Archery can be an enjoyable sport, or hobby, for several different types of people. Of course, it’s much more enjoyable when you are familiar with what you are doing. There is a lot involved in learning how to shoot a bow, but the aim is one of the most important elements. After all, if you can’t aim, you will never be able to hit your target consistently.
Several people claim to have the “best way” or their own way that they have developed that offers the best chances of success. Some of them may be right, but most of them just found what worked for them and shared it with others. So, how do you shoot archery the “right way”?
Humans have been shooting archery for thousands of years. Many people just used a method called “instinctive shooting”, which refers to learning to aim and shoot without sights or premium upgrades. This required trial and error, along with years of practice. Over time, you get better and better and just become more capable of hitting the target.
Or you could use sights and modern bows to get a better, cleaner shot the first time and learn how to aim for the type of archery that you have in mind.
How Do You Shoot a Bow and Arrow for a Beginner?
When you are just starting, you will want to stick to the basic techniques and methods that are used for bow shooting and aiming. Perhaps you want to learn the instinctive method first, even if you intend to use a sight. This can help you improve your basic form and get a better shot overall. There is a process for each type of shot and you’ll generally want to start with a traditional (recurve) bow to make sure that you’re comfortable before moving onto something more complicated.
- Step One: Assume a relaxed stance. Keep your shoulders perpendicular to the target and your feet about shoulder-width apart. You can choose a square stance or an open stance, but make sure that you stick with whichever one you choose.
- Step Two: Nock the arrow and grip the handle correctly. Make sure that you have the arrow nocked and rested on the riser, and that your hands are properly aligned and holding the bowstring and the bow itself in readying for the draw.
- Step Three: Grip the bowstring with your index finger over the arrow and your next two fingers below the arrow, with your knuckles holding the string. Prep the draw by bringing the bow up so that the arrow is at shoulder height and aim.
- Step Four: Aim at the target, either through a sight or by eyeing the end of the arrow, and don’t overthink it. Just look, make a quick adjustment, and take the shot. The longer you hesitate, the harder it becomes to hit the target.
The release and follow-through are also important, so don’t forget to finish the shot and not just let the string or bow go once the arrow leaves the equipment. The bow may tilt and vibrate from the force but let that happen so that the bow can release the energy that has built up through the shot process.
Up next, we’ll talk more about how to hit targets and how you can aim without a sight. In no time, you’ll be on your way to better shooting and becoming the archer that you’ve always dreamed of.
How Do You Hit a Target with a Bow and Arrow?
The best way to practice your aim is to target-shoot until you are confident. If you are going to be hunting or sporting in some way, you will want to make sure that your aim is on point as much as possible. When you want to hit a target, you will need to perfect the stance and aim your bow accordingly. Sight the target in the bow or use your eyes if you don’t have a sight on hand and try to get as close to the middle as possible.
If you are shooting a standard bullseye-style target, make sure that you point the arrow toward the center and then slightly down to make up for the upward thrust that generally comes from the follow-through after the release of your arrow. If you are aiming for a smaller or differently sized target, consider focusing on it similarly with this adjustment in mind.
Chase the arrows, either with your eyes or with your scope, so that you can make adjustments as you go. For example, if your shots are going a little too far to the left, then you should move your scope or view to the left a little bit. Then, your arrows should start ending up where they belong, or at least closer. This can work in any direction, too.
If you have a sight, it’s going to be really easy for you to hit your target. Simply aim the bow and arrow, look through the sight and put the target in view, and then release the arrow. It will be far more likely that you hit the bullseye with a sight than without, although some instinctive shooters do have impressive accuracy after years of practice.
How Do You Aim Archery Without Sight?
There are sights made for bows that can improve the ease with which you can aim your shot. However, they are not always included and may be something that you have to purchase additionally. If you are going to learn how to shoot, you might want to learn without a sight just for your own skill. We already touched on the instinctive shooting method above, but now we will cover some more tips to help you aim without a sight when you’re just getting started in archery.
- Line the arrow tip up with the target, and then adjust the shot and check it again before releasing the arrow. Sometimes, that second look is enough to make a small tweak that results in a better shot.
- Always assume there’s going to be an upward recoil. This will cause you to aim slightly lower than center in your shots if you want to hit the target spot-on.
- The process of aiming with a traditional recurve bow is different than aiming with a compound bow, so make sure that you get the right instruction for your equipment. The last thing that you want is to waste time learning the wrong way to aim your bow.
- Compound bows are much more complex to aim and require more patience.
- It is harder to overdraw a compound bow, which is why traditional recurve bows have a clicker, or a device that makes noise when the bow is fully drawn. This can make it easier to aim the shot and ensure that you have the proper draw.
- If you do decide to use a recurve bow, you’ll want to hold off on getting a clicker until you have trained to aim and take shots on your own and without the help of additional tools. Once you are confident in yourself and your abilities, then you can add a clicker to your bow for additional assistance in aiming and drawing.
- Trial and error is your friend. Although the tips and insight here should help you perfect your shot, the only thing that will really do the job is practice, practice, and more practice. Feel free to try a few different shots and styles of aiming until you find what feels right.
What is the Bowsight Aiming Method?
The bowsight aiming method simply refers to using a sight to aim your bow when shooting, As mentioned, you can find sights available for recurve and compound bows in various styles, including everything from basic sights with a simple pin to compound sights that include crosshairs and other detailed features for better aiming.
Be sure to research bowsights and get comfortable using them before you go out on the hunt or head into a competition. It can be useful to have a sight, but you have to learn how to properly use it to hit the target. That might require sighting a bit to the left or a little lower to account for the variance in distance and aim, for example.
Recurve vs. Compound Bows
As mentioned in the tips section, aiming is different when you are dealing with a recurve bow versus a compound bow. Make sure that you read up on the best methods and tips for the equipment that you have because if you try to aim a compound bow like a standard recurve, you could run into serious problems (and vice versa).
Typically, a recurve bow will require less strength and stability to aim, but it could involve a lot more work on your part because there are fewer mechanics on your side. Aiming a compound bow, on the other hand, could be easier if it has the right features in place. It will be necessary to learn to hold the aim for as long as it might take to sight a target or an animal (if you’re into hunting), so be sure that you’re not just firing off arrows once the target is in sight.
By learning how to aim on any bow and taking advantage of multiple aiming strategies, you will have no trouble finding the perfect stance and aim, regardless of the bow that you’re using.
A Final Note: Never Aim at Anything but a Target
When you’re practicing, it can be tempting to just randomly aim for anything. Especially when you’re alone and there is no one around, you might not think of the danger of shooting wild arrows into the horizon. However, you should never aim your bow at anything that you don’t intend to shoot. In fact, this is a great rule of thumb for any weapon—if it’s not your target, don’t point at it. You never know when an arrow might errantly fly off and you don’t want to be responsible for damage or injuries.
Now that you have a better idea of how to start practicing your aim, you’ll be on your way to better shooting in no time. Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep trying until you get it right. Then, do it 100 more times to improve your accuracy and skill.