Good advice from everybody. Now jot down all this stuff and organize it. Start with making sure the bow fits you properly. A said, drawlength is almost always too long. A good indicator here is, are your groups spread horizontal? Drawlength. Get the basics on shooting form (grip, aim, followthrough, etc). Smaller aiming spot will help. Plates are not for shooting. They are for eating off of, preferably deer meat after you do all the right stuff.

Get a coach. It might be a good target shooter or one from your pro-shop. If you're lucky enough you'll get a good one. Listen to him, and only him. Everyone has their own opinion about how to shoot. But good shooters don't get that way by accident. Have one coach at a time. And don't foget to have FUN.

Ditto on good advice.

I definitely agree with those that have said not to "punch" the release and not to try to lock the pin on the spot. In fact, I believe that trying to stop the pin on the spot, especially a small spot, is one major cause of poor accuracy and/or loose groups.

For the average shooter, sighting in using small spots can cause mental and physical stress when trying to keep or float the pin on a small spot, especially as you become fatigued, can cause "target panic."

Get off the small spots and sight in on at least a 4" spot, even a 6" spot. When sighting in your bow, you are first wanting good and consistent grouping, not trying to be William Tell. Grouping is telltale of good and consistent form…..and arrow flight. Once your groups are good and consistent, just move your pin to move the group to the center of the "zone." That is how you obtain accuracy.

Additionally, when your groups start to spread or your accuracy begins to diminish, get off the standard targets and shoot at something that represents the "kill zone" on a deer but does not force you to sight-in on a "target spot."

Another phenomenon that occurs with some shooters, is that when shafts are in the target, some shooters start to unconsciously sight the pin on the nock-ends of the shafts. Additionally, as the "zone" becomes obstructed with arrows, some shooters will unconsciously or purposely start relocating the sight pin as they try to see the "spot." Doing so will move and spread your group.

Here are a few more causes that will open a group.

ï€* Inconsistent anchor (not anchoring at same position each time).
ï€* Poor and/or inconsistent sighting.
ï€* Floating anchor (hand not solidly anchored).
ï€* Improper anchor (not positioned correctly or not comfortable).
ï€* Left dominant eye for right hand shooter, right dominant eye for left hand shooter.
ï€* Over bowed (too much draw-weight for shooter).
ï€* Worn cam bushings.
ï€* Inconsistent torqueing. Most shooters will torque a bow. If you torque the same way each time, you can obtain good accuracy.
ï€* Peeking (trying to watch the flight of the shaft). Peeking causes you to move the bow and doing so will affect the arrow's flight and path.
ï€* Etc.


Here is a sighting method I highly recommend for the average shooter when tuning for accuracy.

1. Use a 4" or 6" spot that highly contrasts with your pin so that your pin is sharp against the spot.
2. Using your long distance pin (bottom pin); from the distance the pin is set for, start walking in towards the target, shooting until your shafts are impacting 2" - 3" above the "spot." Single pin shooters can do the same.
3. Float your pin into the center of the spot and try to get a clean release.
4. Try to ignore where your shafts are grouping at this time. You can move the group later by adjusting your pins.
5. After each string, look for consistency of where your arrow groups are impacting. If you are getting groups, tight or loose, but the group is moving around, the cause is most likely due to inconsistent form or sight placement.
6. Once you have obtained groups that satisfy you, just adjust the elevation and/or windage of the pin, and move your groups to where you want them.

Some great advise, if you can just apply it. I like what someone said that practice doesn't make perfek. This is so true. You can shoot 100 arrows in a shooting lesson and if your not learning in why each arrow doesn't go in its precise spot then your not learning anything. Ask yourself why it didn't and correct it ASAP before any bad habits are compounded. Sometimes it can be equipment, arrows, rest, release, or me ( can't be me), but its just a process of elimination of faults and instilling good habits. Good luck, Bobby