Brooklyn Johnson, February – Have you ever wondered why your arrows go to different places even though you are aiming at the same place each time? This is a common question that I’m sure many archers have wondered before. The reason that the arrows don’t go to the exact place every time is not always just based on you getting to your aiming point. It also has to do with following all of the other steps correctly every time.
There are many steps that are important to be consistent in. The 4 steps that have impacted me, and maybe others, include the stance, bow hand, aiming, and release. These steps are important because they affect your form, which overall determines where your arrows land. A lot of the steps in archery go deeper than what many archers know about, and the more someone learns the secret keys to these steps and practices them consistently, the more accurate shots they will have.
The first step that I believe plays a big role in consistency is stance. Stance is more than just standing on the line. It involves your hips and shoulders, too. You may get to the line and think, “Oh, I’m comfortable, so I’m good to go.” That’s great, but if you go up to the line next round and your stance is different, then that just changed your form. I know many people, including myself, struggle with stance and keeping it consistent. One way to improve is to check your stance every time you get to the line.
Another important step that improves consistency is the bow hand. This affected me a lot because in order for me to not hit my arm with the string, I had to bend my elbow. This caused me to be shaky and it was difficult to be consistent in it. However, bow hand can mean other things as well, like how you hold your bow or how tight you are gripping it. The main thing is no matter what you are dealing with, keep practicing, and you will become consistent in it.
Another thing that is vital to be consistent is aim. Aiming might seem simple at first, but there is more to it. A lot of times, when I draw, I don’t get to that exact spot on the target. So, my arrows don’t go to the same place. Also, being consistent in aim has to do with how big or small your aiming point is. In other words, archers who aim in large areas, like the size of your hand, will not have a tight group. However, archers who aim at a spot the size of an arrow will have a tight group. This can be challenging, but as long as you don’t give up, you can get there.
One last step that is important in becoming consistent is releasing. For example, if an archer were to release by flicking their fingers out, their arrows would follow where their fingers went. However, if an archer releases smoothly, letting their fingers “paint the face,” the arrows will go straight.
So, to sum it up, consistency is important. It helps to ensure your arrows go to the same place every time. All of this can seem challenging, and it is, but the more you practice, the better you will be. To make a habit is to do something over and over again, and that is what happens in archery. The more you do it, the more your muscles automatically know what to do. Soon, you will find that you are being consistent without even realizing it.