Almost everyone at least once thought about picking archery as a hobby after watching The Hunger Games. And, why wouldn’t everyone think about it? The adrenaline rush we got from all the shooting scenes is incomparable even today.
How to Shoot a Compound Bow?
Even though that movie has influenced us enormously to pick up archery as a hobby, it is an excellent hobby anyway. That’s because this activity allows you to stay in touch with nature, keep yourself healthy, and an adequate amount of adventure. Therefore, it is not just any hobby; it is an all-in-one hobby.
Let me guide you through some tips to hack this hobby.
1. Choose the Suitable Bow
If you want to shoot with a compound bow, you have to choose the right bow first. Unfortunately, you cannot just go to a shop and pick one for yourself. That is why you have to keep a thing or two in mind while buying your bow:
- Not always the most expensive ones are going to be the right option
- If you are an expert, you need to buy light, short, and the fast ones
- If you are a beginner, you need to purchase heavy, long and the slow ones
- Always go for those bows that will multiply the energy you are giving
2. Get All the Necessary Accessories for Your Compound Bow
Just buying a compound bow will not make you able to shoot correctly. You will need some other accessories along with it. I have prepared a list of all the essential accessories that one can need with a compound bow:
- A Release: A release will shape your firing to a more precise one
- Prong Rest: This will hold your arrow adjacent to a shaft until you shoot it
- A Bow Pin or a Sight: This is a circular object with a hook on it. You will have to place it according to your target before you shoot
- Quiver: You will need it to hold your arrows; it is more like a container
- A Stabilizer: A stabilizer will make your bow more steady
- Strings: You will need them to tie the ends of your bow before shooting an arrow
3. Discover the Nocking Point
After you have gathered all you need, it is time for you to dive into the process. At first, find the nock! It is on your bowstring. To find the nock or nocking point, you will have to do the following:
- Take an arrow and keep it on rest
- Rotate it in such a manner that the colored portion will face upward
- Now hold the nock with some pressure above the bowstring until you hear a click.
4. Discover Your Proper Anchor
This differs for every person. How you hold back your hand while pulling the bowstring is how you are anchoring. You can master this in two common ways; drawing your hand near to your jaw or cheeks. No matter which positions you choose for anchoring, stick to it. It is not like you can once shoot by anchoring near to your cheek and next by near to your chin. Therefore, whatever position suits you the best, stay with it.
5. Check Your Alignments
Alignment is another essential issue for an archer. An archer has to have his eyesight, anchoring, bow sight, arrow, stance in one alignment. How you manage will determine how successfully you will shoot your targets. However, the most crucial part of the alignment is adjusting the bow, bowstring, and arrow. If you can once master the method, nothing can stop you.
6. Get a Good Grip
No matter how harsh I sound, archery is not a hobby for you if you are someone with shaky hands. A firm grip is a key to success. If you cannot master it, sadly, you cannot move forward with this hobby. However, if your hands aren’t shaky few tips and tricks can make you a master. First, I would suggest you apply minimal tension to your bowstring. That is because too much pressure will move you from the actual target, and you will not even realize it.
7. Check Your Stance
Your stance is how you stand or your posture. The sturdier your posture, the more likely you are to be successful. Here are some tips to make your posture better
- Make sure your back is straight
- Make sure your shoulder and neck are relaxed
- Your head positioning is crucial; make sure it is directly pointing towards your target
8. Know Your Draw Length
Determining your draw length is an easy job. However, I have written the steps quickly and descriptively:
- Open your arms widely
- Measure the length from one hand to the other, keeping the unit in inches
- Now divide the distance by two and a half; that is your draw length
9. Aim Appropriately
Archery is nothing without proper aim. Thus, you have to master the art of aiming. At first, you have to determine your dominant eye. And if you do not know how to determine that, here are some tips that will help you:
- Use the entire draw length; some people also call it arm length
- Create a triangle with your thumbs and forefinger
- Try to look across the triangle
- Close your eyes one after another
- The eye that will manage to keep your target at the center of your triangle is your dominant eye
While aiming, use your dominant eye in the same process.
10. Make Sure to Put the Right Pressure
Determining pressure is a crucial job. You cannot put too much or too little. Even though this is a beginner’s guide, mastering the proper pressure only comes with a lot of practice. That is because there is no ideal pressure. It differs from person to person from style to style. So, you have to use some instinct here
11. Draw
After you have come across the previous ten steps, it is time for you to draw. Hopefully, you will be successful in getting your target if you follow these tips. However, while tempting, you need to stay very steady. If you move at this ending moment, that will ruin all the hard work you have done so far.
12. Maintain Consistency in Your Style
Once you discover all the right things about yourself, stick to it. It is better not to try new styles when it comes to archery. It takes years to good as a professional in one class. Then, of course, you can try multiple types, but only after you are an expert in your old style.
13. Keep Yourself Healthy
Maintaining a healthy diet is necessary if you want to stay with archery for a long time. Believe it or not, archery takes up a lot of energy. So, you don’t want to fall tired easily. That is why it is essential to have a healthy lifestyle to make sure you don’t get lethargic quickly.
14. Stay in Practice
There is an old saying that practice makes a man perfect. Therefore, if you don’t want to have a beginner’s status forever, keep practicing. With practice, you will discover new hacks and ways to make yourself better. Besides, you can turn this hobby into a profession as well.
15. Get a Professional’s Help
If you are a passionate person by nature, and you want to do it in the best way, contact a professional archer. These days, there are many schools for archery. And the good news is they are very reasonable as well. Therefore, you can consider going to them. After all, they can teach you practically – ‘How to shoot a compound bow.’
Wrapping Up
I hope my detailed guideline for mastering your compound bow will come in handy. So go out there today, and try these hacks. Actually, only shooting equipment & proper training from professional trainers cannot make you a good compound shooter.
It would be best to practice on your own ground to make each of your shots reach the right spot. Without practice & patience, no one can become a great shooter, and you have to understand it first. I hope if you follow the guidelines on how to shoot a compound bow and practice for a couple of months, your shots will be noticeable.
