Pennsylvania Game News - July 2023 - 63

And did I mention how much fun these
bows are?
Outfit the bow with a Whisker Biscuitstyle
arrow rest, which supports and
contains the arrow and prevents it from
falling off the rest, a common and frustrating
problem for beginners. A pro shop can
easily install the rest and nocking points.
Add an arm guard, finger tab, midquality
carbon arrows and a bow sling
allowing the shooter to shoot with a
relaxed hand and not drop the bow, all
while reducing bow torque and improving
accuracy.
Proper Technique
Once an archer is equipped, it's time to
get shooting. Resist the temptation to try
and do too much too soon, though. My
own experience, gained while introducing
hundreds of people to archery, is that slow
and easy is the fastest path to success.
A qualified instructor - found in person
or online - can go over the basics of
shooting form. There are books, too, that
discuss what good form really is, how to
achieve it and why it's important. It only
takes a few sessions to get that down.
Ideally, new shooters should begin with
large targets at close range, say 10 yards.
At this stage you want them to focus on
form and still be able to score some hits.
Shoot only four arrows at a time. And
if they get tired after a while, take a break.
Even a short rest spent retrieving arrows
allows muscles to refresh, minds to settle
and mistakes in form to wash away.
Focus on the proper stance, shot set up,
draw, back tension, string alignment, hold,
aim, release and follow-through. Stress
consistency, consistency, consistency.
That's the key to accuracy. It doesn't
matter yet where arrows hit the target,
only how tightly they group.
Don't worry about shooting with finJULY
2023
gers or not using a sight because archery
is very similar to throwing a ball. You will
be amazed at how the shooter's eyes, mind
and body pull everything together.
You should see an improvement in a
new shooter in a short period of time.
As you go, though, mix up your targets
- adding animal targets or different-size
balloons or something else - to keep
shooting fun.
Only when the new shooter gets to
the point of producing tighter groups
consistently should you move on to selecting
other equipment. Most will migrate
toward a compound bow and its more
advanced features and accessories, but
some might like the simplicity of traditional
archery and stick with it.
Whatever the case, the quality of
today's archery equipment is very good,
and you can get a good outfit at a reasonable
price. Just avoid cheap arrows.
Choose good ones matched for spine,
weight and straightness. All other things
being equal, closely matched arrows are
more accurate.
When adding other accessories, again,
go slow and keep it simple. Let new
shooters get used to one accessory before
adding another and overwhelming them
with mechanics.
The Result
And then? Congratulations! You just
properly introduced someone to a sport
that may be a lifelong journey filled with
passion, entertainment, challenges and joy
on numerous levels. They can hunt, shoot
recreationally, compete, enjoy themselves
with family and friends in the backyard,
shoot at stumps in the woods or aspire to
even greater achievements with Olympic
competition.
Just remember, it all starts with focusing
on proper form.
63
Pennsylvania Game News - July 2023

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