York County Bowmen Archery School This manual belongs to:
Safety First! Safety rules are NOT foolproof. Apply common sense at all times. If in doubt, DON T SHOOT! Personal Safety Range Safety Before shooting, stretch your neck, shoulders, and back muscles. Use an arm guard and finger tab or mechanical release. Avoid "over-drawing" the bow. Rotate the bow arm so that your elbow points down. Wait for the all clear call before retrieving your arrows. Straddle the shooting line (place your feet in the T position!). Nocked arrows are ALWAYS pointed down range (and NEVER anywhere else). Arrows should not be on your string when anyone is in front of the shooting line. When you have completed your shooting, step back from the shooting line, place your bow on the rack and wait for the signal to collect your arrows. Never draw, aim, or shoot your bow unless you are sure that the line of fire is clear. No running in and around the range or any targets. Draw your bow only while pointing it at a target. When collecting arrows from a target, stand well back from the target while each person pulls their arrows. When you re pulling arrows from a target, make sure that there is no one directly behind you. Equipment Safety Never "dry fire" a bow (shoot it without an arrow). Never let anyone draw or shoot your bow if their draw length is longer than yours. Never shoot an arrow that is less than five grains per pound. Check all of your arrow shafts and nocks upon removal from the target. Do not shoot any arrows that show defects (such as broken nocks or cracks on the shafts). Carefully inspect your bow after each use. Be sure all the screws are snug and the accessories are tight. Inspect your string, serving and cables for wear or damage. Never expose your bow to extreme heat. Excessive heat (such as your car on a hot day) could lead to limb failure. If you are not sure, ASK AN INSTRUCTOR. - 2 -
How to Select and Inspect Equipment for Safety The first step in safe shooting is choosing equipment that fits properly. Ill-fitting equipment can be a hazard to you and others around you. Inspect your equipment to make sure it is in good working order. Finally, check what you are wearing. Although archery doesn't require a certain type of clothing, some clothing and accessories can cause problems. Equipment Selection Keep the following points in mind when selecting your equipment: Have an instructor or pro shop employee check that your arrows are long enough for you. o Overdrawing a short arrow is dangerous because the arrow can shatter if it lodges behind the bow (the arrow can even embed itself in your arm). If you lend your arrows to another archer, make sure that your arrows are long enough for that person. Choose a bow draw weight that you can draw easily and hold for at least several seconds without tiring. 1. Arrows should be the proper length. 2. Bow weight should be comfortable. 3. Make sure the bowstring is intact. 4. Do not overdraw arrow. 5. No cracks in the bow limbs or arrows. 6. Wear shoes and close-fitting clothing. 7. Use an arm guard and finger tab or release. 8. Remove jewellery and objects from clothing. 9. If hair is long, tie it back. - 3 -
Equipment Inspection Before shooting, inspect your equipment for the following: 1. Inspect your bowstring. If it is badly frayed or if any strand of the string is broken, replace the bowstring. 2. Check the serving on your bowstring. If it is unravelling, tie it off, have it re-served, or replace the string. 3. Inspect your bow: If there is a crack in either of the limbs, do not shoot your bow. Have an instructor or employee at a pro shop inspect it. A cracked bow could break at full draw and cause an injury! 4. If you are shooting with a recurve bow, check the brace height to make sure that it is at least six inches. If the brace height is shorter than six inches, the bowstring might slap your wrist. 5. If you are shooting with a compound bow, make sure that the steel cables are routed properly on the pulleys and that the bowstring is securely attached to the cables. 6. Inspect your arrows: Wood arrows with cracks should be broken in two and discarded. Extremely bent arrows should be straightened before shooting. Each arrow should have a properly installed tip. Attire 7. Inspect your arrow's nocks. Cracked nocks should be removed and replaced immediately because a damaged nock can slip off the string before release. Archery requires no particular uniform, but archers should avoid clothing that could catch the bowstring. Also, shoes, arm guards, and finger tabs help prevent injuries. 1. When dressing to shoot, avoid baggy shirts, baggy sleeves, and chest pockets with buttons for trim. Remove pens and pencils from shirt pockets. Also, avoid necklaces, dangling earrings and pins a bowstring could catch on any of these. 2. If you have long hair, you should tie it back so that it doesn't get caught in the bowstring. 3. Wear shoes when shooting. An arrow dropped on your bare foot or stepped on in the grass could cause an injury. 4. Wear an arm guard and use a finger tab. They protect you from abrasions and blisters. - 4 -
