Just getting started

[CRM_95]

So I started shooting a recurve for the first time today. No sight just shooting off the shelf. I've been reading tons of articles on gap shooting and instinctive shooting and all the different aiming methods.

I'm actually shooting ok close up. I'm not sure exactly how I'm doing it though. I do see the tip of my arrow and part of the shaft, but I'm not fucusing on it intentionally, I'm just concentrating on where I want it to go.

So my question is this. If you were just starting out and you had it to do all over, would you purposely try to learn to shoot instinctively? Or try to learn gap aiming. If it matters,  it's strictly for hunting purposes. I'm a hunter and don't see myself shooting for competitions or anything like that. What do you guys think is a better aiming method for hunting? Or is one better than the other?

[mahantango]

In my experience, having taught many people to shoot, using the arrow as an aiming tool results in  much quicker success. It simply gives the shooter a reference point and instant feedback as to why the arrow is going where it is.

[McDave]

95% of your accuracy and consistency with the bow will depend on your mastery of the physical skills of shooting form, expanding your awareness of what your body is doing when you shoot the bow, and increasing your ability to concentrate on the most important aspects of the shot and tune out distractions.  That is where I would focus my efforts if I were just starting out again.

Aiming methods are a distraction which could potentially slow your overall progress if you spend too much time thinking about them at this stage of the game.  Experiment with different aiming methods after you have learned good form, and pick whichever one suits you best.

[McDave]

Re-reading my first post, I can see that I really didn't answer your question.  For learning purposes, I would start with the instinctive method.  It is easy to switch from the instinctive method to a reference method; probably not so easy to switch back again once you start using outside references to aim.  However, to actually use the instinctive method requires that you concentrate all of your attention on the spot you want to hit.  I wouldn't worry about that so much until you learn good form.  Instead, concentrate your attention inwardly on performing each step of the shooting process correctly until you master that process.  Time spent shooting at close range into a blank bale without any target marks will facilitate your learning process.  Of course, that gets boring after a while and you want to hit something.  So take an arrow with a judo point and shoot at pinecones or plastic bottles in your backyard or a field somewhere to releave the monotony, but spend most of your time at this point in front of a blank bale.

[CRM_95]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still shooting quite a bit. The last few days since I got my bow have been a learning experience for sure. I've switched from split finger to 3 under and my consistency is getting quite a bit better.