How to Shoot Compound Bow Accurately-BowArchery.com

Introduction-Shoot Compound Bow Accurately

The compound bow is a newbie in the world of archery. If you know your bows well, consider adding

this type of bow to your collection. The compound bow will enhance your skills, especially withits unique ‘let-off’ performance.

However, the process is not easy and learning how to properly use a bow
will certainly take time. For you to exploit the features of a compound bow,
you must learn the ins and outs of shooting from stance to
anchoring and so on. This article will take you through the compound bow
shooting process.

Tips 1- Shoot Compound Bow Accurately- Getting Prepared

As a beginner, choose a bow that gives a better proportion of energy to what you’ll put in.

Your bow should have high-quality strings that are not heavily used. Lighter bows are generally more expensive but will favor experienced shooters. Consider using a long, not-so-heavy bow for better shooting accuracy.

Tips 2- Shoot Compound Bow Accurately- Stance

The proper stance is an integral part of compound shooting. Your standing position should be perpendicular to the target. Standing in a perpendicular position might prove to be difficult, especially in real hunting situations.

Apart from the standing position, your shoulders should be wide apart and feet relaxed. You may hear coaches talking of open and closed foot placements during stance lessons, but it is really up to you.

Provided you relax your feet, you should be able to finesse during the positioning process.

Tips 3- Shoot Compound Bow Accurately- T-Form

As you pull the arrow back, try to square your shoulders and position your body in a vertical line. Your elbow should be about the same position as your ear- not too high or low. This way you’ll be able to use your back muscles for drawing and holding purposes. The horizontal line should run from the elbow of the pulling hand, through the shoulders, to the hand that is holding the bow. Combining both positions/lines forms a ‘T’, hence the name ‘T-form’.

When you target moving objects (during advanced stage) you must maintain the T-form posture. This means your upper body should move in-sync with each other as you shift target positions. Mastering T-form will come in handy when you shoot uphill or downhill.

Tips 4- Shoot Compound Bow Accurately- Elbow Flex

As you draw the string, slightly rotate the elbow of the arm holding the bow, and make sure during release,, it does not come into contact with the forearm. Most beginners prefer using armguards to
avoid elbow flexing accidents. You might go without one, but it won’t be smooth sailing.

Tips 5- Shoot Compound Bow Accurately- Anchor point

Knowing your anchor point will be the determining factor when shooting with a compound bow. But what is an anchor point? It is a reference point that helps you calculate how far your arrow will reach. It is a point that tells you to stop pulling back and release the string. When you reach this point, you’ll know that the drawing is right and you will be able to repeat the whole cycle consistently.

An anchor point can have several contact points and they all differ depending on the experience of the shooter.

Olympic archers, for instance, use both their chin and nose as contact points. They’ll pull the string up to their chin and use their nose as a second contact point. Compound shooters and bowhunters might have more than just one contact point. The first being the jawbones located directly below the ear lobes.

The second contact point would be the tip of the nose that touches the string, while the third contact point, the ‘kisser button’- a disc-shaped material that rests between the lips, is mostly optional.

Instinctive archers have more experience and use the corner of their mouths as the only contact point. These kinds of archers usually don’t aim and by using only one contact point they are able to focus their energy on the target rather than reaching all contact points.

Developing your preferred anchor point will only show after regular practice: so expect to lose some arrows on the way. But once you know your anchor points, you’ll have an easy time shooting targets.

Tips 6-Grip

What could be more important in bow shooting than grip? Well, if you fancy accuracy as much as we do, then you shouldn’t be holding your grip too tight.: You’ll unintentionally twist the bow and probably get your arrow off-course. For proper grip handling, consider the following procedure::

• Nock the arrow to your string and hold the end of the arrow with the help of a release ( or your
  fingers).
• As you maintain the backward pull, form an L’ shape with your thumb and index finger, folding the
  rest of the three fingers.
• Now fully draw back the string as you build pressure on the compound bow. Pull back the grip with
  your fingers to your hand as you gently release the three fingers that were forming the ‘L’.

As you move to more advanced stages of compound bow shooting, you’ll soon realize the crucial role gripping plays in hitting bull’s eye. After prolonged practice, you should be able to hold a proper grip with or without the help of a release tool.

Follow-Through

Similar to golf, the follow-through is extremely useful in archery. After releasing the arrow, maintain the same position, keeping your eyes on the target. The follow-through is more inclined to mindfulness than the bow’s physical motion. You need to hold your bow in the same position until the arrow hits the target. Lowering down the bow will ultimately affect the arrow’s movement.

How to Develop a Complete Drawing and Shooting Cycle

• Asses your stance
• Raise your bow with a relaxed grip
• Maintain the T-posture as you slightly twist your holding elbow for proper adjustments.
• Pull back sting until you reach the anchor point
• Make a soft release and follow-through until your arrow has reached the target

With this guide, you should be able to kick-start your compound shooting journey. Just be a little patient, as it will take some time before you get a hang of it. Otherwise doing regular practice should stamp the process into your brain muscles and shooting will soon become your second nature.