Bullseye: 7 Archery Tips

Archery has over 32,000 weekly participants in England alone. So if you're interested in learning archery, you're in good company!

Ready to take the leap and try to hit that bullseye? Follow these 7 archery tips and you'll be racking up archery trophies in no time!

1. Archery Tips for Stance

The first step is to make sure you always use a solid stance. After all, your stance helps provide the foundation for any good shot.

Make sure you place your feet shoulder-width apart. Evenly distribute your body weight between both legs. Finally, keep your hips open to the target, which will allow you to face your target more comfortably.

Additionally, try pointing your toes outward. Many pros do this to maintain balance. It also helps reduce swaying.

Focus on finding a stance that is powerful yet comfortable. That way, you can repeat it many times until you can achieve that stance without even thinking about it.

2. Archery Tips for Grip

Maintaining the correct grip on the bow handle is also very important. It might surprise you to know that you actually shouldn't grip the handle very tight. A tight grip can impair your accuracy.

Also avoid wrapping your hand around the handle, which contributes to torque. And torque is accuracy's greatest enemy.

If you're afraid of dropping your bow, consider investing in a wrist sling. That way you don't have to grip it tighter to overcompensate for your fear of dropping.

To avoid torque, hold the bow where the radius bone meets your palm. This technique allows you to grip the bow in a way that prevents your hand from moving when pressure is applied. If you're more of a visual learner, check out the photos here.

3. Archer Tips for Aiming

When aiming, you'll want to visually focus on the spot where you want the arrow to go. Once you get the rest of the process automated, you should be able to get it there every time.

Some bows have a bubble level to help you with your aim. Using it is especially important when hunting a moving target or when the terrain is at a slant.

4. Archery Tips for Anchoring

Your anchor points are essential for an accurate shot. An anchor point is where you pull the string back. It provides the base of your sighting system.

It might surprise you to learn that you should always have three anchor points. You need to have contact with your release and your hand, your hand to your face, and your string to your face. Here are some images of the best way to anchor your shot.

If you're having trouble, consider marking the spot on your hand with a marker or with tape. Making the right choice about anchor placement is essential to achieving a good shot.

5. Archery Tips for Release

Many beginning archers make the mistake of using a pushing and pulling motion. But it's almost impossible to make your pushing motion the same for each shot. Your best bet is to reduce pushing as much as possible.

You might be wondering how to then make your shot. Well, most archers today use back tension to trigger their shot. That's all thanks to the solid back walls present on modern bows.

Try to engage fewer muscles when firing. This will help you maintain control and avoid target panic.

6. Always Follow Through

One of the most important archery tips is always follow through with your shot. Your reflex will be to jerk the bow down as you watch your arrow travel through the air. But this can result in your arrow straying from its mark.

Keep your bow arm up until your arrow impacts with the target. It will help you stay concentrated on the target every time.

7. Train Your Mind, Too!

Training your mind is as important as training your body when it comes to archery. You can only focus on one aspect at a time.

When improving your shot, you'll need to train yourself to focus on perfecting one aspect at a time. Don't shallowly focus on all aspects at once.

Also, try to have more confidence in your shot. It can and will subconsciously improve your shots.

Ready to Start Archery?

We hope these archery tips help you find success in your next tournament. Need more inspiration? Check out these archery medals and consider buying one to help boost self-confidence in your skills!