Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I'd like to hear any tips you have that can improve consistency and accuracy while shooting a bow. I am pretty efficient right now and very confident in my abilities, but feel I can always get better. I'm very good out to 30 yards which is as far as I'm going to shoot. I am somewhat of a perfectionist though and want the perfect form. Maybe it's the golfer in me[:-]. I want to Robin Hood every arrow I shoot.(Not really... that may get expensive[8D]), but you know what I mean.

Maybe it's me, but I find this least talked about topic on here, at the same time the most important IMO. Maybe it's because everyone is very comfortable with their abilities? I still think there is room for anyone to get better. At the end of the day.... all the scents, stands, camo, trail cams, goodies, and gadgets doesn't matter if you can't be perfect at the moment of truth.

So let's hear some tips that you think about to improve your shooting. Also some bad habits to be avoided that adversely effects your shooting.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Remember The 3 P's: Practice, Patience, and Persistance!!!

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

When I started shooting with both eyes open this year I noticed an immediate improvement. Simple but effective change for me.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I want to shoot with both eyes open (I think), but when I try...I just cant get into focus. I put the pin where it is supposed to be...with one eye closed and then open that eye and the whole thing gets real fuzzy.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Good topic NY:)

I notice so many people pulling way to much weight :eek:

Another thing that is very ovious and can drastically change the way you shoot is your draw length.Most people want to be in the 29-30 inch class ,but will actually be at a comfortable 27-28 inch draw.This is probably the #1 way to loose accuracy and not be consistent.

Practice on a daily schedule if possible,not a week before season opens.
If you have been out of it for a few months,dont start shooting hundreds of arrows daily,shoot a few at a time to prevent yourself from getting tired.This is another way to pick up bad habbits.Your tired,shots are going erratic,start playing with pins and adjusting things.Your grip is off,your bow arm is locked etc.Need I say more[:-]

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

You might want to get your eyes checked. I had that problem myself found out i needed glasses. Now i shoot with both eyes open all the time.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I find that keeping my sight pin on the target until after the arrow impacts has drastically increased my accuracy and consistency.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

IMO the #1 tip to shooting consistently regardless of ones individual form is the proper use of back tension and shooting a relaxed shot.
Punching the trigger and anticipating exactly when the release will go off will kill accuracy quick fast and in a hurry.;)
You can do a quick little check to see if you are using back tension at all by seeing what happens to your release hand at the shot. If your release hand never moves when the shot is fired and just sits right at your anchor you aren't shooting with back tension.

The condensed version......don't grip the grip, bow arm is resistance only,good repeatable anchor, draw arm in line with path of the arrow, relax both hands, fire the release at least in part with back tension.
Provided the bow fits to begin with. Its very difficult to do the right things if the equipment you are using is counterproductive to doing them in the first place.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

While we are on the subject I have a question about my form. Why do I sometimes find myself kind of sticking my belly out and leaning back when at full draw. I can correct it if I think about it. It dosn't seem to affect my consistency just wondering what would cause this or is it just a strange quirk that I have?

Thanks

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I'll bet your draw length is a half inch to an inch too long. Your body is trying to compensate for the extra inch or so you're pulling back. Try shortening it up and see if it doesn't correct the problem.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I think one of the simplest things to do is getting out of your comfort zone as much as possible. Don't just shoot at the same target from the same positiontime after time. Shoot at as many different ranges as you possible can in front of different people. Personally, I like a compination of shooting 3d and roving in between targets.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

try to think of hunting situations too. like my first deer that i shoot recently stop behind some bushes and i had to hold my draw for a long time. i practice holding my draw for 90 seconds from time to time and it paid off with my first bow kill.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

1. Keep the pin on the target after the shot and until you hear the arrow's impact.

2. Practice at long range. 40,50,60 yds.After a week of this, move up to 20yds. Be careful you don't shoot too many arrows into the target, you will be busting nocks.

