Transition from sights to no sights

[targets3D]

I have been shooting for 6 months now with a basic take-down recurve bow with a plastic arrow rest and a sight (no stab, clicker or plunger). The idea was to learn form with sights then switch to complete barebow.

I removed the sights yesterday and shot 12 yards and just could not get any grouping at all. I tried POA and just plain instinctive yet nothing seems to work. When using POA, I would need to aim the arrow at ground to hit the target and it so seems so unnatural. Any pointers on how to proceed, I worry I got myself too accustomed to a sight.

[moebow]

Targets3D,

You are questioning yourself after only ONE afternoon???????

Be fair to yourself and give it a chance.  All the coaches I know will tell  you that if you don't work on something for at least twenty practice sessions, you won't be able to fairly judge a change in style or form.  Nothing worth doing will be figured out in one afternoon!

POA and instinctive are closely related but if you were to ask me, I'd say start at 5 yards and work on just pointing your bow hand (your bow hand is your front sight, just point it)  at a large target -- like a paper plate, or better yet no target just the back stop.  After doing this for a while you will feel the groupings starting to get smaller then move back a little -- Like another two or three yards.

After a while too, you will start to be able to see the point of the arrow at full draw out of your peripheral vision and be able to reference it to a spot below the target.  There's more but this will give you a starting point for weaning off the sights.

As they say, if you could do it in one afternoon, and it was that easy, anyone could do it and then what would be the point or challenge?

[targets3D]

thanks MoeBow. Sounds like a good approach. At least I now know to use the bow arm as a reference. My main concern is how one can correct form vs aim. With sights, if I aim in the same spot and I don't hit the target/group I know my form is off. No sights, no telling if it is form or my brain no registering to shoot in the same place.

Also, I completely agree that it takes time to develop instinctive shooting skills (more than an afternoon). I just don't want to be doing the wrong thing endlessly.
 
K

[moebow]

The same is true for shooting without sights.  If your are not grouping, look to your form first!!  Your form for bare bow should be essentially the same as with sights.  You may want to explore a higher anchor point --- I suspect you're used to an under the chin anchor.  Instinctive and POA work better with a higher (side of face) anchor.  Arrow still needs to be under the eye.

Shoot "form" until you are grouping to your satisfaction then AND ONLY THEN add aiming to your practice.  If you are grouping because of consistent form then moving that group to the bull's eye is a "no-brainer."

Good luck!!

[s_mcflurry]

The aiming part has to be learned through trial and error and repetition.  Each shot outside the group is being processed by your brain and it will compensate.  It takes a lot of muscle memory to be confident of your aim with barebow and especially so at longer shots where the parabolics of arrow flight is evident.  So, practice, practice, practice.

Your form changes very little, however.  If you were shooting olympic style, the only real thing that changes, like moebow mentioned, is likely to be your anchor.  But stance, alignment, steady bow arm, back tension...none of that goes to waste when you transition.  Good form is going to get you there; the groups will develop!

Keep at it!  But be patient and have fun!  After all...it's just archery.  

[targets3D]

Thank you all for the great input. I followed the advice and started at 5 yards. No really aiming but just focusing on one point on the target. I started to get grouping, while not where I was focusing, I assume this will come with time.

I must say that it is a lot of fun. I could not believe what a different experience it is to shoot barebow  

[reddogge]

You've been riser oriented shooting sights and you must transition yourself to get more "arrow" oriented if you want to shoot instinctive.  Use a higher anchor and kind of look down the shaft and project that into the target.  By trial and error you will make elevation and windage corrections and start hitting what you are looking at more consistently.  Gradually you will get to where the bow shoots where you look.

Oversimplified answer though.

[toolmaker]

Don't despair.  When I transitioned from a wheelie with all the associated gadgetry I went from routinely shooting my nocks off @ 20 and 30 yards to routinely MISSING the entire target @ 15 yards for the first week or so.  That was most humbling.  Gradually my groups improved.

Be patient; it will come with practice.  Even if your form is perfect, and your release and follow through are great, you need to program the proper range/sight picture into your brain.  This takes lots of arrows down range.

-Facts are stubborn things-John Adams

Good luck