How to Become an Accurate Archer

For at least 5,000 years, bows and arrows have been used for hunting as well as competition. England began to hold archery competitions in the late 16th century, though shortly after that time firearms emerged as the warfare weapons of choice. The Olympic Games introduced archery as an event in 1900. While equipment strides have been made throughout the years, the basics of archery remain the same, and the key to improvement remains devotion to practice.

Instructions

    • 1

      Clean your equipment and make sure it's in proper working order. Nothing can lead to a bad shot more quickly than a bent bow or cracked rest. Frank Addington, who writes for Bowhunting.net, recommends learning to understand your equipment. Weather conditions, particularly heat, can melt the wax on bows and stretch them.

    • 2

      Focus on the basics of the stance. The foundation of all technique and form lies in your address to the shot. Stand with your feet shoulder-length apart, perpendicular to your target, with your weight evenly distributed on both legs. Grab the bow, and with your other arm, form a letter "T" with your arms and torso. Finally, touch your face with your pulling hand as you reach the last point before firing.

    • 3

      Make every practice shot count. Professional archer Tony Bynum says simply taking practice shots can actually hurt your skills. It's about making every practice shot nearly perfect. Any wasted or lazy shot can reverse your training. Diagnose what goes wrong with each shot, and work to improve in that area.

    • 4

      Use a shot sequence. Bynum refers to this as a "mental checklist" to address before he attempts a shot. He uses the acronym AGLAS to help him remember each step to focus on: anchor, grip, level, aim and squeeze.

      The anchor, or setup, should be repeatable and comfortable. The grip, which can change once you've set up to the target, should be checked before and after your address. Check your level because what may seem level often is not. Aim for a full two seconds rather than firing at the instant you achieve aim to the target. Finally, squeeze as you continue to breathe and aim, and follow through rather than jerking the shot to one side.