The Basics of Proper Form and Shooting

rimayaarchery
Oct 7
3 min read

Updated: Nov 5

Having good form in archery is essential to maintaining accuracy and precision. That’s why, when teaching the basics, I put a lot of emphasis on ensuring your form is as close to perfect as possible. This builds good shooting habits and eliminates additional factors that can interfere with your accuracy.

For those interested in the traditional aspects of archery, specifically Ottoman, Mongolian, and other popular Asiatic techniques, we combine these complex techniques with the foundational principles taught earlier. This allows you to do exciting things like walking, running, bouncing, and even horseback riding while shooting! Until we reach that stage, let’s go through the basics of proper form in still shooting.

The Importance of Proper Form

When I begin my classes, I like to tell my students to face me and stand like a star, with their bow hand towards the target. This means standing with your feet about shoulder-width apart and your arms stretched out horizontally (not higher). Some like to call it a ‘T’ shape. Just think of that ‘T’ with your feet spread apart.

Finding Your Stance

You do not want your knees to be locked in place or too bent. Instead, find a comfortable standing position in between. Based on your comfort level, you can position your feet in a straight line, called a square stance, or angle them in a way that feels stable and firmly planted on the ground. We will run through the different stances in a future post.

Positioning Your Arms

Now that the feet positioning has been established, let’s move on to the arms. To form that ‘T’, your arms must be at about a 90-degree angle. With your hand facing the target (your bow hand), focus on the space between your index finger and thumb. When you spread your thumb apart, it should form a ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape. Place the grip of your bow into the center of that ‘V’ so that your thumb is on one side and your four fingers are on the other.

Notice that if you pull the bowstring, the tension is enough to keep it in place even with your bow hand open. You can then relax your fingers by lightly closing them, allowing your knuckles to form a 45-degree angle.

Drawing the Bowstring

With your other hand (your shooting hand), you will pull the bowstring. We begin by teaching you a split draw. This means you will place your index finger over your arrow and your middle and ring fingers underneath it. When pulling back the string, keep your forearm aligned with your bow arm. This maintains a straight line between them.

It should be in a way that if you bend your elbow, your arm will extend in front of you rather than towards the ground or sky. Pull back until you reach your anchor point.

Understanding Your Anchor Point

Your anchor point is a specific spot on your face or upper body where you consistently pull back your string and hold it for your shot. When I shoot, I pull back my shooting hand underneath my jawbone, where my index knuckle meets the curve of my jawbone. This is my anchor point.

I find that most of my students have their anchor point underneath their cheekbone or near their chin. It’s entirely up to you to decide where you feel most comfortable anchoring your string. Just make sure it is consistent! The anchor point helps maintain a consistent release point, significantly aiding in the accuracy and precision of your shots. Feel free to experiment with different spots until you find what works for you!

Releasing the Arrow

Finally, once you’re ready and confident about your shot, you can release your arrow. To release, simply relax your fingers and allow the string to fly through. If your bow hand was relaxed, you’ll notice that your bow will fall forward.

This can be prevented by gripping your bow after the shot or purchasing a sling. It’s alright to lightly grip your bow as well; just be careful not to squeeze it.

Embracing the Journey

If you're starting off, your shots will likely not be perfect. However, with consistent practice, you will see improvement! Remember, every archer was once a beginner. We will add posts to help improve your aim in the near future. In the meantime, keep practicing!

If you're interested in booking an in-person or online session, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp/Text/SMS at (754) 300-6446.

Let’s embark on this exciting journey together!