Getting Started in Archery

Getting Started? Here's some frequently asked questions:

1. What is the first step in getting started in archery? 2. How much time will it take to learn? 3. Do you have to be strong to shoot a bow? 4. Where do I go to shoot? 5. Where can I find instruction? 6. Can I rent equipment? 7. Is archery expensive? 8. Are there youth archery programs? 9. What is the basic technique? 10. What are the parts of a bow? 11. How are the targets scored? 12. What kinds of archery sports are there? 13. How do I select the right equipment for me? 14. How popular is archery? 15. How do I start/join a club? 16. What kind of practice do serious competitors undertake? 17. Where do I find the various tournament rules? 18. What kinds of contests can I enter if I’m a beginner? 19. What variables are there in tournament divisions? Find out about the interesting history of archery. Click Here. 1. What is the first step in getting started in archery? There are 3 basic steps to get started in archery: 1) Having a safe place to shoot; 2) Having safe archery equipment that is properly sized for you; 3) Having someone who is qualified to teach you. Archerysearch.com has features to help you begin. The site is able to help you find proper archery equipment, locate a retailer near you, and determine whether retailers offer a shooting range and/or instruction. When you contact a retailer, let them know what kind of archery interests you (if you know). For example, you might want to learn to shoot at targets or learn specifically about bowhunting. Back to top 2. How much time will it take to learn? Learning to safely shoot a bow and arrow takes only a few minutes. With proper instruction, and a little determination, you can hit the center of an archery target from 10-60 feet away within a few tries. However, archery can be a very exacting sport to master arrow after arrow, especially if you want to win world competitions or Olympic medals. Top competition archers often train for years in order to excel. Back to top 3. Do you have to be strong to shoot a bow? Not at all – bows can be adjusted to nearly ANY weight. There are very strong pulling bows that are used for long distance competition or bowhunting, and very gentle pulling bows that are made for beginning archers. A beginning recurve bow (a bow that looks like the kind they use in the Olympics) can be as little 10-15 pounds of pull. Some of the lighter weight compound bows (the type with the wheels and pulleys) can be as little as 10-20 pounds of pull. To start, it’s only important to have a bow that is easy to pull back and that will get the arrow to the target. Back to top 4. Where do I go to shoot? Typically, local laws regulate were you can shoot a bow and arrow. Archerysearch.com sorts through the available archery ranges in your local area. Simply put your zip code in or choose your state and you will find the available archery ranges near you. Your local retailer can also help you find a local archery club that has a permanent range set up for public and club use. These ranges can be indoors or outdoors, depending on the location, the style of shooting and the climate. Back to top 5. Where can I find instruction? You can search through the archerysearch.com listings for outlets that offer instruction. You can contact a retailer or an instructor to ask about classes or private instruction. Back to top 6. Can I rent equipment? Yes, many of the retailers listed on archerysearch.com have rental equipment available for new archers. They are either rented by the hour or by the day. Often, beginning equipment may be provided free of charge by the retailer if you are taking classes from him or her. Back to top 7. Is archery expensive? Archery is no more expensive than many other sports. Many archery outlets allow you to rent equipment, and if you want to buy equipment, you can buy a new beginner recurve bow for about $125 or less. Beginner compound bows can often be purchased for under $200. In-expensive starter arrows, a quiver, an armguard and a finger tab are about all you need to get started in the sport. Other accessories can be purchased once you have narrowed down the style of archery you want to shoot. Used equipment can be purchased for less, but it must be matched with your physical size and ability and be in good condition. Back to top 8. Are there youth archery programs? Most national youth organizations have some form of archery program. The Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, 4-H, Royal Rangers, National Archery in the Schools Program, many summer camps, the National Archery Association and the National Field Archery Association all have youth programs. At archerysearch.com, you will see many retailers who provide a youth program. You may find that these programs are local affiliates of one of the national organizations. Back to top 9. What is the basic technique? A proven method that teaches the basic shooting technique is called “9-Steps to the 10-Ring.” This method was originally created by the National Archery Association, and can be used when shooting recurve or compound bows with fingers. Download a copy of the “9-Steps to the 10-Ring.” Back to top 10. What are the parts of a bow? Recurve and compound bows have many of the same parts, even though they look and function differently. Here are the two bows side by side: Back to top 11. How are the targets scored? An archery target is typically printed as a series of circles. Each circle, or scoring ring, is valued as a particular score amount. Here are two examples of targets that have scoring rings. The first target is typical of what you might find at a target range like in the Olympics. The second target is typical of what you might find in a field range (where the targets are set up in a roving path). A third type of target is a 3-dimentional foam animal-shaped target. Depending on the manufacturer, these targets