Eleven Steps to Archery Success

Lesson Objectives:

Student archers will learn 11 steps to ideal shooting form.

FORM

1. Stance:

  • Straddle the shooting line with one foot on either side.
  • Both feet together and toes even or “closed”.
  • Move the foot closest to the target back so these toes are even with the mid-point of the back foot.
  • Maintain this mid-point toe placement and spread feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Turn (open) the front foot towards the target.
  • Imagine the shooter is facing a 12 o’clock position.
  • The toes of the back foot should be pointed to 12:00, parallel to the shooting line.
  • The toes of the front foot should point towards 10:00 for a right-handed shooter and 2:00 for a left-handed shooter.
  • Stand vertical with head up and knees firm with slight pressure on the inside of both knees and feet.

2. Nock Arrow:

  • With bow in bow hand remove arrow from the quiver, grasping arrow below fletching
  • Keeping the bow as vertical as possible
  • Carry the arrow up and over the top of the bow.
  • With the different colored “index feather” towards shooter, snap the nock under or between the nock locator(s).
  • Place the arrow shaft on the arrow rest.

3. Drawing Hand Set: Same for the string bow and the real bow.

  • With bow hand pointed down, hook the string immediately under the nock at least to the first joint of the 1st and 3rd finger and slightly inside this joint of the middle finger.
  • Keep the back of the hand flat, thumb down, and relaxed.

4. Bow Hand Set: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • Place hand in the bow grip with the meaty part of the thumb inside the grip to the lifeline of the palm.
  • The lifeline should be aligned over the bow grip’s center.
  • When set, the bow hand knuckles form a 30 degree angle.
  • Rotate the elbow down to the left (for right handed archer).

SHOT EXECUTION

5. Pre-Draw: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • Starting with bow arm hanging at the side
  • Lift bow arm, hinging at the shoulder to keep shoulders level.
  • The drawing hand will remain hooked around the bow string with the bow un-drawn.
  • The drawing arm will be slightly higher than the bow arm.

6. Draw: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • Draw the string toward the right side of the face (RH archer) by rotating hips and shoulder around until the elbow is slightly in front of the arrow line.
  • Feels like getting in behind the bow. Should feel upper back muscles being activated.

7. Anchor: Same for the string bow and the real bow.

  • Place index finger at the corner of the mouth.
  • Keep muscles active while maintaining full draw.

8. Aim: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • The master eye is the rear sight and needs to be consistent in location as it relates to the anchor.
  • Think of sighting as an alignment between the eye, string, and front sight. In bare bow archery (w/o sights) the front sight would be either the arrow or some part of the bow riser.
  • Allow the bow to move naturally—a still bow is unnatural.
  • Be less aware of the target than the sight.
  • Keep muscles active during the sighting process.

9. Shot Set-Up: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • After anchoring and aiming, begin a slight rearward movement of the drawing shoulder, arm and elbow.
  • Initiate the release anytime during this movement.

10. Release: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • Release by relaxing hooked fingers and the back of the drawing hand all at once.
  • All arm and back muscles remain active during this process.

REFLECTION

11. Follow Through: Same for the string bow and the real bow

  • Upon release, the drawing hand will move rearward with fingers relaxed and thumb touching or near the shoulder.
  • The shoulder should hinge so the elbow can move down.
  • The bow arm moves forward then slightly both left and down.
  • Reflect -- Were drawing and bow hands in the proper ending positions as a result of having kept muscles active throughout the shot sequence? Did the shot feel good?