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Tips

Stance

Every shot begins with a firm and consistent foundation, which is built from the stance - get the stance wrong and the shot is always going to be inconsistent.

Feet shoulder / hip width apart, and in the same place every shot, weight very slightly forward. Do not lock the knees but keep them relaxed and firm. Weight evenly distributed between left and right feet. Do not arch the back - the back should be straight. Every shot begins with a firm and consistent foundation, which is built from the stance - get the stance wrong and the shot is always going to be inconsistent.

Elbow Rotation

Correct elbow rotation is one of archery’s simplest, but most important skills. This means keeping your bow arm’s elbow rotated straight up and down while drawing the bow and releasing the arrow. If your bow arm’s elbow doesn’t rotate straight, many problems can result, including a bruised inner elbow and arrows veering to one side of the target. To prevent problems, ensure the bow is placed within the bow-hand correctly (remember the Policeman's stop pose), and rotate your elbow straight before raising or drawing your bow. By having the bow hand positioned correctly and setting the bow arm elbow in the right way from the start, and then maintaining it's position during the shot, your upper body will be properly aligned, which results in a stronger shot and better arrow groups in the target.

Anchor Point

For novice archers, anchoring consistently can be a challenge. The anchor point is a spot on your face – usually the corner of your mouth (barebow) or just below your chin (freestyle) – where you pull the bowstring every time. To understand the importance of a consistent anchor point, consider what an anchor does for a boat: It keeps the boat from moving. Likewise, an anchor point prevents archers from placing their draw-hand in different spots each time they shoot, which would send your arrows flying in different directions. You can determine your anchor point with your coach's guidance. The most important part is drawing the bowstring to the same anchor point every single arrow. If you feel it changing, work with your coach on techniques to become more consistent.

 

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