have scoring rings molded into one side approximately where the heart and lungs would be if the target were a real animal. Back to top 12. What kinds of archery sports are there? There are many kinds of archery sports available. Even with all the variations, they can be reduced to three (3) different styles—target shooting at flat targets, target shooting at 3-dimentional foam animal-shaped targets, and bowhunting. Within these three kinds of archery are a host of variations based upon the type of equipment and/or target that’s allowed for that particular tournament. Bows can range from simple stick bows made the traditional way of shaving and shaping by hand, to hi-tech engineered compound bows with unlimited accessories attached to it. Targets can range from simple paper targets fixed to a bale of hay, to 52” round foam targets that are shot at over 100 yards away. Back to top 13. How do I select the right equipment for me? Select beginning equipment that will help train you. This means using a properly-sized bow that pulls at a light poundage, and arrows that are long enough so as not to pull past the arrowrest when you are at full draw. A training bow might be a lightweight recurve or properly-sized compound bow that’s adjusted for your size and strength. Once you’ve learned to shoot from a qualified instructor, visit your local retailer or archery club and see what types of archery shooting is done locally—tournaments or bowhunting. Your first purchased bow might reflect the local trends, or it might reflect your own interest in the sport. Always keep in mind that a bow must be sized to your own body, and that you must be able to pull it back repeatedly. It’s tempting to purchase a bow that’s high on the draw weight scale, but difficult for a new archer to pull back. Often, recurve bow companies sell bow handles (risers) and limbs separately. By purchasing lightweight training limbs to start with, you can graduate to stronger limbs without having to buy a whole new bow. With compounds, many have adjustable limbs to lessen the draw weight at first until you become accustomed to shooting. Arrows must also be properly sized for you. Most arrows come from the factory rather long, so your local retailer can trim them to your particular draw length. Arrows also come in different stiffness, called “spine,” for different draw weights and styles of bows. Your local retailer can help you select the right combination for your needs. Back to top 14. How popular is archery? Millions of people enjoy archery each year. Surveys from the Archery Trade Association, and from the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association suggest that a total of about 9 million people shoot archery in the U.S. annually. This includes recreational target archery and bowhunting. Most other countries boast of popular archery programs as well. Back to top 15. How do I start/join a club? To join a club, visit with your local archery retailer about the names and locations of clubs in your area. Once you have identified some local club names, check the internet—many clubs now have websites that give directions to the club and display scheduled events. Attend an event and introduce yourself as a new archer who would like to possibly join. The club representative can give you information on any club dues as well as club meetings that you might attend to get to know the other club members. There are several national archery organizations that offer starter packets on forming new archery clubs. Check out their websites for information on registering a new club with them. Archery Shooters Association (ASA): www.asaarchery.com International Bowhunting Association (IBO): www.ibo.net National Archery Association (NAA): www.usarchery.org National Field Archery Association (NFAA): www.nfaa-archery.org                 Back to top 16. What kind of practice do serious competitors undertake? A serious competitor can spend several hours each day practicing on the archery range. In addition, they may keep personal journals on their progress and goals, or even attend special shooting camps where they can be coached by professional coaches. Archers may create videotapes of themselves showing their shooting sequence and playback the shooting sequence in slow motion with an advanced-level coach to assist in identifying areas for improvement. In addition, many of these archer-athletes follow weight training and nutrition programs, as well as practice mental training exercises. Often, even the tournaments themselves are considered practice—scores shot at a club range will likely be similar to the scores they shoot during a competition. Any variations in the shooting sequence or mental exercise are identified, documented and adjusted. Back to top 17. Where do I find the various tournament rules? Most tournaments advertise the style of archery and the governing rules that will apply. A quick phone call or email to the tournament director who’s listed as the tournament contact will provide the specific rules for that event. Back to top 18. What kinds of contests can I enter if I’m a beginner? Most local club tournaments have special divisions for new archers. Ask the tournament director what divisions might best suit your skill level. In checking the scores from the previous tournament, you may find the average scores from your chosen beginner division. This will give you some idea of how well you might fare in the tournament based upon your practice scores. (Practice scores using proposed tournament variables are fairly accurate in determining how you might fare.) Back to top 19. What variables are there in tournament divisions? There are three (3) variables you will find in most types of shooting. They are 1-distance, 2-equipment and 3-target(s) & scoring. Back to top Find out about the interesting history of archery. Click Here.

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