Improve Your Archery
Before we answer the question of how to improve your archery we will take a brief trip back in time to discover a few key points about the history of this sport.
The bow and arrow makes its appearance in history as far back as the Paleolithic era when man utilized the equipment as an early weapon. This makes archery one of the oldest sports still practised within modern society. With many evolutionary changes, records reveal the first contests most likely took place 3,000 years ago in China. The modern sport of target archery known today is strongly linked to 14th century England. The English army considered the longbow their most vital piece of weaponry. The popularity of the sport flourished so strongly that a royal degree in 1363 encouraged all Englishmen to practice their aim on Sundays and during the holidays – a non-negotiable issue. Initially very few styles of shooting existed. However clout shooting (arrows arched high in the air) roving marks style (a style involving much more movement) and butt shooting (targets made of turf) became popular. An Olympic Sport In 1900, archery became part of the second Olympic games after touching the lives of races across the globe including ancient Middle Easterners, Byzantines, Mongols, Pygmies in Africa, Normans, and Eskimos. In 1920, the sport was dropped from the lineup because of a clash of international regulations. In 1972, the Olympics once again embraced the sport with the creation of a set of standardized rules. Whether as a competitive sport or a treasured pastime, archery continues to flourish today. Mechanics
Understanding the mechanics of archery is the first step towards improving your chances of hitting a target. The bow is a simple apparatus that transforms the energy stored when an archer bends the bow. The potential energy is then transformed to the arrow in the form of kinetic energy as soon as the archer lets go of the arrow. Control Archers eventually learn to control the variables involved in this pastime. such as the higher the initial velocity of an arrow, the faster and farther it will travel, to attain higher levels of skill in this pastime.
NECESSARY SKILLS An assortment of physical and mental skills is involved in the sport of archery. Hand-eye coordination, body control, trained muscles, the drawing and aiming of the arrow, focus, hand relaxation, arm strength, and steadiness are just some of the key characteristics that contribute to the success of hitting an intended target. Using a bow to shoot an arrow is a deceptive activity that tricks many into thinking it is an easy task. There are many factors that affect the flight of an arrow, including flight path, distance from target, wind, arrow length, initial angle, and arrow weight.
Technique A key ingredient in the recipe of success is learning the basics of the correct shooting technique. Accessories, like arm guards and finger tabs, helps to boost precision. It is, however, the key skills of: *good stance *draw and aim technique and *release and follow through that determines to a large degree the archer's success. Stance The stance is important because of the effect it has on weight distribution that is essential shot consistency. Foot placement also plays a significant role. As an example the oblique stance is hard to maintain but is preferred by many experts. An even stance is considered a natural body position, but can decreases string body clearance. Draw and Aim/Release and Follow Through An archer will draw and aim by holding the bow between their thumb and index finger. Relaxation of the fingers is a necessity and greatly improves archery results. When pulling the bowstring, controlled breathing is key. With proper body alignment, the bow is ready for rising, followed by target assessment and aim. After establishing focus the arrow can be released. A bow that trembles when first lifted or cannot be held steady for at least five seconds means the selected bow is too heavy. To increase accuracy, trained muscles make a difference. The back and the arms should point straight at the target and be in control when drawing the bow string. Muscle strength Muscle strength is highly regarded in the sport of archery where workouts to enhance upper body strength for improved bow hold support is highly recommended. In this pastime hours of fun are met with physically demanding characteristics that allow individuals to test their focus, strength and control and concentration to extremely high levels.
|
