The earliest historical evidence of the use of the arrow probably dates back as early as 90,000 years ago. Ever since then, archery has played a crucial role in the evolution of man in times of war and peace. Early civilizations like Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Chinese, and Ancient Babylonians used the bow and arrow to win their battles in times of war, and the hunters used their arrows for hunting animals for food.
Over the years, archery evolved as a fun practice and a sport that many men, women, and children engage in. But shooting the arrow to hit the bullseye isn’t always that easy.
Olympic archers have to shoot their arrows to hit a target that is no bigger than a CD, and they stand a long distance away, so this explains why they might not be able to hit the bullseye every time.
But, what about you? Why are you shooting your bow inconsistently even though you’re not standing that far away?
The truth is that archery is a highly touchy skill, and every change in your position, grip, or stance can significantly impact your arrow’s accuracy. You might be shooting your bow inconsistently because you’re worried, you’re not standing right, or not holding the bow the way you should.
In this article, we’ll analyze the mistakes that you might be making while shooting your bow and how to fix them to shoot your bow accurately every time. So, let’s dive in.
Number 1: You’re not confident
This is probably the most common problem that might affect your shooting consistency. The pressure of shooting the arrow to hit the bullseye every time can be overwhelming, as it affects your concentration. Moreover, the stress can make your muscles so tense that it’ll eventually affect your shooting accuracy.
Before shooting your bow, you need to stretch and relax your muscles, as shaky hands, twitching, and fidgeting can all affect the accuracy of your shot. Breathing exercises are great for calming yourself down and warming up is essential to prepare your muscles. You should also be in the right mind and tell yourself that you’re learning and mistakes are essential to help you get better at what you do.
Number 2: Not enough practice
Just like everything else, practice makes perfect. This is why you need to approach each shot like it’s the one that will qualify you for the gold medal. This doesn’t mean that you should stress about every shot; instead, you should act like every shot count.
Arrive on time for your practice, and ensure that your equipment is ready. Be present in the moment and focus on the target while listening to your coach’s instructions. With enough practice, you’ll notice an improvement in your performance.
Number 3: Choosing the wrong equipment
Sometimes, you’re doing everything right and still end up messing up your shots because you’re using the wrong equipment. You should spend time choosing a bow that actually fits, after measuring the draw length, and picking the right arrows with the adequate draw weight and speed.
Everything should be fine-tuned and in sync to improve your shot’s accuracy. You can either go with paper or French tuning your bow to make sure that nothing will stand against you as you shoot your arrow.
Number 4: Wrong stance
The first thing you need to practice is a good stance because it’s the basis of your shoot. Although a good stance is crucial, a consistent one is even more important.
When you stand, your feet shouldn’t be too closed or too open, and you should try to maintain the same stance every time you hold your bow and arrow. Open your stance a little bit as you draw your arrow to stabilize your body, and practice this stance while holding the bow and arrow because their weight might impact you, especially if you’re not that experienced.
Number 5: Use different anchor points
You should use the same anchor points every time you use the bow and arrow because consistency is the key. Pay attention to where you rest your bow, where the bowstring touches you, and the position of the fletches.
By maintaining the same anchor points and repeating the same setup, you’ll be able to shoot your bow and arrow consistently. As you practice more, you’ll be able to fine-tune your anchor points to choose the most convenient ones.
Number 6: Inconsistent bow torque
If you feel that the bow is turning in your hand, then you probably have a problem related to the bow’s torque. This happens when you don’t hold the bow right while releasing the string.
To fix this problem, you should always place your hand in the same position every time you hold the bow and try to shoot the arrow. Holding the bow too far towards the end of your fingers will eventually result in torque problems. Instead, you should try to find more balance by holding the bow towards the palm of your hands.
Number 7: Your grip is too tight
Inexperienced archers are more likely to have a tight grip because they feel that this gives them more control. However, the truth is that this actually affects your shooting accuracy by altering the bow’s torque.
Instead, you should relax your hand and hold the bow comfortably. The key is to do everything patiently and confidently without gripping the bow too hard.
Number 8: Wrong release and follow through
After you’ve stood in the right position and held your bow properly, it’s time for the fun step; releasing the arrow. If you’ve followed all the previous steps correctly, a proper release will occur naturally and effortlessly when you’re ready to shoot. However, inexperienced archers are more likely to have more tension in the bowstring fingers, and this eventually affects the shot’s accuracy.
If letting go seems like your real problem, you need to practice releasing all three bowstring fingers at the same time. After that, your hand will fall back naturally to a neutral position, your chest will open up a little bit, and your back muscles will contract a little.
As an archer, you can either go with a dynamic release where your hand brushes against your face or a static release where it doesn’t, but most beginners find the first technique easier to master with an adequate follow-through. The follow-through is just as important as the release, so you should make sure that you’re not plucking the string or forcefully moving your hand to the back.
Pushing the arrow during the follow-through is another mistake that even some experienced archers make. You should try to keep your bow arm as still as possible as the arrow moves towards the target.
Final Thoughts
Shooting your bow inconsistently is a problem most beginners and some experienced archers suffer from. Luckily, by giving yourself time and following our archery tips, you’ll be able to improve your shot’s accuracy.
Practicing archery is a good way to learn about physics. Check out this article to learn why arrows spin in the air after shooting them.