Basics...

[Gtownviking]

So I've been lurking around on the forum, reading everything and here's what I surmise...

Other than having to pull the string back and releasing it...there is no "true" way or "right" way to shoot a bow.

Everything else is up to the individual.

What works for one may or will not work for another.


That being said though...I believe there are some basics to master that will help with consistency which I personally think is more important than accuracy. i.e., Chi Chi Rodriguez cannot hit a golf ball straight to save his life but he knows what his ball flight is going to do so he has adjusted for it and as we all know, he's made a fantastic career playing golf.  I believe the same approach can be made in shooting a bow.

So, I pose a question to you all....what is the one piece of advice (maybe top three?) that you consider to be basic and "must master" or do in order to achieve consistency?

[Ricker]

1. practice
2. practice
3. practice

Chi Chi figured it all out by hitting a lot of balls.  Just shoot a lot of arrows and try do do it consistently the same way each time.  When your muscles get tired stop for a rest or wait until the next practice session.

[pickaspot]

A consistent anchor, good follow through, and what Chupa said  

[Bjorn]

FOCUS on that spot.  

[LA Trapper]

Don't overbow
Learn to concentrate (on a spot)Don't let your eyes or your mind wander.
Your bow hand must be stable and not move

In that order.

Billy

[Sixby]

What LA Trapper said:

[Ragnarok Forge]

Practice until good form becomes automatic
Shoot every shot with repeatable form
Focus entirely on the spot you want to hit and nothing else

[Rob DiStefano]

find a good trad archery coach

good shooting is built from the ground up.  there is an ergonomic, unique basic form that will apply to each of us.  what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.  

many of us have 'stumbled' upon 'good form', and that's the long, hard way.  the smartest and fastest way to good form is in finding a good TRAD ARCHERY coach.  check with local clubs and national orgs.  

there is no substitute for learning proper fundamentals as they apply to you, not to me, and not to those other guys.  trust me on this.

Your form must be consistent, you must find a style and a form that you can repeat exactly, without much thought, over and over.  No amount of aiming will be any good to you until you have that first. Hill said "you won't be that far off at 50 yards if your form is right".  That is not to say that everyone should shoot their recurves like Hill shot his longbows.  My daughter moved to a Red Wing Hunter, we found things that she needed to adjust in her form to fit the bow, then she started to stack arrows like a machine.

[Wapiti Bowman]

First, congrats!, you've broken the code. The name of the game is "consistency". How to achieve it is the bugaboo. I agree with most all of the tips you've received.  However, Rob has given you the best advice to short circuit some of the long hours/years of work required to achieve that consistency: Find a good coach/instructor to get you on the road to building a sound foundation of form. Once you know what each aspect of form should feel like for you, there is no substitute, nor quicker way to make that form permanent than "blank butt" practice at 5 yards or so, eyes closed, focusing on each aspect of your form for several shots at a time; i.e., no tension in your bow hand; anchor point and all points of string contact; back tension; release; follow through. You'll have to formulate your own list and procedure. Then, start out each of your shooting days with this routine. And remember: Practice doesn't make perfect; it makes permanent. Only 'perfect practice makes 'perfect'/consistent. Good Luck! and Congrats! You've chosen to join in the Sport of Kings!

[McDave]

1.  Good allignment, from the fingertips of your string hand through your shoulders down to your bow hand.

2.  Increasing back tension through the shot and a subconscious release.

3.  Good followthrough.

[S.C. Hunter]

1. Think as little as possible when the shot counts.

  2. Trust your own natural form and practice.


  3. Pick your spot, trust yourself, think only about your goal not how to get there.


  Not in any order above, somtimes trying to hard allows doubt to creep in when that happens you may as well not take the shot. I can feel good with a miss when I trust myself. It bugs me to no end, when I think my mechanics were perfect and miss because now I lose my trust in what I thought was going to bring me success. You have to TRUST!

[canshooter]

Anchor and release are for me the toughest things to keep consistent and therefore perhaps the most important. Try to find as many anchor reference points as possible. If I find if my shooting starts going south (no offense to you southern boys)!!, usually my anchor has changed. I reference: thumb under cheekbone, thumb joint to earlobe, fletching to nose and string to eyebrow. this gives me consistent draw length and very little left right variance.

[mahantango]

What McDave posted. I'd add: deep hook and,obviously, consistent anchor point that is repeatable for YOU.

[zetabow]

Originally posted by Gtownviking:



 Chi Chi Rodriguez cannot hit a golf ball straight to save his life but he knows what his ball flight is going to do so he has adjusted for it and as we all know, he's made a fantastic career playing golf.  I believe the same approach can be made in shooting a bow.

 

You can slice\\curve a golf in flight, not seen that trick with an arrow.    

Good luck with you shooting, best tip is keep it simple and dont overthink it.  

[JDL]

Follow through!

[AllenR]

In The Traditional Bowyer's Bible, volume 4, Jack Hamm has a chapter on "Lessons From Target Archery".

One of the things that has stuck with me is a quote from his daughter-in-law, Mary:

"The key to being consistent, she advised, was performing the shot exactly the same way, every time.  Holding the bow, drawing, anchoring, and releasing in a manner that allowed precise duplication was the key.  Proper form had become "proper" because it was the easiest to repeat, shot after shot. .... The two most important aspects of form, as expected, were alignment and anchor.  Other  factors played a role, of course, such as stance, follow-through, and bow grip, but alignment and anchor were the most critical."

There is a lot more in the book, and I recommend that everyone read it.  

You can do your own thing and shoot any way that you want.  No one here will criticize you, but you will basically be re-inventing the wheel.  Humans have been shooting bows for quite a while now.  You can start over or build on what's been learned over the years.  Find a coach that understands alignment and anchors.  You will be years ahead on being able to shoot good.  What many here won't like is that the best coach for this may be a target archer.  Fortunately, most of them can adapt to more traditional equipment.

Allen

[champ38]

1. double anchor- base of thumb behind jaw , middle finger corner of mouth,this improved my alignment, resulting in all the benifits of proper align.
2.keep pulling

[BowsanAiros]

My best advice.....
There a few things you have to consider..
First and for most:(draw weight)..Are you comfortable with the bow you're shooting..
And can you come to full draw with ease.It will cut the learning process...
(Nothing more frustrating when you're not able or strain to pull the weight. Another words((being overbowed))

(Consistent anchor)Can you consistantly come to the same spot each and every time you shoot.....

(Start close)within 10' so you can fine turn …

(Focus) on the smallest spot you can see...(And only focus on that spot and nothing else)
(Move Back)once you've dialed in ..

(hand/eye coordination) shooting exercises that build hand/eye coordination. Which can and do decrease the learning process by months, if not years...
(Perfect practice, makes perfect)

That's More then a few I guess...

[Friend]

1. Achieve repeatable proper alignment
2. Relax. relax.. relax... and only use the muscles required to both draw and hold at anchor.
3. Complete follow through and have fun