Archery is an age-old weapon still employed in both sport and hunting today. Though drawing the bow may appear straightforward, it requires considerable strength and precision to pull it back.
Your upper back muscles are the key to a perfect draw, so it’s essential to learn how to utilize them correctly. Once you’ve mastered this, drawing the bow will come naturally!
The Body
Archers have long relied on the bow as their weapon of choice, and it remains iconic today. But drawing a bow can be challenging even for experienced archers – that’s why we created this comprehensive tutorial to teach you how to draw your bow and start shooting it with confidence!
The body of a bow consists of an elastic arc and high-tensile string connecting its ends. Bending this archery device stores energy that propels an arrow from its end.
When drawing a bow, keep your head up straight as you draw it back towards your face (or away from it if using a compound bow). Doing this helps avoid muscle strain, which is often experienced by new archers.
When drawing full pull, maintain your wrist flat by drawing a straight line from it to your forearm and elbow. Be careful not to break your wrist!
Next, line the bowstring with the center of the bow. Doing this helps prevent pulling it left or right and potentially injuring your arm or shoulder.
Finally, when drawing your bow you should aim it at your target. If this isn’t possible, your bow may be too heavy and could drift upward during the draw.
If you’re just starting out, it is essential to start with a bow with the appropriate draw weight for your physical size and strength. This may seem challenging at first, but as your conditioning improves, the process will become smoother.
One of the most common mistakes new archers make is turning their heads away from the bow, which can cause shoulder injuries and make shooting accurate more challenging. To prevent these, keep your head up and up as you draw back the bow.
Another common error is drawing directly towards your face, which can cause your hand to fly out and hit you in the face when you release the bow! This can be painful or even dangerous.
The Grip
The grip is the part of your bow where you hold it before taking a shot, and also where the arrow attaches to the bowstring. A proper grip can reduce hand torque, decrease string slap injuries and enhance accuracy.
Gain the proper grip by practicing with a stick or rubber mallet. You could also use tape like that used on concrete porch steps and skateboards to ensure your hand remains in the proper position every time.
Start by relaxing your hand and sliding it up the grip until your web of your hand cannot go any further or the grip reaches in the throat (deepest portion of bow’s grip). Next, turn your hand so it is at 45 degrees angle to riser knuckles up/out – giving or taking a few degrees – this location helps reduce hand torque, changes elbow position, and eliminates string slap potential.
Once in the proper position, draw your bow and release it. It is important to note that no bow sling is required when using this grip; however, practice makes perfect!
This technique can help reduce bow hand torque, improving accuracy. Start by focusing on a single point on your grip called your pressure point; it is located directly beneath your pivot point on the thumb pad side of your palm.
Gripping your bow between your thumb and lifeline (the pad of your thumb) is the best way to prevent torque from affecting its accuracy. Furthermore, this grip is least stressful on your wrist since it involves fewer muscles and thus reduces strain on joints and elbows.
The Feathers
Feathers are special appendages of birds that allow them to fly and serve a variety of other purposes. Not only do they assist with flight, but feathers also shield birds’ bodies from bruises and scrapes during courtship displays and provide protection from cold or hot weather conditions.
Feathers come in an array of shapes and sizes. They’re made from keratin, which is a hard but flexible substance. Each bird has its own type of feather which gives them their distinct look; contour feathers tend to have a central shaft with vanes branching off on either side for added visual interest.
Another type of feather is the down feather, which consists of a cluster of short, soft hairs at the tip of a shaft. While its purpose remains uncertain, some experts believe it acts like feelers that adjust contour feathers during flight.
The typical feather is composed of a central shaft (called the rachis), with serially paired branches (known as barbs) forming an outwardly curved surface known as the vane. Each barb has further branches attached to its neighbour by hooks which stiffen the vane further.
Many feathers lack barbules or have no hooks at all, giving the plumage a loose, hairlike appearance. The most complex type of plumage is called a flight feather which consists of multiple interlocking structures that enable birds to fly for extended periods.
Other feathers are crafted to give them distinctive features, such as the iridescent spiral from a King Bird-of-Paradise tail that serves for display and serves as an ornament during courtship. Furthermore, some feathers contain pigments like melanins or carotenoids which can create distinct shades of color.
Some feathers have special functions, such as those found on club-winged Manakins that sing by rubbing their feathers together. One is club shaped with ridges along its edge which serves as a pick and the other is slender and bent to produce one note.
The Tip
Archers depend on a bow for success, and learning how to draw it is no problem. With some practice and expertise, anyone can master this iconic weapon with ease.
When drawing a bow, the first thing that you must learn is how to grip it properly. Doing so can help avoid injury and make shooting much simpler.
To do this, tuck your little finger, ring finger and middle finger into your palm. Then extend index finger and thumb and use them to pick up the bow and hold it out in front of you.
Once you’ve done that, slowly pull the string back for a firm hold on it. This will enable you to draw your bow at full draw without losing control of it.
Some may find this challenging, so take your time to practice until you get it perfect. If your bow doesn’t fit well on your hand, adjust the string so it fits more securely.
Additionally, keep your head up straight while drawing the bow. Doing so prevents you from pulling the bow too far away from your face which could affect sighting and accuracy.
Another tip is to align your shoulders when at full draw. Doing this will make it easier for you to keep your bow steady and reduce the risk of shoulder injuries.
If you’re having trouble holding the bow correctly, try adjusting its draw weight. A bow that’s too heavy will be difficult to pull back at full draw and may lead to overdraw or misdraws.
Utilizing the draw weight that is appropriate for you will enhance accuracy and shooting prowess. Furthermore, it helps prevent you from developing bad habits or increasing the risk of injury.
Once you’ve done that, you can begin aiming your bow at your target and shooting the bow. Doing this consistently will make it much easier to maintain form, technique and an anchor point for accuracy.
