Reagan Trent June – In the previous article I wrote in May, I talked about how the eleven steps are beneficial to your archery journey. The eleven steps are the structure of your personal growth, but you can definitely expand upon that even more as you develop your skills. You can personalize anything in your path if you think about it. You can do that by taking the steps and making them your own.
As you progress, things change and that is totally normal. Some habits you develop will work for you and some may need to be modified, but don’t be discouraged, it means that you are growing in a positive direction. Learning what’s right for you and what isn’t can really elevate your shooting. Think of the eleven steps as a foundation or stepping stones to build on. Eventually, the path will lead you to what shooting techniques are best for you.
The steps are not hard core or set in stone rules, archers can critique them and make them their own. No harm will be done if you switch a few things up. There does not even have to be eleven of them, I have nine different ones. I took out the steps that I already have down and replaced them with specific things that I need to remember. Personally, I have a problem with keeping my draw hand wrist straight. So I added a step right after nock so I can prepare my wrist before drawing. It may look a little strange to some who watch me shoot, but it works for me.
If there is something specific you want to add to your steps but do not want to replace another, that is perfectly acceptable. You do not have to replace it with another step. Archers have a variety of different steps no matter the number. It is all personalized to your own mind, no restrictions. Do what you need to do, you do not have to be worried about having too many or too little. It is always up to the archer, no one else.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Practice is a great time to try something new and see if it works for you. You will never know what sequence works best until you’ve experimented with what feels right. Give it a trial run and see if your shooting changes. If it doesn’t work out, go back to the basics and try again. Each archer is an individual and has a unique way of shooting. Sometimes it just takes patience and perseverance to find what steps work best for you.
Reagan Trent is a 2023 Student Contributor.
