Process Analysis

                          How to be a Crack Shot with a Bow

                There are many steps and concepts involved in being a crack shot with your bow.  First and foremost would be to find a bow that fits your body size accordingly.  Draw Length is important to being able to properly pull back, find your anchor point and steady your arms for a shot.  If you have a draw length too long, the string will end up anchored behind your jaw bone or heaven forbid your ear and surely rake the string right across your face.  Another idea to consider would be the weight of the bow in general.  If the bow feels too heavy for you then you will be opt to feel fatigue much sooner and find it hard to hold the bow steady.  Also, don’t try to act like a tough guy and wrench the poundage of the bow too high.  With a bow, pounds are rated as the weight in resistance to pull the string back.  Start off at a lower, more comfortable pound setting and raise it over time as your muscles build. 

                Next you must decide what type of hardware you wish to add to your bow.  This hardware may include a release, release hoops, peep sight, kisser button, stabilizers, various styles of rests and pin sights.  Some shooters still prefer to pull back a bow with their fingers but the modern day hunter/archer prefers a release and a small nylon hoop to clip into. Peep sights and kisser buttons are devises that assist you in maintaining the same anchor point when aiming with your pin sights at a target on every shot.  Stabilizers promote good balance of the bow and most have shock absorbers on the ends to reduce recoil when the string is propelled forward.  Another tool I have found useful is a wrist strap.  This will allow you to keep your hand/wrist stable and consistent during the shot.  Arrows of course are a must but as long as you are shooting the same size weight and length arrow, they should have nothing to do with your ability to shoot.

                Now that we have the equipment under control it’s time to put you in the shoes of an archer.  For the beginner, I would recommend setting a target at 15 yards.  It’s time to pop that cherry and lob some arrows at the target to get your 15 yard pin sighted in.  For this exercise we will be shooting a compound bow with a release, peep sight, pin sights and a drop away rest.  First you will stand on the 15 yard line.  If you are right handed, put your  left foot on the 15 yard line and point your left shoulder.  Hold the bow in your left hand and you will end up pulling the string back with your right hand.  Be sure to keep a shoulder width wide stance.  Click your arrow into the string in the designated knocking area right between the two ends of the hoop that are tied to the string.  Make sure your arrow is located in the right place on top of the arrow rest.  Next you will clip your release, which is already strapped to your hand, to the hoop which is attached to your bow string.  Raise the bow and point it in the direction of the target.  Slowly ease back the string until the bow has been full drawn back.  In a compound bow you will be able to feel the cams on the bow roll back and a great deal of tension will be let off of the string making it much easier to hold the bow back when fully drawn. 

                Now that the bow is drawn back, try to find a comfortable grip on the bows handle.  Be sure not to grip the stock too tight or twist it in your palms.  This would cause the arrow to travel in an undesirable path and direction.  The key to a good grip is to focus any force the stock has on your hand in the direction of the target.  Some professional archers make the “ok” symbol with their hand, only gripping the handle with their thumb and pointer finger which in turn, allows the bow to tip forward upon release of the string.  The other key factor in good shooting is a consistent anchor point.  This is where the peep sight comes in handy.  The peep sight is a small plastic ring stuck inside the string as a focal point for you.  Bring the string close enough to your face so you can look through this ring and find your pin sights at the other end of your bow.  When you have matched the pin in the center of this peep sight hole and the pin dot is on the desired area of the target, you are ready to shoot!  When you squeeze the trigger on the release, try not to flinch.  Follow through with your shot.  This means keeping your stance and the bow upright as if you were still holding back the string.  Do not break your initial pose until the arrow has connected with your target.  Repeat this process many times until you see a good grouping pattern with all of your shots.  If you shoot 4 arrows at the target and all 4 arrows are shooting high and to the right, move your pin sight up and to the right to adjust the sight accordingly.  This easy process of adjusting your bow sights is called following your arrow.  Using this process and possibly having a friend critique your shooting will slowly but surely turn you into a crack shot.