Practice

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Quality practice session can be as little as one arrow.  Its the quality not quantity that counts.  I would focus on great form and as soon as your concentration breaks down or fatigue just starts stop for the day or take a break.  Learn about blank bale shooting and look up Rod Jenkins at Safari Tuff.

Of course some days you just never want to stop because its so much fun.  Those days are "fun" not practice.  

You never stop learning when it come to trad archery.

[sheepdogreno]

I spend a lot of time shooting at 8yds in my garage working on form now that its cold out. I shoot outside when I can. Either way I always make myself stop when I start to get tired because it will just frustrate u!

[Tradcat]

LOL....KSCATTRAPR ! I was thinking the same thing

[mcgroundstalker]

Practice should be kept interesting and not feel like work...

... mike ...    ...

[finkm1]

I practice as much as I can because I like shooting my bows. My niebors think its a little strange to snow blow a path to my 3d deer and shoot in January and February when it is cold and snowy out. Its relaxing shooting on a nice spring or summer evening while enjoying a couple adult beverages. I chuckle to myself when I here certain people say "I shoot a crossbow because I don't have time to practice" they don't know what they are missing.

[Charlie3]

Hahaha great to see the Allen Iverson quote! That's the first thing I though too.

I'm a big believer in shooting at a NAA or similar target. My practice sessions typically consist of 5 or 6 warm up shots, 10 rds of 3 arrows at a NAA recurve target from 20 yards for score, then I'll practice either hunting situation shots at 3-D targets or shooting from 30-40 yards. Scoring is important to gauge your progress. Trust me on this- on a day you feel you are shooting poorly, you will often find that your score is not that far off your average...this helps encourage me.

[Charlie3]

For all you geezers/non sports fans  

 

[Scott Barr]

I practice most days. It's an addiction. Ha ha. I try to hold my practices to one arrow at a time at different distances and stop while shooting well. I say "try" because some days I shoot longer than I should and my concentration breaks down. I'll shoot longer periods when I'm blank bail shooting for form.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You only get back what you put into this sport, or any sport for that matter. There are always going to be athletes that have a natural ability that you'll never catch up too no matter how much practice you do.....

The thing to remember with archery is that this is a physically demanding sport. The better shape you stay in, the easier it is going to be. I'm all for practicing form, and working on improving accuracy and consistency. But its just as important to spend time drawing that bow regularly and exercising your upper body even when you cant get out and shoot.... It takes a commitment... the guys that are really good at this, work at it.

[durp]

what kirkll said...some people just dont need or like to practice...my son is one of them...he only shoots just before he hunts and only a few arrows and he's just plain good on animals...cant remember him missing with a stick bow BUT put a compound in his hand and he'll miss more times than not    

me on the other hand...i love to shoot and have for over 50 years...i shoot daily if possible and dont count arrows and dont shoot groups...weather is a none factor (it's just like hunting)i just do it and LOVE IT !!!

[Jake Scott]

Shooting a bow is something I love to do.  It has a therapeutic quality for me.  I don't count arrows, but I shoot A LOT.  Sure, it can be overdone, but I approach shooting practice a lot like sports practice.  You don't get to be a great shot shooting five arrows a day.  Michael Jordan didn't achieve basketball greatness shooting five free throws a day, did he??  There are guys out there that may not need to practice much to maintain their form and stay sharp.  I am certainly not one of them.

A lot of guys shoot one arrow at a time.  While certainly this is good hunting simulation, if your shooting technique and form are not well established that isn't nearly enough, in my opinion.

Shoot until you can hit your mark.  Then shoot until you hit it a lot.  Then shoot until you rarely miss. Then shoot more.  Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

When the chips are down, and you have Papaw buck with a brushpile on his head standing broadside at 8 yards....you've got this.  You've done it THOUSANDS OF TIMES.  I've been accused of "over preparing", my response is always the same.  There is no such thing.  I guarantee you one thing.  All bowhunters miss, especially young, green ones like myself.  Whether its the first shot at an animal, or the hundredth, do you think that one time a hunter has ever said "Man, I wish I hadn't practiced as much"????

Food for thought.

Have fun, and shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot.

Jake

[Hoyt]

I have to shoot as often as possible to keep my strength up. Lately..this yr it's been starting over with low poundage bow and working back up..many times..missed last part of Oct. and all of Nov. due to health.

But back on track now with my main bow.