In What Ways Can You Improve Your Accuracy in Archery?

There are very few things that are certain in this world, but the ultimate goal when shooting a bow is what I consider to be one of them. The certainty lies in the fact that everyone who is shooting is trying to be as accurate as possible. Hitting the bulls eye on the target is something that has crossed every archers mind at least a few times from the moment that they were first learning how to hold the bow in their hands, to the moment that they took their first animal. 

 Whether they were shooting “fingers,” or they had the assistance of one of the many miscellaneous archery accessories, they will all tell you the same thing. Consistency is key. Getting your sequence down before the shot is what matters most. Two of the most important aspects that will help your consistency are getting a bow that is properly fit to your frame, and developing a form that can be instinctively repeatable. Many archers do not know how much better off their accuracy will be if they have a bow that fits them. 

 Shooters tend to think that they have a longer draw length then they actually do, which throws off their shot. Being off on your draw length by even a quarter inch will no doubt cost you the perfect shot. There are two methods that you can use to determine your draw length. The first is a standard, given the proportion of the human body. In this instance, you measure your wingspan from finger tip to finger tip and then divide that number (in inches) by 2.5. This method for finding draw length will get you in the ballpark of where you need to be. If you are looking for a more detailed/accurate version then you should measure the distance from the nock groove on your arrow to the pivot point where you grip your bow and add 1-3/4”. This method to determine your draw length is the ATA standard. It will also help you find out what size arrows you need. 

After you have gotten the sizing down you can practice on your the sequence. This goes from your draw to your anchor, to your pull. There are many different ways to draw your bow that people swear by, but they tend to vary. What matters during your draw sequence is that you do it the same way, every time. As you are drawing the bow, the next thing that you want to do is set your anchor points. If you have a peep sight, that could be one, and the moment that your hand touches your jaw could be another. Again, it has to be the same every time. If you are using an archery accessory such as an archery bow release then make sure the pull is the same every time. If you get these two steps down, I feel that you have mastered most of the hurdle. There is still some fine tuning and a lot of practice involved, but I guarantee you that your accuracy will improve significantly if you practice these tips.