How do I become a better archer?

[apphunter]

I got a bow before last season but didn't shoot it often enough to be proficient for hunting. I'm vowing to change that this year and just got done shooting some. I did fine at 20 yards or under but at thirty yards my group opens up severally and I would not feel good at taking a shot at that distance.


How do I improve? I know if I keep doing the same things over I'm only going to reinforce bad habits. What drills should I be doing to increase my accuracy and my range?

 

[N2TRKYS]

I always draw quarter-size dots on my targets and aim at those. Just keep practicing, until it becomes natural/automatic. I've killed deer before that I don't remember aimimg at. It got to be that automatic for me, may not be like that for every one. But, sooner or later you'll build that muscle memory. Good luck.

 

[camping1601]

If I could go back in time I would invest in an archery coach. All the practice in the world won't help if your practicing to do things the wrong way. You need to learn the right way to do things first and then learn to repeat them consistently.

 

[paleraider]

I did this last year as I it as the best few hundred dollars I ever spent on Archery. They go my form squared away and really helped tweak my arrows and bow.

 

[Brendan]

Agree with the Archery Coach - You can start by going to a good pro shop (Not bass pro, cabelas, etc) and pay for a lesson, and to ensure that your bow is set up correctly and fits you in terms of draw length and weigh, that your stance is correct and upright, your grip is good, etc.

After that - it's practice!

 

[theleo91386]

First and for most is making sure your bow fits you, after that it's making sure you have good form, then it's just practice. If you plan hunt with it drop the poundage down on it and work your way up. Your putting yourself at a disadvantage if you plan on hunting with it this year. Do yourself the favor of practicing with it and getting more accurate this year and by next fall you should be good to go. You say your groups are good at 20 yards but is that from just standing at the line and shooting or is that from practicing intentionally awkward positions that you could see in hunting situations?

 

[camping1601]

I'll bet I spent almost twenty years practicing and getting really good at doing things the wrong way. Once you get that squared away I would learn to work on my own bow.

 

[Boreal]

You can get better in three easy steps..

Shoot

Shoot

Shoot


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jaredgreen]

Archery, much like golfing, free throws, or bowling, is about proper motion/movement, then developing a sequence to repeat these movements as closely to identical as possible shot to shot. Don't get caught up in group size at first. Get some good coaching and shoot 100's of arrows at a blank back stop and develop a repeatable shot sequence. Holding steady (ish) only comes with time. Work on what you CAN control- form and consistency.

Once you start to achieve some confidence and consistency, start pushing yourself on distance. I spent A LOT of time rattling arrows together at 20 yards without any great strides in my accuracy. When a guy talked me into getting a large back stop and doing most of my practice at 100+ yards, my confidence and accuracy grew rapidly.

But that all starts with a foundation. Crawl first. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jmez]

I agree with all of the coach comments. I spent 20 years getting pretty good at doing things the wrong way. I could shoot pretty well to 40 yards but past that accuracy really suffered. I went and took shooting lessons and it has made a world of difference in my shooting.

 

[Nick Muche]

Absolutely perfect practice. Every shot, perfect execution and if you do make a bad shot, you know exactly why or what you did wrong. I enjoy shooting alone and really concentrating hard on every shot to the best of my ability.

Prior to that, correct draw length and correct form, fundamentals. I enjoy teaching new archers or helping them rather, they have way less issues than trying to correct someone who's been shooting incorrectly for years.

 

[5MilesBack]

The first thing I would do is make sure your entire setup is correct. I.e.......bow fits you. It's much easier if you're shooting a long enough bow to naturally get the string to your nose to help keep the right form. Longer bows are also more forgiving. So.....bow fit.......draw length perfect, not over-bowed, correct arrow spine, good accessories on the bow (sight, rest, stabilizer). Is your sight set for 2nd and 3rd axis? Do you use your bubble? How's your grip? Is the bow tuned?

After all that......THEN I'd worry about your form and what you're doing. Once you get all that setup, archery is easy.

 

[elkyinzer]

1) Visit a pro shop or experienced archer:
1a) Make sure your bow fits and equipment setup is acceptable
1b) Make sure you're tuned ok. Doesn't have to be perfect. I think too many guys blame the equipment when they should be looking in the mirror

2) Practice, practice, practice. I say frequency is more important than volume. I shoot at least 3-4 times a week but most of my practice sessions average about 6 arrows. Sometimes 1 arrow, sometimes a dozzen. Maybe a couple times a year I will shoot more than a dozen in one session.

3) Occasionally check your form. Don't think you have to hire a coach to do this (where does one even find an "archery coach"? I videotape myself once in awhile. Check the youtube if you need to see what good form looks like.

4) Practice some more.

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

Great advice above from several. Making sure the bow fits you correctly is a must and then getting with someone to help you build the proper form is another awesome idea. There are thousands of videos you can watch and books you can read. Once those two foundations are set you are in for HUGE improvements!

Then Practice, practice, practice!!

 

[mtswampfox]

Join a local archery club, preferably one that has 3d shoots. Make some friends have some fun and soak in all the good advice and bad, sort it out and become more proficient. Like anything else playing with yourself is nothing like doing it with others.......

 

[eLightfoot]

Do research. go on youtube, there are a million informative videos on shooting technique. become familiar with bow equipment, read reviews, learn the tech and what is going on when a bow is shot. Go to a shop and get properly fitted, both with bow set up and arrows. invest in quality, proven products, and target. Lastly and most importantly, shoot, shoot, shoot, and maybe shoot some more. Find a place you can shoot at least 70 yards regularly. I am new to archery but this was my approach and doing well. be obsessive

 

[RallySquirrel]

Join a local archery club, preferably one that has 3d shoots. Make some friends have some fun and soak in all the good advice and bad, sort it out and become more proficient. Like anything else playing with yourself is nothing like doing it with others.......

+10 on joining a local club. I bet you find someone who would help mentor you.

 

[N2TRKYS]

The only thing you have to do to become a better archer is have consistency.

 

[boom]

I got coaching session. It was a game changer for me. I find it takes me a way shorter period of time to get back into the groove after a long down time from shooting. I think my fundamentals are improved.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

 

[kodiakfly]

Yep, hit a reputable pro shop, even if it means driving an hour or two past a crappy bow shop. Just because a store sells bows or is a "dealer" doesn't make them experts. Get one you trust and stick with them. Or find a buddy that you know does it right. Either way, stick with one as your "anchor" and then branch out from there. Take advice from 10 different sources and you'll get 10 different pieces of advice. Pick one to bounce ideas off of and work with and it'll be easy as can be and not confusing. Hand in hand with that, make sure your bow is set up correctly and once those two things are set, shoot as much as you can.