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Making it a Habit - Archery Tips

Brian Kirksey - JHO ProStaff - Bay Area, CA
May 30, 2006

Form is everything in archery. We do our best to become the machine so every shot is executed the same so it hits the same spot every time. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the line in Vegas or in a tree stand 18 feet in the cold air in Wisconsin. The goal and the shot are the same. I am going to give you a couple of tips that will help influence your technique and that might aid you in duplicating your shot more often.

The first tip is being aware of your anchor point. It is critical you pull your bow back against its wall and have a routine of set references. This will help your face line up properly with the string and sight so you are looking through your sight system the same way every time.

Consistency is the key
Finding an anchor point and achieving a consistent release can help you make the shot every time.

For example, I have several anchor points that help me line up for my shot. Once I pull my bow back it takes roughly one second for me to line my face up. The string touches the tip of my nose when I am at full draw and it also touches the corner of my lip. My peep sight is positioned right in front of my right eye. If I were to close my eyes at full draw, I could open them and I would be looking right through my peep. This is how I initially set my peep sight when setting up my bow. Additionally my right hand holding the release is wedged in the back of my jaw bone giving me another solid reference. I practice these references every time I shoot, until it becomes embedded in my subconscious.

The other tip is to control your release process. I do not agree with the idea of knowing when the shot is going off. I have heard people comparing shooting a release to pulling the trigger on a rifle or pistol. This will probably lead to a form of target panic and is not an advisable practice. I recommend using your back muscles and pulling your elbow back to the rear to get your release to fire subconsciously, in the meantime consciously aiming all the time, burying the pin in your target.

The firing of the release should absolutely be a surprise. At first it’s an awkward feeling, but with practice it does become comfortable and highly accurate. The same principle applies to finger releases. You can lay your finger across the trigger with a relaxed hand. Locate the trigger with the crease under the first knuckle on your index finger. Add a minute amount of pressure to the trigger so its presence is known. Apply back tension. Shoulder blades come together, your elbow starts to the rear which applies more pressure to your finger against the trigger until firing occurs. Your finger never moved, you’ve back brought it back against the trigger with your back muscles. Once this style of releasing your shots becomes hammered into your subconscious, you are free to aim at your target whole mindedly, consciously, and accurately.

Regular practice and consistently using these techniques can help remove the uncertainty from most shots, until all you need to focus on is your target… whether it’s a hay bale or a trophy elk.