Traditonal archer tips
Nov 7, 2010 12:05:12 GMT
Post by Freebooter on Nov 7, 2010 12:05:12 GMT
Hello all,
I woke up at 4:30 on my off day for no apparent reason, my heat is out, it is cold in here, and couldnt' go back to sleep. So I thought I would visit the old SBG boards and then thought I might post something that might just help some aspiring archer.
So, there has been a few threads pertaining to traditional archery; longbows, recurves, etc., and people have commented on shooting them, trouble they were having, observations, etc. I am no expert mind you, just a fan of traditional archery. But I do read, watch and study things to help me. For one, I have the book "Become the Arrow" by Byron Fergason. For those of you unfamilar with him, he is a sort of modern day Howard Hill who makes and sells bows, puts out "how to" books and videos/dvds, travels the world doing archery displays and trick shooting. and like Howard Hill, he is from Alabama also.
So for anyone wanting to learn traditional archery and/or better their skills, I recommend that book. Great book and informative and helpful. It opened my eyes to a few things and helped me. Also, watch anything you can find, VHS/DVDs, especially the old ones, on Howard Hill, Fred Bear, Byron Fergason, etc, in the field, hunting, target shooting, etc.. Watch their body motion, form, stance, hand grip, position of head and all, how they seem to aim. I saw Fred Bear put an arrow dead in the sweet spot of a Cape Buffalo in Africa from like 30 yds with his recurve, and Fred Bear was a true "snap shooter"! Snap shooting is when you draw and shoot with one fluid motion, no holding, etc., or maybe hold for a micro second before releasing.
And above all, it is imperative that you need to practice fairly regularly with your bow to keep your form, muscles, aim, instints, etc, all tuned in with your bow and shooting. I am pretty good; or should I say "Used to be"? Two years ago I shot two armadillos on the fun at like 20 or 25 yards. But now here lately I have gone about a year or more without even stringing my bow and went out Oct 16 (day after opening day for our bow season) and missed an armadillo at 20' like three or four times. Three with him sitting still, digging around, and the fourth when he finally ran off. Missed all three, and he just sitting there acting stupid. When I drew back, my "bow" muscles were weak, my aim, form, and coordination were totally off. And when I drew back for that split second hold I was shaking like a dog shitting tacks, and just basically sucked. Disgusted, I just got my arrows and went home. I began shooting at my target at least twice a day to get back "right. Now I feel a lot better, and am shooting almost like my old self.
Also, as for my own advice, and as I said I am no expert, but hold the same way every time, find you a good anchor point that you feel comfortable with and go to it every single time. For me, I put my "bird" finger's finger tip right in the corner of my mouth, every time ( I shoot split finger). Also, when you draw, lock that bow holding arm and don't move it, not even a quiver if you can help it, until you have released your arrow. If you snatch and move that bow arm, then your arrow will go which ever way you moved that bow arm. When you draw back, that arrow needs to be centered right under the pupil of your main shooting eye. I shoot with both eyes open, but I'm right handed and my right eye is my dominant eye and as I draw, hold for a split second before release, that arrow is in my periphial vision, lined up with the target, cntered under my pupil, and the tip is ligned right up with the target, how high or low depends on the distance. I am closed to being a snap shooter my self. When I draw back I hold for only a split second or so, just enough to line every thing up, get that gut feeling that it is good, and release.
Couldn't get back to sleep so I just thought I would talk archery for a moment. Anyone got any other helpful ideas and/or info, I would love to hear it. To me, an archer will never stop learning. I am always open for suggestions, advice, info, etc, as all archers should be.
Later,
Freebooter
Alabama
I woke up at 4:30 on my off day for no apparent reason, my heat is out, it is cold in here, and couldnt' go back to sleep. So I thought I would visit the old SBG boards and then thought I might post something that might just help some aspiring archer.
So, there has been a few threads pertaining to traditional archery; longbows, recurves, etc., and people have commented on shooting them, trouble they were having, observations, etc. I am no expert mind you, just a fan of traditional archery. But I do read, watch and study things to help me. For one, I have the book "Become the Arrow" by Byron Fergason. For those of you unfamilar with him, he is a sort of modern day Howard Hill who makes and sells bows, puts out "how to" books and videos/dvds, travels the world doing archery displays and trick shooting. and like Howard Hill, he is from Alabama also.
So for anyone wanting to learn traditional archery and/or better their skills, I recommend that book. Great book and informative and helpful. It opened my eyes to a few things and helped me. Also, watch anything you can find, VHS/DVDs, especially the old ones, on Howard Hill, Fred Bear, Byron Fergason, etc, in the field, hunting, target shooting, etc.. Watch their body motion, form, stance, hand grip, position of head and all, how they seem to aim. I saw Fred Bear put an arrow dead in the sweet spot of a Cape Buffalo in Africa from like 30 yds with his recurve, and Fred Bear was a true "snap shooter"! Snap shooting is when you draw and shoot with one fluid motion, no holding, etc., or maybe hold for a micro second before releasing.
And above all, it is imperative that you need to practice fairly regularly with your bow to keep your form, muscles, aim, instints, etc, all tuned in with your bow and shooting. I am pretty good; or should I say "Used to be"? Two years ago I shot two armadillos on the fun at like 20 or 25 yards. But now here lately I have gone about a year or more without even stringing my bow and went out Oct 16 (day after opening day for our bow season) and missed an armadillo at 20' like three or four times. Three with him sitting still, digging around, and the fourth when he finally ran off. Missed all three, and he just sitting there acting stupid. When I drew back, my "bow" muscles were weak, my aim, form, and coordination were totally off. And when I drew back for that split second hold I was shaking like a dog shitting tacks, and just basically sucked. Disgusted, I just got my arrows and went home. I began shooting at my target at least twice a day to get back "right. Now I feel a lot better, and am shooting almost like my old self.
Also, as for my own advice, and as I said I am no expert, but hold the same way every time, find you a good anchor point that you feel comfortable with and go to it every single time. For me, I put my "bird" finger's finger tip right in the corner of my mouth, every time ( I shoot split finger). Also, when you draw, lock that bow holding arm and don't move it, not even a quiver if you can help it, until you have released your arrow. If you snatch and move that bow arm, then your arrow will go which ever way you moved that bow arm. When you draw back, that arrow needs to be centered right under the pupil of your main shooting eye. I shoot with both eyes open, but I'm right handed and my right eye is my dominant eye and as I draw, hold for a split second before release, that arrow is in my periphial vision, lined up with the target, cntered under my pupil, and the tip is ligned right up with the target, how high or low depends on the distance. I am closed to being a snap shooter my self. When I draw back I hold for only a split second or so, just enough to line every thing up, get that gut feeling that it is good, and release.
Couldn't get back to sleep so I just thought I would talk archery for a moment. Anyone got any other helpful ideas and/or info, I would love to hear it. To me, an archer will never stop learning. I am always open for suggestions, advice, info, etc, as all archers should be.
Later,
Freebooter
Alabama