Forgotten Archery

[Pandabean]

Oh dear, I just brought my bow down from the loft that I haven't shot in a few years since I was at Uni. Its a Win & Win take down recurve that is about 8 years old and I have forgotten most of what I used to do.
Used to do pretty well at my archery club, scoring about 500-550 in competitions (FITA?? It was a 60 arrow game with a possible 600points), that is with the full jingle jangle kit....stabiliser, sight etc. But kind of lost interest after firing at the same target every week and as a result my form suffered and couldn't hold the draw.

A few other things I have realised:

Took me a few attempts to get the string the right way round so that the nocking point was right. Didn't look right at first, changed it round and it was way off...then changed it back and it was right .
I was stuggling to hold the draw, even at 30-35lbs. I don't have a pound gauge to measure. My muscles could just remember how to draw it to the right position.
Its noisier at firing than I remember, quite a loud TWANG.

And the big one.....how much it stings when you hit your nipple!

I would really like to get back into it and been thinking of going simplier to some kind of American flat bow.

What is the best way to retrain in using the bow? The nearest clubs are about 20 miles away so a bit of a drive after coming in from work which is 30 miles away in the opposite direction. But I may consider it.

 

[mrcharly]

String, draw and hold then let down slowly 10 times. Do this at least once a day. That will start training up the muscles again.

 

[boatman]

Shoot it is the only way. That weight should be no problem after a very short while. How long do you want to hold the draw anyway? Of course one draws, pauses then releases moving only the fingers if possible. To hold for any time is to spoil the shot and adds to the strain on the bow. If you have a garden you only need 5 yards or so for a range, aim low. Shoot back towards your own house as it will then be your own windows you break. Layers of cardboard as a target and preferably an archery net (about £80) as a back stop but more cardboard or an old carpet perhaps. If the garden allows pile up a butt even. Aim low.

 

[santaman2000]

If you're thinking of changing bows you might like this site www.[B]3riversarchery.com[/B] They're not cheap but they're good.

 

[marcelxl]

Simplify, go field, go instinctive and don't look back!


in the meantime and if you know someone with land (safety first and all that) get a burlap (hessian) sack stuffed with plastic bags and other bit of polythene etc, that stops 'em (the arrows) dead.

You can get some nice traditional/field bows for not a lot......Would be good to have a try of them first though

 

[DaveWL]

Took me a few attempts to get the string the right way round so that the nocking point was right. Didn't look right at first, changed it round and it was way off...then changed it back and it was right .

Proof positive that bow strings exist in five dimensions - I've always said it and no-one believes me!

 

[Pandabean]

Proof positive that bow strings exist in five dimensions - I've always said it and no-one believes me!

I back up your claims and you can quote me on that next time you try to prove it to someone.

I think I may try drawing it 10 times a day and see if I can build up the muscles again.

Boatman - holding the draw was something that we did at our club, especially if using the jingle jangle gadgets at the target. I remember hearing that if your technique is right then you should be able to hold the draw comfortably for a period.

I may think about bringing it to the moot (just the bow without the jewellery) but I may get shooed off for it not being a traditional bow.

 

[dwardo]

Make sure to have a good stretch before you start drawing again or you will have to pour your self out of bed in the morning.

 

[Eric_Methven]

I may think about bringing it to the moot (just the bow without the jewellery) but I may get shooed off for it not being a traditional bow.

I'll have my longbow and american flat bow with me and you can have a play with them at the moot.

 

[boatman]

Boatman - holding the draw was something that we did at our club, especially if using the jingle jangle gadgets at the target. I remember hearing that if your technique is right then you should be able to hold the draw comfortably for a period.

Why would you want to hold for a period? Regardless of how good your technique is? I have never shot with ironmongery on my bow so perhaps one would need to hold the draw in order to review everything. Shoot bare bow, instinctively, and although scores may be less the satisfaction is much greater. If you can get out to shoot field or even clout so much the better.

 

[boatman]

http://www.sthubertsrangers.org/mediaeval_longbow_technique.htm