Archery is a great sport that almost anybody can engage in, regardless of age, gender and physical fitness. Though a great sport , but when it involves a bow and arrow, even the slightest mistakes can be painful and potentially deadly archers. It is important to know the principles and method to adopt while shooting a bow, and also when it not in use.
When shooting at a target there are somethings to consider like the bow, forms, influence of the environment and others. When fundamental principles and methods are ignored lots of things can occur like arrows veering off course, stagnant growth in your archery skill, bodily injuries and many others. That's why my team and I created this guide in order to point out to you the 8 common mistakes archers do and how to fix them.
1.INCONSISTENT STANCE:
Many archers don't really take this into consideration, as you might have notice in every sport there is a particular stance, form and positioning, call it what you will-to tackle or solve every task. For instance, Martial Art, there are different stances or forms of Martial Art like Kenpo, Hapkido, Tai Chi and others, but notice one thing, they all are still under Martial Art, the only difference is the form or stance used .They forget that the Stance is the foundation where all archery skills are built. It helps generate the needed power and balance to all parts of the body needed in archery.
Similar principle applies in archery, which also include different stances for different situation. Right now, I am not here to talk about the different stance used in archery, but the common mistakes-mistakes even some professional archers make. do you feel a shift or change in position from your feet after each consecutive shots? always be conscious of this. If your stance is faulty, it will reflect on your performance or each shot.
To ensure a consistent stance, apply painter’s tape on the floor where you practice. If you use an open stance, for example, place the tape so your foot alignment and toe position will be identical for each shot.
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2.ROTATE THE ELBOW:
This particular mistake is very easy to make, but also easy to correct. It's simplicity has slain many, I am no exception. While i was to still moving up in the world of archery, my teacher most often correct this mistake,i took heed to his correction, after some time, throw away caution,until an unfortunate day that I was injured on my left arm by my arrow speed,all because i did not take rotating my elbow seriously. Although to me i got off easy, but what will yours be, you might not be so lucky.
When drawing the bow, let your focus be on the eye of the elbow, ensure that the eye of your elbow form no other angle, but an horizontal line. You can achieve this by rotating your arm up and down while drawing the bow. As long as your bow arm's elbow rotates straight, then you do not need to be afraid of this common simple mistake like bruising your inner arm, your arrows veering off target and many other consequences many archers fell prey to.
3.FINGER POSITION ON THE BOWSTRING:
3.FINGER POSITION ON THE BOWSTRING:
When you place your fingers on a bowstring, do you take your time to consider the how you held or pulled the string, if it was correctly placed in the space between your thumb and finger which is good or are using all your fingers to draw back the string? If yes, then you need to stop. The positioning of you fingers on the bowstring can make your archery adventures memorable or a nightmare. While the arrow may look like it on the right direction, but once released it veers of course which can result in painful finger blisters an others things.
Like the mistake above this one also is easy to fix. The quickest and easiest way is to get a sling for your bowstring. The other solution is you doing it the old fashioned way. You'll do
well by ensuring your grip is relaxed and your bowstring is slowly pulled back.
A common draw method most archers used is the ''Mediterranean Draw'', where your index finger is positioned above the arrow, with your middle finger and the finger below it, are placed under the arrow. It can also be called the ''Apache Draw'', it a good method to start with.
4.SET AN ANCHOR POINT:
For beginner archers maintaining a consistent anchoring point can be challenging. This sometimes happens because the don't know what it is, how to find it. While there are some do, but maintaining it is the issue. The anchor point is a spot somewhere on your face- usually located on either sides of your mouth or below the chin. If an anchor is not maintained each time you shoot, the arrows will go to different places.
Finding your anchor is important.A boat for example has an anchor, once it's drop in the ocean, come rain come sunshine,the boat will maintain it's position. Similar principle applies to archery, if you want to continuous hit the bull's-eye or be the next Robin Hood, you need consistently practice till you find your anchor.
Finding it maybe challenging if you are one of those people that don't like discovering you anchor point through self practice. I would recommend you seek guidance from your instructor. All you need to know is making sure you're pulling your bowstring to the same spot every time you arrow.
5.TAKE YOUR TIME:
It imperative to know that you cannot bull-rush drawing your bowstring, shooting your arrow and expecting to to hit bull's-eye. I have heard and seen many archers do this, some are influenced by the actors they've seen on television. Here on planet Earth this don't work, especially in competitive activities.
As an archer, it's beneficial you develop a breathing routine before release. Doing this alone create a clear room within you mind that allows you to think about the shot, current stance and everything that will deliver the result, while also allowing free flow of blood to the brain, shrug off tension and any other form of distraction.
So take your time, clear your thought and removing any form of hindrance, one day you might find yourself with both eyes closed hitting the mark. Don't be surprise, I personally knew few people that achieved it, but only to a certain distance.
As an archer, it's beneficial you develop a breathing routine before release. Doing this alone create a clear room within you mind that allows you to think about the shot, current stance and everything that will deliver the result, while also allowing free flow of blood to the brain, shrug off tension and any other form of distraction.
So take your time, clear your thought and removing any form of hindrance, one day you might find yourself with both eyes closed hitting the mark. Don't be surprise, I personally knew few people that achieved it, but only to a certain distance.
6.USING THE WRONG BOW:
It has been researched and proven-professional archers know this that 80% of archery performance depend on your skill or technique, If you are one of those people using bows that are not compatible with you, know this, you are leaving a lot trophies meant for you on the table for other competitors to take and also impacting negatively on your chances of improving. No matter the bow you are using be it a compound bow, recurve bow or a longbow just ensure it's compatible.
If you are in an academy or have a an instructor, then you should not be bothered about this, because it is their responsibility to asist you use picking the right bow. You should also checkout Archery for Beginners, this contains in-depth wealth of knowledge that teaches you, all you need to know before purchasing any bow.
7.SIGHT THE STRING:
I have come across archers though good with the bow, but still make the mistake of not sighting their bowstring. This does not mean your complete attention should be on the string, but watch the string before you let your arrow fly. If it off to the side, it will appear blurry to your eye sight. For you to be out of the woods that you've made a good draw, the string should appear in an horizontal position to your eyes. Adjust your bowstring until it is horizontal to your sight before releasing it.
8.NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH:
It always tempting to many archers, especially those still green in the ears to bring down their bow arms immediately after release, instead of maintaining the same form. Do you not sometimes observe your arrows going low, instead of maintaining altitude. Even with the high level of speed being generated by to today's bow compared to then, this little, but significant mistake of relaxing your bow arm can cause you the the 10 ring. Fortunately, it can be fixed through consistent practices.Continue practicing till you are convinced you can follow through without thinking it, meaning until it becomes a reflex action.
CONCLUSION:
Like this saying goes '' a problem shared, is a problem half solved'', in this situation you are not sharing, but search within yourself, examining and proving yourself to see if you are guilty of all, some, few or nothing. once you know where you stand, it becomes easy to solve the remaining 50%.
Correcting each and every mistakes you find chipping away archery arsenal, doing this takes you a step closer to becoming a legend, even legend had their shortcomings. Not sure which one to start with, I would recommend you fix your Stance before moving to any other mistake(s). Why? remember I once told you that your Stance is the foundation where all you archery is and will be built on, if your foundation is weak, having no backbone it will tell. If there is anything that should be number one, it's this. Keep in mind, Legends were once amateurs.
Have any questions, am all ears and don't forget to share this without love once.
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