Reagan Trent, May – For the archer, few feelings compare to raising a bow, settling into the anchor point, and releasing the arrow down the range. It is a moment of laser focus and connection between the mind, body, and equipment. Mastering your anchor point is a huge bonus on the range. Its stability and consistency lead to tighter groupings, higher scores, and makes aiming adjustments easier. With the anchor ingrained through repetition, archers can focus more on the aim and release rather than reacquiring the anchor from shot to shot. Of the eleven steps in archery’s shot sequence, the anchor point plays a vital role in achieving accuracy and consistency.
The anchor point is the final position of the bowstring hand/arm before release. It involves placing the hand at a specific spot to anchor on the face. This consistent hand positioning allows archers to aim reliably. It also helps ensure the shooting form is replicated identically shot after shot, providing a locked-in reference point in hopes of a near-perfect release.
A solid anchor point is built from the ground up through the preceding steps of the shot process. An open stance, with one foot on each side of the line. Nocking the arrow first sets the shooting hand and allows the draw to begin. The bow hand uses a high grip, relaxed forearm, and wrist. Any grip tension inhibits movement during release. Raising the bow straight up, drawing the string back toward the anchor point using back muscles, not arms. It causes strain and could cause muscle fatigue. Finish the draw by extending and locking the release arm and shoulder outward while settling into the anchor point. This final hand/arm position should be awkward yet replicable. Consistent anchoring is critical to shooting accuracy.
Developing a strong and consistent anchor point takes time. It takes many attempts for each archer to find what is replicable and most comfortable. Though this is extremely hard, and I have had lots of coaches try to help me, it takes a lot of practice. Achieving something like this does not happen overnight, be patient with yourself.
Three main components combined for a quality anchor point are the hand point, head position, and rear arm/elbow. The hand positioning on the face provides a firm reference point. NASP® archers like us, compound archers, may anchor the string at the corner of the mouth or tip of the nose against the string. The rear elbow should be rotated to create a deeper anchor with more firmly engaged back muscles. This adds stability and reduces inconsistent movements.
Most archers find their groupings impacted more by anchoring inconsistencies than any other factor. Solidifying the anchor point through discipline, coaching, and harmonizing all the steps leading up to it unlocks archery’s highest levels of performance. For consistent accuracy, no detail is more important than locking into a solid, replicable anchor position before following through. It is the main habit that sets up every other technique and makes or breaks performance in competition.
Thank you to everyone reading. If you are going to Nationals, good luck to all!!
