Robert Hamilton II, February – All great athletes have habits or rituals they go through every time they compete. They may have a pair of “lucky” socks they wear all season without washing them. They may think a particular color of shoes makes them run faster. Maybe they always eat the same breakfast before a game. Archers are no different. While archery requires a healthy body, it more importantly requires a healthy mind. Some of the habits that I and some of my teammates have do affect how we shoot. Others simply make us feel calmer on the inside, taking some of the pressure off while standing on that line.
Habit #1: Practice in the same shoes you are going to wear in a tournament. There are lots of choices: Crocs, sneakers, cowboy boots. If you wear sneakers to practice, wear them to the tournament. Wear the same pair. If you prefer to wear cowboy boots in tournaments, wear them in practice. They make you a couple of inches taller and put more pressure on your toes. Height makes a difference for your aiming spot. A couple of inches can make a big difference.
Habit #2: Make sure your bow is in great shape. Is your bowstring a little frayed? Use bow wax or get a new string. Is your nock locator secure? If not, get it replaced or retied. Is the paint on your riser messed up? Take a Sharpie marker and outline the area or color it in, depending on the color of your bow.
Habit #3: Wear the same types of clothes. If you are going to wear a baseball hat, wear it in practice. Do you shoot in jeans, sweats, or shorts? I usually shoot in jeans. The two exceptions are at The Championship and the NASP-IBO event in West Virginia. The past two years in West Virginia, I needed a poncho, an umbrella, and a towel to keep my bow dry. But shooting outdoors is so much fun.
Habit #4: Find a way to calm your nerves. Is that deep breathing? Is that stretching before you shoot? One of my friends shuffles his feet, kind of like Happy Feet, before each end. It’s his habit. I raise my head just a little and bring it back before each arrow. I have done it since I started shooting. It’s my habit. It’s part of my 11 steps. And then there’s the gum. I always chew gum. This year it is Juicy Fruit.
Habit #5: Find a quiet moment before your flight time. Meditate, pray, or do whatever makes you feel calm.
Whatever your habits, keep them consistent. You can’t control if your target partner is 10 years older and two feet taller. You can’t control if your target partner makes weird noises every time they release an arrow or throws their arms and bow in the air if they make a bad shot.But you can control keeping how you shoot as consistent as possible, and that includes all of the habits you do every time before you shoot and while you are shooting.
