subject: The Basics Of Archery Technique And Benefits Of The Sport [print this page] Archery is an exciting sport that dates back centuries. It involves firing an arrow towards a target, with the use of a bow. Originally it was used for the purpose of hunting or combat, however it is now partaken in as a sport or leisure activity.
It is a sport that involves a high level of skill and having good concentration is vital. It is also demanding physically. Drawing the string of the bow and arrow and keeping it still in order to create a good line of fire can be a difficult task.
In terms of technique some people believe that the dominant eye should be used for shooting. This means that whichever of the eyes is the strongest this should be the open eye and the bow should be held accordingly. Others believe that in fact the steadiest hand should be used to take the shot. The key to getting a good line is having a smooth release of the string; therefore using the hand you feel strongest with makes sense. The eyes can be trained in order to become stronger over time, sometimes with the use of an eye patch.
The first thing that is important when shooting an arrow is to adopt a good stance. The body should be perpendicular to the target and the feet should create a sturdy base around a shoulder width apart.
In order to load the bow and arrow, the bow must be pointed towards the ground for safety reasons. The front of the arrow rests upon an arrow rest, the back of the arrow attaches to the bowstring with a nock. A nock is a groove in the end of the arrow.
Once the arrow has been loaded into the bow, you will be ready to aim towards the target.
The bow is then held up in front of you at shoulder height, with your arm parallel to the ground. The string is usually drawn with three fingers, commonly with one finger sitting above the arrow and two below. When the string is pulled back to the maximum draw the arrow is then released and fired towards the target.
The sport can be taken up by people of all ages, with various styles of bow and target available. It is great for building upper body strength. As well as the physical benefits, it really helps to improve peoples focus and concentration.
There are many archery centres which offer courses and they provide all of the equipment necessary to get involved.
