The Top Six Archery Tips for Rookies

Excited to practice your new hobby, you head out to the archery range and start shooting. Your shots are not going where they're supposed to go, frustrating you. This is the case for many rookies to archery, and to help, here are the top 6 archery tips that will allow you to improve your skills and precision:

• Consistent anchor points: An anchor point is the place on your face where the hand is placed consistently with the bowstring at full draw. This anchor point should always be the same for a consistent shot. The most commonly used one is having the index finger right underneath your chin with the bowstring barely touching the tip of your nose. It's a good idea to experiment and discover the best anchors for you.
• Bow Handle grip: Your grip on the bow handle should be soft and relaxed. Your first instinct might be to grip the bow hard to stabilize it, but it has the opposite consequence. A hard grip on the bow will cause it to twist and rotate, leading the arrows to lean right or left.
• Follow through: Follow through with your shots by keeping your bow arm up and keeping your attention on the archery target until the arrow hits. If this is not done, it is very common to bring the bow down earlier than you're supposed to which causes the arrow flight path to be altered downward, which leads to innacurate shots.
• Focus and concentrate: Whether you're shooting at inanimate targets or bow hunting, it is vital to concentrate and focus on one precise small area that you want to hit. This way, you will unconsciously aim at that specific spot. It is difficult to stay focused at all times, but in archery, you only need to concentrate on that spot for a maximum of 10 seconds as you aim and shoot.
• Relax: Easier said than done for most people. Relax and clear your mind before you take a shot. A good technique to do this is to take a big breath as you're about to aim, then take one last big breath that you let out gradually before releasing the string. A deep breath will leave you calmer and allow you to keep focus easier. When uneasy or nervous, form will worsen and you are more inclined to suddenly move the bow and ruin your aim. Being relaxed will obviously help your focus and concentration on the target.
• Practice: If there is one thing that will help you greatly, it is practice. You can search for all the archery articles you want, but if you don't put them to practice, and you don't do it consistently, then your aim will not advance. As George Leonard says in his book "Mastery": "At the heart of it, mastery is practice. Mastery is staying on the path."

These <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/3679433']);" href="http://www.archery-tips.com">archery tips</a> will go a long way in helping you improve your skills and accuracy, but only as long as you practice consistently, and always seek to correct any errors in your form.