3. Concentrate fucusing your vision on the target and let the pin be blurry.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Always keep a consistant anchor point, a relaxed bow hand, straight posture, ect ect ect. Thanks for bringing this up you are right when you said this isnt talked about enough.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

A grip with palm pressure, not gripping the handle. Pick the exact spot you want to hit and continue to look there. the pin will be secondary and your focus should be on the spot. Even after release stare at that spot.
Back tension is a must! Think of holding a pencil between your shoulder blades and keep it there after the release. Your hand should move back a little after release. Do not punch or slap the trigger, assuming you use a release. A smooth pull and continued tension is key.
Consistancy is also critical. Anchor the same spot, grip the same way, nose on string the same everytime, etc...
Dont worry that your pin is not exactly on the spot you are staring at. If you hold steady and continue staring at that exact spot it will be there upon release.I dont know how or why but it will be there.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I recently improved my long range shooting bye balancing my wait. I found myself leaning forward somewhat and once I started leaing back and getting a more balanced feel my longer range shooting improved a good bit.

Tim

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

what Ive found to work for me is, following thru! like a few others said keep aiming after you shoot watch the arrow hit and then drop. another thing I found thats helped me tremendous is, when you draw your bow you put all the pressure on 1 point of your hand inbetween your thumb and index finger well try putting it all to that area and the palm and just roll your fingers around slightly gripping ( not hard ). and your strap that helps the bow from falling out of your hand incase you drop your bow. make sure that isn't tight around your wrist when drawing that will cause you to tork on the shot. make it loose.... always have the same anchor points like kisser in the corner of your mouth, string against your nose, fletching touching a certain area, etc. try to do the same thing over and over as you probally already know. and make sure your bow is tuned properly..... good luck

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Very nicely said.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

#1 most important thing is consistency. Whatever you do, do it the same every time (grip, anchor point, release, etc.)

#2 is follow through. Let the bow suprise you and keep the pin on the target until the arrow hits. Don't peek - it will cause you to drop your bow arm.

#3. Proper setup. (tuned bow, proper draw lenth, correct spine, correct draw weight, etc.)

#4. Long distance practice. 25 yard shots are cake when you're used to 50 yard shots.

#5. Learn to estimate distance. This is critical when you start shooting past 25 yards. There is a big difference between 26 yards and 33 yards (about 6 inches of drop).

I could name more but I think these are the one's that have helped me most.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

several years ago before one of my trips to canada, on of the guys we were hunting with (jeff or bob from champion bows) recomended that we be proficent to 50 yards, me and one of the others going on the trip had never shot much over 30-35 yards, it is the "practical" distance for our area, but shooting and getting where i could shoot at fifty yards with some decent grouping did something for me i had not expected, when i closed the distance back down to 20 yards i was amazed at what the exercise had done for me;), busting nocks was a understatement, i wouldn't shoot at the same dot on my target for anything, everytime i destroyed one of those A/C/C's all i could see was $$$$$$$$$$$$$[:@]

this single step forced me to improve most/all the things i was not that great about form/anchor/grip/release it made (forced)the whole program to work better

all great ideas BTW, thanks for the list;)

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

YSlo - You said "While we are on the subject I have a question about my form. Why do I sometimes find myself kind of sticking my belly out and leaning back when at full draw."

I bet your draw length isAT LEAST an inchtoo long..... I shortened my draw length when I bought my AR34 almost 1.5 inches and WOW what an improvement in form.....

As far as my tip goes....

Try this - leave your bow at the ready at night and first thing every morning shoot ONE arrow at 30 yards before work... make it count like its 'THE' shot..... it will give you a lot to think about all day, and make you concentrate on making it count...

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Even thou I didn't post the question, I want to thank everyone who posted their advice. Hopefully now, I too can become a more accurate shooter.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I agree! ;)

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I feel the #1 most important thing is a good coach. A lot of people have too much pride to get one but honestly most people can benefit from one whether they want to be a good backyard shooter and a couple lessons is all they want, or if they want to be competitive on the state, national, or world level.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

both eyes open so you can see through your target.. and also have the same knocking point each time

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

The thing that has helped me become much more accurate is focusing on the target more, and not so much on the pins

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Thanks everyone for the tips. This has helped me revisit some things that I havent' thought about or neglected paying attention to.

