Any Tips on Fine Tuning Accuracy?

[BuckyT]

Lately, I've really been trying to fine tune my accuracy.

I've never killed anything with a trad bow.

I've been shooting like a mad man everyday after work and have thoroughly enjoyed my decision to acquire a recurve!

Lately, I've been tossing small 12oz water bottles out in the yard and stump shooting them.  I've got a 3 acre yard.  Built my house in a field!  I've got tons of room to shoot!

Well, I hit the water bottles, but a lot of times I'm barely missing them.  90% of the time I shoot an inch or 2 high, on center.

I want to dead center the bottle everytime.  

My main goal is to shoot big game with my curve.  Whitetails and Hogs.  Everytime I barely miss, I tell myself, "That's a dead deer/hog....", but, it still drives me crazy.

Now I'm telling myself, "That's a missed squirrel and that's not going to work!!!"

I do the same thing at close shots and at longer ranges.  Doesn't matter where I'm at, I still miss the bottle (laying down, not standing up a little bit high) more than I hit the bottle.

I guess I'm a perfectionist shooting anything.  I always get frustrated with myself if I don't dead center a target with any kind of weapon throwing some sort of projectile.

I'm looking for tips to really fine tune my shooting.  In a perfect world, I'd never miss.  But I know it will never be a perfect world.  I'd just like to make it slightly better. lol!

[BowsanAiros]

BuckyT.. The size of the target you shoot/focus on, determines the accuracy you'll get.

Try shooting up close, at the smallest target you can see, for a day or 2. That should tell you what you have
to work on. And should give you a good idea what I mean about size of target and accuracy.

[BuckyT]

Originally posted by BowsanAiros:
BuckyT.. The size of the target you shoot/focus on, determines the accuracy you'll get.

Try shooting up close, at the smallest target you can see, for a day or 2. That should tell you what you have
to work on. And should give you a good idea what I mean about size of target and accuracy.

Thanks for the advice!

I actually thought about tossing some golf balls out in the yard to shoot at.  Aim small miss small.

[BowsanAiros]

Ping Pong balls are good also, plus less damaging to your arrows.

[BuckyT]

Originally posted by BowsanAiros:
Ping Pong balls are good also, plus less damaging to your arrows.

LOL!  I can see that too.  Think I'll pick some up and go that route!

Thanks Again,

BuckyT

[hvyhitter]

Golf balls last alot longer than ping pong balls....use hex heads or blunts and you can chase them all over the yard.

[McDave]

It is fairly easy to lower the point of impact by a few inches by raising the nock point 1/8" or so.  Raising the nock point, within limits, does not have any adverse impact on arrow flight.  You have to be more careful when lowering the nock point, which is more likely to have an adverse effect on arrow flight.

Another way to lower the point of impact is to use a softer shelf material.  If your shelf is covered with leather, you can lower the point of impact by switching to Velcro.  If it is covered with velcro, you can lower the point of impact by switching to a Martin Rug Rest, or some other material that is softer than Velcro.

[NJWoodsman]

It sounds like you're already shooting pretty well, it's more your expectations that are the problem. The vitals of a whitetail are a lot bigger than "missing" by an inch or two. And if you miss a squirrel by that much, you don't have to track it!

Part of the allure of shooting a recurve is that better shooting is always just out of reach. Fact is, you'll never shoot quite as well as compared to a weapon with sights, etc. so you're not being fair to yourself in expecting that. Doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying!

[snakebit40]

Quote from Terry Green- "DO NOT aspire to be average, or be told that you will be average. You can be as good as you desire if you commit to doing so."

I'm in the same boat as you Bucky. I want to (and WILL) be as accurate as my friends that shoot compounds. I read a story about Paul Schafer that talked about how accurate he was. He was at a deer camp if I remember correctly, with a bunch of archers. Naturally a shooting competition started. Long story short Paul took second with a recurve against a guy shooting a compound. The deciding shot was at 80 yards and Paul missed the heart by an inch or so. So I read that and watch videos of Terry Green shooting and it just drives me to get better and be as accurate as compound shooters. So like Terry said, don't let anybody tell you to be just average. My two cents.

[BuckyT]

Originally posted by NJWoodsman:
It sounds like you're already shooting pretty well, it's more your expectations that are the problem. The vitals of a whitetail are a lot bigger than "missing" by an inch or two. And if you miss a squirrel by that much, you don't have to track it!

Part of the allure of shooting a recurve is that better shooting is always just out of reach. Fact is, you'll never shoot quite as well as compared to a weapon with sights, etc. so you're not being fair to yourself in expecting that. Doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying!

Yeah, I know I got about a pie plate or bigger depending on the size of the deer to hit and kill it quick.  Newbie with a recurve but a 20yr veteran of sticking whitetails with a "Wheelie Bow".

I'm never fair to myself when it comes to shooting.  I'm my own worst critic...  Keeps me striving and I've found that getting dead on balls accurate with a recurve ain't nothing like a compound!

