Hi Moritz,
Nice to find your site here. I look forward to more archery stories and techniques.
It has been years since I actually did any target shooting. I am in my late fifties now but years ago my brother and I both got into our local archery club back in Canada. I was in my twenties when I bought my first bow. I don’t remember who advised me but I am sure the fellow at the local Archery Cave / store helped to fit me etc.
I ended up with a beautiful 27lb recurve. I love the few years of experience I had with it. I value those memories. Let’s talk about too small of arm guards.. or how about forgetting to put it on. Lol.. That is surely only going to happen once. I remember a dandy welt as a reminder.
Over the years I taught my daughters one summer how to hold, aim and release and they had success with their target shooting experience that summer.
My brother got into compound bow target shooting and hunted deer as well
I recently moved to Australia for the next adventure in my life and I packaged my bow nicely with all the accompaniments inside, and the long size of the package, I decided NOT to ship it with me to Australia and left it in Canada with my mom.
My daughter considers it a family heirloom to pass on one day. It really would have looked good over our mantel.
Instead I have a lovely picture of a country scene set somewhere in Great Britain with Victorian styled dressed women standing in line waiting their turn to shoot a recurve.
My recurve is packed away well protected waiting to be resurrected. I have a new bow string for it. The fletches on the arrows need to be replaced. They have gone brittle over the years.
Enjoy your site developing. I hope you add topic of how to redo your fletches. What kind of targets do you like to uses?
Teresa

Very informative site with a sport I use to have fun with using the long bows then converting over to the compound bow. You have some really great tips and knowledge I think that I should dust off the old bow and follow your lead and start back up again.

Hi Moritz,

This is a very good Archery 101 and hopefully sets out and breaks some of the myths that novice archers would hold to be true.

Years ago, I was a state champion. I was 14. Even though you obviously have to know what you are doing to get to that place, I can’t tell you how many times people looked at me like I was an alien when I would chastise them for drawing and then letting the string go without a load.

Correct form is another area that is widely confusing for many. They just don’t realize how it’s your back that maintains the draw until such time that you are ready to release. When your shoulders lock inplace it’s no longer your arm muscle that is doing the work. It’s similar to doing yoga. Sometimes you can only get into the correct position if you start out and work into it correctly.

I have been out of competition for years now, but have a son that would love the chance to draw and fire a bow. Unfortunately there are no places nearby that offer lessons or rentals. Without spending the money on a bow and straight arrows, he will never get that oppurtunity.

Are there any places that you know of that offer lessons or equipment rentals? Maybe I just haven’t looked far enough.

Me and my boyfriend have been throwing around the idea of picking up archery. Decided to do some research and so happy to come across these important not-to-dos. This was a definite must read for me since the last time I tried archery was at camp in the 5th grade! Thanks so much and I will remember to keep both eyes open!

Great article about the most common archery mistakes.
It’s good to know about them so it’s easier to avoid them.
I am amazed at how much there is to know about bows, arrows, targets, and technique. It’s been many years since I have even held a bow but it brings back pleasant memories of why I liked it then and thoughts of trying it once more.
I downloaded your handsome book which I look forward to reading.
Quincy

Your blog is really inspiring and now I’m thinking to give it a try. I read the book “Zen in the Art of Archery” and liked it a lot. Did you read it?

Hi, Moritz!

Thank you for this informative post. I am new to archery. Actually, I am just on the stage of looking for bows that would fit me as a newbie hunter. I was reading some bow reviews so that I would know what bow would be a nice pick. But when I saw your blog, I realized that there is more to consider aside from a great bow with great rigs. I really appreciate this blog post of yours! You really have a keen eye when it comes to archery. Congratulations to your book as well. I know it’s a very good book for archers.