The one tip I've heard here a few times that I could never do (tried this morning again) is shoot with both eyes open. I'm all over the place with both open.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you should joint an indoor archery league. Strive to get to point where you can knock out 300's regularly. By doing this you will havehad to have used all of the previously mentioned tips. League is the ultimate practice. You won't get complacent as you could if you were just practicing by yourself. Be prepared, it's all about work, form, tuning and the mental aspect which is huge. Being the golfer that you are, this is right up your alley. Striving for perfection.;)

I know, I took up golf and can't get it out of my system.[:-]

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

Alot of good advice thus far...here is my input.

[ul][*]Make sure the riser is to the thumb side of your lifeline....relax your bow hand (if your fingers are sticking straight out your hand is NOT relaxed)...and make as little contact with the riser as possible. Alot of factory grips are not conducive to this...whenever I buy a bow, the first thing I do is pop the grip off. Simply put, you don't want 'too much hand' in the bow. I shoot off the riser, give it a try, you might be surprised how much it helps.[/ul]
[ul][*]Find a SOLID, repeatable anchor. I see alot of folks shoot that think they have a good anchor, but in reality it is a floating anchor (I was one of these for a VERY long time!)...I shoot both a back tension (for 3D) and a caliper for hunting, I turn the backside of my hand against my face with the space between my index and middle knuckle (lowest knuckle) going right to my jawbone. Using the same anchor for both releases forces me to use my middle finger as the trigger finger on my caliper....but this has helped tremendously as well.[/ul]
[ul][*]When shooting a caliper, 'hook' your finger over the trigger (into the first groove or wrinkle) and load a bit of pressure onto the trigger before shooting. DONT set the thing up to be so hot that it is a hair-trigger...you will have target panic really quick! [/ul]
[ul][*]Keep the elbow on your release arm up.[/ul]
[ul][*]I would suggest a sight with a round pin-housing. Center the pin housing within your peep. I think alot of folks center the pin in the peep....but center the housing![/ul]
[ul][*]Concentrate on the target...not the pin.[/ul]
[ul][*]Work on shooting with both eyes open...I know you say you just can't, but it will help you tremendously. Just work at it until you can do it.[/ul]
[ul][*]Shoot blind bale during the off-season...take the sight off your bow and shoot at a bale with no target. Concentrate on your form instead of where the arrow is going. It is very difficult to work on form AND hitting an exact spot. Turn it into two processes in the off season and you will shoot better.[/ul][ul][*]Have someone that knows archery check your draw length and adjust properly. A great number of shooters are shooting a bow that has a draw length that is too long. When I was first starting out (I am a self-taught shooter learning through trial and MANY errors) my 'anchor' was on the back of my neck....I was shooting a bow probably 3" or more too long.[/ul]Just a note about tuning; Tuning is VERY important when hunting as you want true arrow flight as a wobbly arrow can wreak havoc on your broadheads ability to do it's job. However, tuning will not make you a better shooter. A good shooter can take a bow that is way out of tune, and hit the same hole...because their shot sequence is repeatable.

Hopefully these will help you a bit, I'm sure I will think of more....good luck!

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I went from a 29.5" draw to a 28" and it helped me a bunch. I also went to a heavier arrow and it helped. I think it might not have been the weight of the arrow, but the stiffer spine that helped, but either way it helped.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I have had good results switching to the no peep. MAKES you hold the bow in the same place every time.

RE: Tips for improving shooting skills
 

I like to shoot off of my balcony/roof. I hunt out of tree stands almost exclusively. Also like to wear a jacket and gloves while practicing. I dont got to the driving range in my camo, so I dont practice shooting in my Dockers and Titleist hat..:D