Archery looks simple: pull the string and let go. Accuracy, though, comes from repeating the same steps in the same way every time. Learn them in order, with safety first, and progress comes quickly.
Safety first
A bow is a weapon. At every range:
- only nock an arrow when you are on the shooting line and the range is clear;
- always point the arrow toward the target, never at anyone, even when not drawn;
- never “dry fire” (release the string without an arrow), which can damage the bow and injure you;
- follow the range signals; many clubs use whistles: two to approach the line, one to start shooting, three to collect arrows, and a series of blasts to stop immediately;
- never walk forward to collect arrows until everyone has finished.
Taking a beginner course at a club is the safest way to start.
Choosing equipment
Beginners usually start with a recurve bow with a low draw weight, often around 15 to 25 pounds for adults. Too heavy a draw weight ruins form. Arrows must match the bow and your draw length. Wear an arm guard and a finger tab or glove. Find out which of your eyes is dominant: right-handed archers with a dominant left eye may shoot better left-handed.
The shot sequence
- Stance: stand sideways to the target, feet shoulder-width apart, weight balanced.
- Nock: clip the arrow onto the string at the nocking point, with the odd-colored fletching (index vane) pointing away from the bow.
- Grip: hold the bow loosely in the web of your hand; squeezing twists the bow.
- Set the hook: place three fingers on the string, typically one above and two below the arrow.
- Raise and draw: lift the bow, then pull the string back using the back muscles, not just the arm.
- Anchor: bring the drawing hand to the same point on your face every time, such as the corner of the mouth or under the chin.
- Aim: use a sight or a consistent reference.
- Release: relax the fingers so the string slips away; do not pluck it.
- Follow through: keep your position until the arrow hits the target.
Practice
Start close to the target, often 5 to 10 meters, and focus on grouping arrows together rather than hitting the center. Once groups are tight, adjust the sight to move them. Short, regular sessions beat long, tiring ones.
Bow types and competition
Olympic archers use recurve bows and shoot at 70 meters; compound bows, with pulleys, are also popular in competition and hunting. The international federation, World Archery, publishes rules and lists of national federations to find clubs. Archery rewards concentration and steady stamina; see building endurance. If you later take up bowhunting from a tree stand, wear a full-body harness at all times: see when a hunter should wear a fall-arrest system.
