Big_man_huntin Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I am pretty new to the archery scene. Ive been trying to sight in my bow but i cant shoot consistently enough to do it. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks because I am getting pretty frustrated. The first two shots will be left and right about when Im ready to move the sight i shoot a last one and its dead on. The next time I shoot it is left again. I would really appreciate the help. THANKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Its all in form. Practice..practice...practice. Be sure you have more than one anchor point so you are drawing to the same position ever time. Sounds alot like your grip though, with the left and right action going on. Do not get a tight grip on the bow. The hand torque from gripping too tight will cause this as well. good luck:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 ohhhh.... Welcome to Realtree:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 being new to shooting a bow, more than likely your main problem is your grip. Most new archer feel like they need to squeeze the grip on the bow and this causes an exceptional amount of torque. Which is basically causing your bow to be out of alignment on the shot causing your inaccuracy. Just allow your grip hand to relax with your finger tips just barely touching the front of the riser. when your release the string don't be worried the bow will jump out of your hand, because it won't. If you have a wrist strap on your bow then there is no reason what so ever for you to gripping your bow at all, just shoot and let the bow fall forward. Welcome to the forums and let us know how its going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 If theres any phrase that could help you it's probably going to be this one: "If you do the same things over and over again dont expect different results" You stated that your getting frustrated...that's understandable. Trust me..It's happened to everyone who picked up a Bow in thier lifetime! Your attempting to shoot at a target and the arrow does not go where you wanted it to. The key is asking yourself the ultimate question: "Why"? Alot of questions that arise while shooting at targets are answered by this simple statement: "Something Changed"! Try not to overcomplicate things and try just to think about it as simple as a math problem. 1 Bow + 1 Human = ? Practice will remove help remove some of the frustration but only consistency on your part will remove the question mark;) The Bow is a constant. Once it is tuned properly for the most part it will continue to do what it was designed to do everytime. Probably the best thing right now to help you is to have your Bow checked at an Archery Pro Shop. You'll often find that people there are more than willing to help out someone new to the sport and possibly even give you a few lessons. Once any repairs have been made then you can start working on the Human part of the equation. I can already hear you saying to yourself: "I shot the same way I always do...so what just happened"? Adjust the Human part of the equation(most of the time that's what changed)...Then, if needed, you adjust your Bow;) Here's a helpful DVD that can start you out on the right track: http://www.hunterspec.com/updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=1648&categoryid=44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Get the Realtree DVD "Nocked and Loaded". T-Bone goes through setting up two new shooters and getting them shooting. There are other more in depth DVD's too. Welcome to bow hunting. Just a word of caution. Find a club to shoot at and get a mentor. It's not rocket science so stay away from those that make it complicated. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Get to a Pro Shop and let them check out your form and your equipment. I bought a bow from the big box staores that shot horribly. They really never gave me the time to check it out. At the Pro Shop they made sure my form was right first. Once they figured I was OK they narrowed the issue down to the equipment. Some fixes and a few buck later and the bow shot well. I feel the hands on help with a Pro is the best way to get it all working together. rely on a good expert that shows the patience and time to work with you. Money well spent. Then, get a archery target and practice! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Its all in form. Practice..practice...practice. Be sure you have more than one anchor point so you are drawing to the same position ever time. Sounds alot like your grip though, with the left and right action going on. Do not get a tight grip on the bow. The hand torque from gripping too tight will cause this as well. good luck:) being new to shooting a bow, more than likely your main problem is your grip. Most new archer feel like they need to squeeze the grip on the bow and this causes an exceptional amount of torque. Which is basically causing your bow to be out of alignment on the shot causing your inaccuracy. Just allow your grip hand to relax with your finger tips just barely touching the front of the riser. when your release the string don't be worried the bow will jump out of your hand, because it won't. If you have a wrist strap on your bow then there is no reason what so ever for you to gripping your bow at all, just shoot and let the bow fall forward. Welcome to the forums and let us know how its going. If theres any phrase that could help you it's probably going to be this one: "If you do the same things over and over again dont expect different results" You stated that your getting frustrated...that's understandable. Trust me..It's happened to everyone who picked up a Bow in thier lifetime! Your attempting to shoot at a target and the arrow does not go where you wanted it to. The key is asking yourself the ultimate question: "Why"? Alot of questions that arise while shooting at targets are answered by this simple statement: "Something Changed"! Try not to overcomplicate things and try just to think about it as simple as a math problem. 