From childhood to adulthood, as a sport and a theme in popular movies and books, Archery is a source of fascination and excitement. The first time you release an arrow and watch it soar through the air is magical. It’s a captivating experience, even if your arrow completely misses the target.
As a sport, archery requires skills of precision, control, focus, repetition and determination. It is available to be practiced by all, no matter age, gender or ability, and is a widespread pastime around the world.
If you’ve tried archery or want to try archery, you’ll be happy to learn that it’s very easy to get started. Finding the time, equipment and place to shoot are easier than you may realize.
TYPES OF ARCHERY
While Target archery is likely the most well-known , there are a number of different ways you can enjoy the sport of archery:
TARGET ARCHERY
3D ARCHERY
FIELD ARCHERY
TRADITIONAL ARCHERY
BOW HUNTING
You don’t have to choose one type, as many archers will cross over into different types, though generally at the high performance level you will focus on a particular discipline.
Target archery can be shot indoors or outdoors, weather permitting, and is shot at a distance of 18 meters indoors or 30, 40, or 50 meters outdoors (compound and recurve) or up to 70 meters for recurve, depending on the age of the archer.
3D can also be an indoor or outdoor sport, and is shot at life-size, three-dimensional animal reproductions at distances from as little as five meters to as long as 60. Some forms of 3D archery require archers to calculate, using only their eyes and brains, the distance to the target, which will vary from target to target. It can be very challenging!
Field archery is an outdoor sport, and archers walk through a forest or field arriving at each target’s shooting location. Archers are told the distance to each target and adjust their sights accordingly.
Traditional archers normally shoot wooden recurve bow or longbows – you know those six foot tall Robin Hood type bows. Traditional bows can be shot in most other types of archery.Most of the bows used in traditional archery are from medieval Europe, the ancient Mediterranean countries and ancient Asian bows. Wooden recurve bows, horse back bows and longbows are the go to bows for most traditional archery enthusiasts.
Bow hunting can generally be done with any type of bow, with some types being more ideal than others. Recurve bows and compound bows are the most commonly used, and quite possibly the best bows for bow hunting. Traditional bows and longbows can be used as well, just be sure that their draw weight is at least forty pounds or better.
FINDING SOMEWHERE TO SHOOT
The best way to start archery is find a club or range with dedicated instructors and beginner equipment available. Getting an introduction to the sport does not cost a lot of money and new archers improve very quickly with proper coaching. It’s important to work with a trained or certified coach. Like any sport, it’s better to learn the correct technique from the very beginning!
It is encouraged to complete an introductory course with a local archery club or centre. Many will start you with a recurve bow, but may encourage you to try out the different kinds of bows, recurve, compound and traditional, as well as the different disciplines within the sport.
BUYING EQUIPMENT
When it comes to archery equipment, you have endless options that fit every budget, skill level, purpose and person. Start with a visit to your local archery store. The staff will help you pick a bow that fits your needs. Archery is a highly individualized sport, and your equipment is tailored to fit you perfectly.
When you’re just getting started, it’s more important to focus on your form and practice than the equipment. There is no need to own every archery gadget in the shop; you can stick with basic equipment while you work on technique. Once your shooting improves, you can upgrade your equipment at your own pace.
Post time: Jan-26-2022