginning to recover and will hopefully allow me to improve again at my next tournament
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Broken Arrow
Tip of the Day
If you shoot at a target with a wall behind it and no back netting - you will inevitably break an arrow or something worse.
So todays entry is not about a missing nuclear warhead, but just a multitude of ways to ruin your arrows, achieved recently by fellow novices and club members. My own effort was achieved in my garden on using my newly purchased small target. Did not want to pay high price for back netting and for safety purposes was shooting towards the house. Misjudged distance and arrow flicked off top of boss and into wall - ruined. Second shot miseed altogether and hit window. OOps - didnt go all the way through but made neat hole in outer layer of glazing. Gave up at that point. Still to try again!
No picture of that broken arrow I am afraid as it was binned but here are colleagues best efforts.
1. Against wall
2. Against bow riser - nasty!
3. Doing it properly the "Robin Hood"
way.
Jargon
Robin Hood - arrow embedded cleanly in the shaft of another arrow.
If you shoot at a target with a wall behind it and no back netting - you will inevitably break an arrow or something worse.
So todays entry is not about a missing nuclear warhead, but just a multitude of ways to ruin your arrows, achieved recently by fellow novices and club members. My own effort was achieved in my garden on using my newly purchased small target. Did not want to pay high price for back netting and for safety purposes was shooting towards the house. Misjudged distance and arrow flicked off top of boss and into wall - ruined. Second shot miseed altogether and hit window. OOps - didnt go all the way through but made neat hole in outer layer of glazing. Gave up at that point. Still to try again!
No picture of that broken arrow I am afraid as it was binned but here are colleagues best efforts.
1. Against wall
2. Against bow riser - nasty!
3. Doing it properly the "Robin Hood"
way.Jargon
Robin Hood - arrow embedded cleanly in the shaft of another arrow.
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