Tip Bow

Beginner Tips on using a Bow?

I'm starting to use a bow and arrow, I'm wanting to lay off the guns. Can someone give me some tips, or even a video?
Haha, no I'm wanting more work. It's less messy too.

First off, what kind of bow are you using? Longbow/recurve or a compound? The reason I ask is, there are things you need to worry about when you use a longbow/recurve that you don't have to worry about when you use a compound.

With a compound your anchor is not that important for instance, with a longbow/recurve your anchor is everything.

The trick to using a bow, just like a rifle, is consistency. Everything need to be the same from shot to shot. If you can be consistent while doing a handstand and shooting with your feet, then that's the perfect form for you. Having said that, archery form has been researched through millenias of use. So there are certain things that are the same. These days the most popular form is the 9 step

1.Stance...feet shoulder width apart, parallel to each other
2.Nock...make sure the arrow makes a solid click on the string
3.Grip...hold the bow with a relaxed hand, wrap your fingers lightly around the grip
4.Pre Draw...with the bow pointed down, look at the target and lock your head in position, this is the first step of anchoring. Raise the bow up
5.Draw...draw the string back, with constant motion
6.Anchor...bring the string to your head, there are several different anchor points you can use depending on what type of equipment you have
7.Aim...put the sight on target...simple enough
8.Release...relax your fingers and let the string push the fingers out of its way.
9.Follow through...continue the motion of your draw hand naturally.

A little something about anchor if you're using longbows or recurves, like I said anchor is paramount. Without a solid and consistent anchor, it doesn't matter where you aim, you're only going to hit the target by luck. This is because unlike guns or the compound bow, longbows and recurves don't have a rear sight.

The anchor comes in two part, first part is the position of your head relative to the rest of your body, and the second is the position of the nock of the arrow relative to your head. So if your head move about from shot to shot, it doesn't matter if you always put your nock on the same place on your face it'll never be consistent either. This is the importance of locking on target during the pre draw stage. Once you acquire the target, lock your head in position.

Once your head is in position, you need to lock the rear end of that arrow relative to your head. This is usually done by touching your face with parts of the string or parts of your hand. For people shooting without sights, the prefered anchor is usually tip of the index finger by the corner of the mouth, or some people put the tip of their thumb by their cheek bone.

The most solid anchor, however is used by Olympic style archer. We can use this anchor because we use sights. This anchor places the rear of the arrow so far down your face that without sights it's hard to get a good target picture when you're up close. The point of the arrow will look like it's pointed at the ground. But the thing that makes it solid is that every contact is bone on bone. Here's the anchor, you put the string on your chin bone and the bone of your index finger is pressed firmly against your jaw bone. This anchor doesn't move about once locked in place.

I do suggest you find a shooting range near you. If you're in the US, try www.usarchery.org to find one. It'll help tremendously with your form.

Archery Bow Selection: Types

If you can think back a very long time ago to the Paleolithic era-that age when our great ancestors first learned that stones made handier tools than bare hands-then you'll understand how long archery has been around. Yes, as far back as ancient Egypt to the Assyrians and Babylonians, all the way to Hebrews of the Old Testament, archery has been practiced in sport, hunting and warfare since humans had hands. Today, though, we have the know-how to select archery bows that work best for our modern needs.

There are three types of bows used today, and variations of these even exist. Essentially, the basic three are the traditional longbow, the recurve bow and the compound bow. The longbow was used in medieval combat, because it shoots hard and straight. Often, too, the longbow is no taller than the archer using it. The archer can draw the string, take aim and shoot over long distances. The only downfall might be the cumbersome height and the long draw makes loading an arrow take longer. In hunting, this may be critical to the kill.

The recurve bow, by name, has a different sort of shape. The tips often curve and point away from the archer. Additionally, these two curves are set against the natural curve of the bow itself, providing more power with less bow height. Quicker turning and maneuverability makes the recurve bow especially good in woods and forest. When the recurve bow is strung (unlike the longbow), the string will actually touch the upper portions of the bow itself.

The compound bow uses the most of today's technology meshed with age-old wisdom. The compound bow enables the shooter to pull the string and "hold" it more easily. That is, when the archer pulls back on the string, two cams shift, holding the string taut in place. Not only does this provide more let-off (holding weight from pulling weight) and power, but equips the bow with more stability. This affords greater sight and aim for the archer.

Now that you have some idea of the basic types of bows (excluding the crossbow), it is easier to decide which archery bow suits you best. After which, there are other factors to consider when selecting an archery bow. One of the first, then, may be budget. The cost of the bows above can start under fifty dollars to the upper hundreds. Before you lay down the big bucks, be sure to test the bow before you buy it.

It's wise to have a basic understanding of the techniques for each too. You can often join a club or take lessons where the bow(s) will be provided. Moreover, buying a used bow for the first few months may save you several hundred dollars should you change your mind later. Go with the bare basics and move to the more luxurious later.

Additionally, it is smart to buy an archery bow that will benefit your cause. There are different reasons to use varying types of archery bows: These include but are not limited to hunting (such as deer hunting), competition (such as field archery and 3D archery) or simple personal enjoyment (such as at home target practice).

If you're going to be dashing through the woods chasing small woodland creatures, you won't want the same bow as used in target archery competition. Be sure to speak to club members, store staff and experienced archers before you select your personal favorite bow. Research before selecting your perfect archery bow will save you money and keep you from learning the hard way (more expensive way) later.

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