1 Bow + 1 Human = ? Practice will remove help remove some of the frustration but only consistency on your part will remove the question mark;) The Bow is a constant. Once it is tuned properly for the most part it will continue to do what it was designed to do everytime. Probably the best thing right now to help you is to have your Bow checked at an Archery Pro Shop. You'll often find that people there are more than willing to help out someone new to the sport and possibly even give you a few lessons. Once any repairs have been made then you can start working on the Human part of the equation. I can already hear you saying to yourself: "I shot the same way I always do...so what just happened"? Adjust the Human part of the equation(most of the time that's what changed)...Then, if needed, you adjust your Bow;) Here's a helpful DVD that can start you out on the right track: http://www.hunterspec.com/updateable/update_display.cfm?pageID=1648&categoryid=44 Everything they said! Next time you draw your bow back, take a good look at your pins and squeeze the grip, but don't shoot the arrow! Watch what happens! You will see the pins move! Try to keep the grip in the flattest part of your palm, and fingers pointing to the target. Better have a wrist sling on too! This way you wont need to worry about the bow jumping out of your hand! Oh, and practice, practice, and practice some more!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Form and consistency are topics that books have been written about. You may pick up a tip here and there on this forum, but the real progress will not be made in any timely manner until you have been told ALL the aspects of proper shooting form at least once. I would suggest that you go to the library or some other source and get a book on proper shooting form, and follow it to the letter. Then, commit all those principles to intense practice to engrain every aspect of what you have learned into your natural way of shooting. Also, if there is anyone who has been shooting a long time and can do it well, you might want to enlist their help. Also, visit a pro-shop and be sure that your equipment is matched and set up. The best form in the world will not make up for improperly set up equipment. There is really quite a bit of time and effort involved in this sport. That is actually what a lot of us are in it for. It involves a great understanding of the prey animals so that we can get within proper range, and it also involves a lot of work with our equipment so that when hunting opportunities arise, we can make them pay off. Don't let anyone tell you that there are shortcuts to either aspect of bowhunting. Good luck on your new venture. Put the proper amount of time and effort into it and you will be rewarded with challenges and hunting satisfactions that no other kind of weapon can ever supply. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldawg Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) Something I didn't see touched on here yet, is the follow through after the shot. When you go through all of the motions and take your shot, make sure to keep both arms in place until the arrow hits the mark. Alot of people when they start shooting have a tendency to drop their arms immediately after the shot. Keep a solid stance until the arrow has reached it's mark, and your accuracy may improve. Also, pay close attention to your breathing while shooting. Alot of good points have been made here. Dawg Edited January 4, 2009 by bulldawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I'd recommend going to a good shop and asking for assistance. Here's one of the best shooting form threads I've seen...with pictures to help get started correctly. http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=513606&highlight=form Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Great advice to be had here. Every archer is different and those differences can impact shooting form. For example: I had the same issue that you described. It took me several days to figure out the problem. It was that my glasses would slide down my nose just a bit after a few shots once I began to sweat. This in turn caused my anchor point to change just a tad, but enough to get my arrows off. I'd adjust my pins and be on target. I'd wipe the sweat from my face and be off again. It's a good idea to have a pro watch you shoot or film your shooting because you may not know what you are doing differently between shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Like everyone has said go to a pro shop and make sure your bow is tuned well. While you're there and if they are helpful they'll give you some pointers. Otherwise read up on proper form. Videos are good! Go to whitetail.realtree.com/podcast ... then click previous episodes until you get to T-Bone's archery stuff. Watch them all! They're very helpful. - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Get the Realtree DVD "Nocked and Loaded". T-Bone goes through setting up two new shooters and getting them shooting. There are other more in depth DVD's too. Welcome to bow hunting. Just a word of caution. Find a club to shoot at and get a mentor. It's not rocket science so stay away from those that make it complicated. Mark I got this too, but if you don't want to buy it (for some silly reason) what I posted in the previous post is the same clips, only FREE! - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 I am pretty new to the archery scene. . Its all in form. Practice..practice...practice. Great advice here. I too am new to archery. What finally got me consistant was joining a winter league at my pro shop. I was shooting every week and developing my our form . I had other archers there who could answer my questions. I got the practice and the confidence I needed to be a better archer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Everyones pretty much got it covered. I think GW hit the nail on the head tho. Welcome to the forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 practice, persistance, and dedication! Archery is a lot of form and creating muscle memory and focus. If you are going to be serious about becoming a good archer or bowhunter, make the investment to into a decent bow, get the proper set up done by a real pro shop and start shooting! Get some targets and shoot over and over. Get involved in a little club and practice around guys that know what they are doing. There are a number of instruction videos and a ton of tv shows on the outdoor and pursuit channels nowadays that are about archery and hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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