Just getting started

[CAT22]

Hello all. I've borrowed a wing slimline from my cousin and dedicated next season to recurve only. Have yet to get my own, but working on that. I need some shooting advice. I'm all over, mostly low right, but not always. Just all over. One will feel great and hit the arrow hole I'm looking at and feel perfect. I try and duplicate and the next one will feel perfect again and just sail. I've only been shooting a few weeks, so I'm wondering if it's still just a lack of time on the range or if I've got some form issues I've gotta work out. I apologize if this an elementary question, but any advice would be dandy. I'm shooting 45lbs and I'm not over bowed. I also know my arrows are over spined slightly, but find it hard to believe I'd have that much discrepancy at 15 yards. Ok, have at it!

[Mitch-In-NJ]

Hard to say without pics or, better, video.  My guess would be it is form.  Dropping the bow arm, collapsing a bit.  Read some of the threads here, Terry's form clock is a good one, and try to post some video.

[Possum Head]

Stick to 10 yds. for several weeks to establish form,strength and release.Be patient and practice as much as possible.You will begin to establish a pattern.Over spined shafts will cause frustration you dont need to start out.Find an arrow with good flight characteristics first and develope a comfortable and consistent anchor.You will catch on in no time.Stay close and best wishes.

[BowsanAiros]

Most of your problem is the distance you're shooting ...
You've just started out so I suggest starting close .. Like 8-10 feet or where your arrows level out ...
 Focus on smallest spot you can see and make sure you reach your anchor every shot...
When you have a flyer you'll know why and be able to correct that inconsistency..
It should take you more then a week or 2 to be back out to 15yds or farther ,just remember focus...
If you'd like some more help pm me..
Have fun and good luck...

[njloco]

Try doing some blank bale shooting before you possibly start to pick up some bad habits, this will help with your form, and don't worry about hitting any particular spot.

[moebow]

Bowsanairos is right, short range even 5 feet is not too close to start.  I would say though that you should not be worrying about a "spot"  or groups yet.  You must get your shot form into some sort of repeatable routine.  DO NOT WORRY about hitting anything until you have absolute confidence in your form.  Then you will be surprised how easy it is to hit something.

Aiming and hitting is the easy part if you leave it for the last part of your development.  If you are trying to hit first, you will be much slower at getting your form worked out.

[CAT22]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. Im headed out now to throw a few. I'll let you all know how it's coming soon.

[JamesJamison]

I'm in nearly the same boat as you.  I ordered a new Thunderstick 3 in early December, and it is supposed to be ready in March.  While waiting, I bought a wing recurve from an internet site, and have been shooting it.  I lost a few arrows early on, due to shooting to far.  Went to 10 yards, and kept shooting that distance.  Then back to 15, and now am keeping most of my arrows in a paper plate at 20.  I plan to keep shooting every day until deer season, then hope to smack some meat with trad. bow.   I just hope shooting a long bow, doesn't require something different that the recurve, or I might be going about this backwards.

[McDave]

There are 101 reasons for missing when you shoot traditional bows, and most of them are not obvious.  It is a quest you are setting out on, and the best thing is to enjoy the journey, because you may never arrive at the destination.

It works like this: you get to reason #22 for missing your shot, and suddenly you discover that your thumb was pressing against the bow and this was causing you to miss to the left.  You learn to relax your thumb and you are overjoyed to find that your arrows are flying straight at the target.  You think, "this is such an easy game!" as arrow after arrow flies into the spot where you're looking.

Then the next day, or the day after that, you notice that you're occasionally missing high, and can't figure out why, because you're shooting exactly the same for the high misses as you are when you hit your target.  Time for reason #23: you've let your focus drift to the point of the arrow, or some intermediate spot other than the spot you want to hit, causing you to miss high.

And on and on.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are at least 101 reasons for missing the target.  And I'm by no means an expert; an expert might have found 1001 for all I know.

But the reward is that if you shoot well-tuned arrows from a bow that is comfortable for you to draw, you will enjoy seeing the flight of each arrow you shoot, even if you are only up to reason #8.  And there will be days when you amaze yourself with how accurately you can shoot.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Well said Mcdave

[Wapiti Bowman]

All good info, however, most are assuming that you know what good form should be, look like, and feel like.  Maybe I missed something, but if you're just starting out, the first thing you need to do to get off on the right foot is to learn what good form should feel and look like.  The best way to do this is to get some lessons from a coach. If none are available in your area, another option is to get the DVD "Masters of the Bare Bow" Vol III, and study it. Then you need to work on a blank bale at very close distances in order to develop good form.


As moebow said,  

Aiming and hitting is the easy part if you leave it for the last part of your development. If you are trying to hit first, you will be much slower at getting your form worked out.

Above all, keep it FUN, and as McD so aptly stated:  

you will enjoy seeing the flight of each arrow you shoot,

Welcome to the Sport of Kings!