The Fundamentals of Archery: Mastering Stance, Posture, and Technique

Archery is an ancient sport that combines focus, precision, and physical skill. Whether you’re watching an archer at an international finals match or trying it out for the first time, understanding the fundamentals of archery technique is crucial. In this guide, we’ll explore the key elements of archery, from stance and posture to the release and grip, ensuring you develop a strong foundation right from the start.

Stance and Posture: The Cornerstones of Archery

The first area of good technique is obviously your stance and your posture. You’ll see this when you see an archer walking onto the shooting line in an international finals match. They step onto the line, take their stance, and then start their shot. This is a key element to start with.

Use a square stance. It’s much easier, much simpler, and it’s much more straightforward to get everything else correct and keep your posture. Over time, if you continue with your archery and want to develop more, you can start using different stances and experiment with what works for you. But start with a square stance and keep it simple. This square stance is basically having your feet square along the shooting line, equidistant from the shooting line. It’s a great starting point and a simple way to get started and get the rest of your shot correct.

The Set Position: Preparing for the Shot

The set position is the second part of the shot, and you’ll see this when an archer starts to lift the bow and begin their shooting process. For a right-handed archer, the right hand would be the draw hand around the string, and the left hand would be the bow hand. You want to make these two points of contact secure and get the correct technique for the rest of your shot.

At this point, you should have the bow very roughly in the right place, with the bow on the leg. Put your fingers on the string and then come up to your set position. The string should be in the first joint of all three fingers as a good starting point. This allows you to get your hook nice and firm.

A key thing with the set position is to make sure not to close yourself down. A common mistake is archers trying to simply push the bow out with the left arm and pull it with the hand, leading to a closed stance. Focus on keeping the side as straight as you can and not kinking the wrist. This will help you massively in your first lesson and get your technique correct from the start.

Drawing the Bow: Technique and Focus

When the archer opens the bow, keep that wrist angle steady. Instead of focusing on moving the string to the face, think about moving the hand to the neck. This prevents a bad wrist angle and anchor. The thumb should be against the inside of the neck. As you draw the bow, the hand should be alongside the neck, under the chin, and flush with the face and body. This position improves your chances of achieving a good anchor position.

The Release: Letting the Arrow Fly

The release is the most obvious part of the technique in recurve archery. When the string leaves the hands, the arrow leaves the bow and heads towards the target. It’s crucial to get the release correct from the start for long-term accuracy.

In a typical beginner’s lesson, you might be told to release the arrow, but without prior experience, you might not know how to release it correctly. A simple drill to learn the feeling of the correct technique is to place the first finger pads of each hand together, mimic the anchor position, and increase tension until the fingers slip off each other. This teaches you the correct way to release the string and maintains a proper release hand hook.

Maintaining Consistency: Body and Head Stillness

Another key aspect of archery technique for beginners is to keep the body and head still. Avoid drawing and moving backwards and forwards, or leaning back. Maintain a straight body with a square stance, forming a T-shape with your arms and body. This posture is essential for consistent shooting.

To practice this, stand on the shooting line with arms outstretched in a crucifix position. Look towards the target, and bend the right hand to your anchor position. This helps you replicate the correct posture with the bow.

Gripping the Bow: Proper Hand Placement

When gripping the bow, ensure the bow is in the correct position with the hand. Avoid having the hand too far over. The left side of the thumb pad should contact the grip, not the opposite side. Place your hand in the grip, forming a V, and ensure the thumb pad is in contact without grabbing the bow tightly. This position enhances control and consistency.

Staying Steady: Avoiding Movement Between Shots

Avoid shuffling around or moving between arrows on the shooting line. Once you have your stance, maintain it. Moving around can disrupt consistency and make it harder to replicate your actions. Stay steady, shoot the arrow, and focus on maintaining your stance.

Trusting the Process: Technique Over Results

Finally, when starting archery, don’t focus solely on the target. Just because an arrow hits the gold doesn’t mean the technique was perfect. Trust your instructor or coach, and focus on mastering the technique rather than immediate results. Over time, your technique will improve, and the discipline will become rewarding and enjoyable.

Remember, archery is an exciting sport that requires patience and practice. By mastering the fundamentals of stance, posture, and technique, you’ll set yourself on the path to becoming a proficient archer.