Makayla C, February – Hey Archers! I have a kinda silly question for you today—do you think footwear on the archery range really matters? Now, I’m not talking about the no open-toed shoes rule (we all know that’s because we don’t want any stray arrows bouncing back and hitting our feet—ouch!). What I mean is: do you think the shoes you wear when you shoot actually make a difference? Do you wear the same shoes every time, or just grab whatever’s closest?
For me and my team, footwear on the archery range is actually super important! Most of us always wear the same shoes for both practice and competitions. I know, it sounds a little strange, but there’s a reason! It helps our shooting stay consistent. You might think two pairs of shoes look pretty similar, but if you mix up the left shoe from one pair with the right shoe from another, you’ll feel the difference! Even a small change like that can mess with your shot or throw off your focus, especially when you’re on the shooting line.
For me, I always wear my “archery shoes” for competitions. They’re Converse high-top lifts with a two-inch platform—super comfy! I even drew some little doodles on them to remind myself to breathe and focus. One of my favorite archery sayings is “aim small, miss small,” so I wrote that on my shoes too, just to keep my mind in the game. (But, uh, make sure you get permission to draw on your shoes! It could end badly if you don’t.)
Everyone on my team has their own version of “archery shoes.” Some wear boots, others wear sneakers, or even Converse like me. The important thing is to pick shoes that fit well, have stable soles, and feel comfortable!
Not everyone has a special pair of shoes for archery, and that’s totally okay! But I’ve found that wearing the same shoes every time really helps my consistency. Your stance and form will feel the same every time, which lets your muscle memory take over. It’s helped me and my team a lot, and I hope it helps you too!