It's a fun challenge and I'm loving every second of it.  Itching something fierce to take it after some game.  Going to be trying soon to take it after some hogs.  Then it will be whitetails in September.  Well..  Maybe some bushytails around Aug 15th. lol!

Appreciate the comments fellas.

Good Shooting to all of you!

BuckyT

[snakebit40]

I had a friend share some tips on sharpening your shooting. Take a cap off a bottle and but a 10 penny nail through it. Start close (5 yards) and try shooting the nail head. Once you start hitting it with every shot start stepping back. Then you can take a bottle and face it toward you. Start close again and shoot through the bottle opening. One of the most important things with this drill is shoot one arrow at a time. Concentrate just one shot at a time. Good luck!

[BuckyT]

Really appreciate the advice guys.

What I started doing was zoning in on the white caps on the water bottles.

I mean zoning in big time.  Never been that mentally focused on an object before shooting any kind of bow.

It made a very big difference!  I've only blown the cap off once at 20ish yards, but I started slamming the water bottles on a consistent basis, instead of shooting just over them.

I need a new supply of water bottles now.  My other ones are now shredded to pieces out in the yard!  lol!

[BowsanAiros]

Here's something you can also try Bucky .
Stand a few bottles up with the caps on . Put a hole in the cap and stick a Match stick
in the hole .
Shoot at them from different distances . If you can focus on the end of the match you
should see some major improvements as well.

[cjgregory]

What i like to do is to shoot long distances.  I've spent 2 or 3 hours shooting at 50 yards.  This is mostly release work.

Then I change it up and shoot progressions.  One arrow at each target. 10,20,30,40,50  Then keep cycling through.

The idea about long distance is mainly form and it causes you to concentrate more.  You will find that you will hold at anchor and settle in.  Great for target panic type situations.

The idea about progresisons is that I learn the arc of my arrow and it gets engrained in my mind at a subconcious level.  You can change this up any way you want.  I love having a distance range all to myself.

Oh, I forgot "reed shooting".  Learned this from Anthony Camera.  Take an arrow or even a long wooden dowl and stick it in the ground.  BAck off a good ways maybe 50 yards.  The idea is to have your shots in line with the "reed".  This will vastly improve your release.  Its an old english archer training drill.  just shoot away at it.  This drill forces you to concentrate on your release.  It is an amazing drill and your improvement can be measured within an hour.

[njloco]

I find out about many things by accident, last weekend we were at the Whittingham 3-D shoot here in NJ, and while I did shoot very well Saturday morning and afternoon, it was Sunday morning that I shot even better. The reason became pretty obvious, Saturday evening there was a blanket sale and I purchased a Hoyt Pro Medalist bow, made in 1963 and it is 70" and 42 @ 28. Now if you look at my signature you will see that all of my other bows are a little heavier, now I noticed how my form is easier to hold more correct and longer.

Sunday afternoon I shot two longbows and a recurve one after the other and had no trouble adjusting. It's like Terry and many others here say all the time, make sure you have good form and everything else will fall into place.

If you can, try a little lighter draw bow and see what happens to your accuracy.

Just my 2 cents, hope it helps.

[BuckyT]

Originally posted by cjgregory:
What i like to do is to shoot long distances.  I've spent 2 or 3 hours shooting at 50 yards.  This is mostly release work.

Then I change it up and shoot progressions.  One arrow at each target. 10,20,30,40,50  Then keep cycling through.

The idea about long distance is mainly form and it causes you to concentrate more.  You will find that you will hold at anchor and settle in.  Great for target panic type situations.

The idea about progresisons is that I learn the arc of my arrow and it gets engrained in my mind at a subconcious level.  You can change this up any way you want.  I love having a distance range all to myself.

Oh, I forgot "reed shooting".  Learned this from Anthony Camera.  Take an arrow or even a long wooden dowl and stick it in the ground.  BAck off a good ways maybe 50 yards.  The idea is to have your shots in line with the "reed".  This will vastly improve your release.  Its an old english archer training drill.  just shoot away at it.  This drill forces you to concentrate on your release.  It is an amazing drill and your improvement can be measured within an hour.

I've been shooting a lot at 40,50, and beyond.

Blessed with a very nice, open, backyard.

I've actually taken a lot of my practice habits of my wheelie bow and been using them with the recurve.  I always started out shooting 50yds with my compound and worked my way closer as my practice session went on.  I do the same with my recurve.

Always found that the closer shots 20yds and in seem like a walk in the park after shooting long range.

I don't start out at 50yds with the recurve, more like 35yds and work my way in.  After I shoot at the 10yd or so mark, then I just have a free for all flinging arrows from 40, 50, 60, 70, and yesterday I shot at 80yds for blankty blank, and giggles.  It's fun!

Don't plan on hunting in any setup where a shot is beyond 20yds, but I like shooting long ranges with the curve out in the yard.

[atatarpm]

Bucky the way I always put it is," I am not as good as I am going to be" , good luck to us all sir in our quest for Robin Hoods on demand!