How to Shoot Safely Many of these safety rules illustrate how a bow can be a lethal weapon, and show why you must be very careful when shooting or handling a bow. You should anticipate when a situation is dangerous and do what you can to minimize the risk. 1. When instructed to do so, take your position on the shooting line. Make sure you straddle the line so that you and all shooters are standing in one straight line. 2. Nock your first arrow only after the signal to shoot is given (one whistle blast). 3. Point a nocked arrow at the ground until the target area is declared clear and it is safe to draw the bowstring. 4. Nock your arrow only at the nock locater. 5. If you are shooting on your own, before each shot check the target area to make sure that it is clear at least 40 metres behind the target and 20 metres to each side of the target. 6. If an arrow falls off the arrow rest, restart the shot rather than attempt to replace the arrow at full draw. Otherwise, you may become fatigued and accidentally release the bowstring before getting the arrow into the proper position. 7. Learn to shoot without holding the arrow on the bow with your index finger. You could puncture or scratch your finger. 8. When you are shooting in a group, if any of your equipment falls in front of the shooting line, use your bow or an arrow to rake it back to you. Do not cross the shooting line to retrieve it. 9. Once the shooting line is clear you may retrieve your arrows only after two whistle blasts. 10. If you hear the emergency signal (three or more whistle blasts), stop shooting immediately. 11. Always shoot towards the target. Never shoot arrows straight up into the air. 1. Straddle the shooting line. 2. Point arrow only at the ground or target. 3. Make sure area around and behind the target is clear. 4. Use bow to pull fallen arrows towards you. 5. Shoot only at the target. 6. If the arrow falls off rest, restart the shot. 7. Stop immediately on emergency signal. - 5 -
How to Safely Retrieve Arrows After Shooting 1. When you ve finished shooting your arrows, step back from the shooting line. 2. Before retrieving your arrows, place your bow on a bow rack or in a designated area. 3. Cross the shooting line to retrieve your arrows only when given the signal to do so (two whistle blasts or someone yells clear ). If no one is providing signals, move forward only after all archers have stepped back from the shooting line to indicate that they have finished shooting. 4. Walk (don t run) to the target and approach it with caution. 5. On the walk to the target, pick up arrows that landed on the ground in front of the target before pulling your arrows from the target. If the fletching is embedded in the ground, pull that arrow forward and out of the ground to avoid damaging the fletching. 6. Before pulling your arrows from the target, make sure there is no one directly behind you. 7. When pulling your arrows from the target, place one hand flat against the target face to prevent it from ripping, and then grasp the arrow shaft close to the target with the order hand. Twist the arrow back and forth to remove it. 8. Use caution when retrieving notepads, pens, or other objects below the target in order to avoid eye and head injuries. 9. Be careful with arrows because the points are sharp. Carry them in a quiver or with the points in your palm (target points only. Never carry broadhead points in your hand). 10. When you have to retrieve arrows behind the target, make sure that no one else will shoot at it. If shooting with other archers, one archer should remain in front of the target while the others look for the lost arrows. If you are shooting alone, leave your bow in front of the target. Approaching the target 1. Wait for the signal to cross the line. 2. Walk (don t run) to the target. 3. Watch for arrows on or in the ground, and pick them up on the way to the target. Retrieving arrows 1. Pull forward any arrows embedded in the ground. 2. If you walk behind the target, leave your equipment in front of it. Removing arrows from the target 1. When removing arrows from the target, make sure that no one is behind you. 2. Twist arrows to remove them from the target. 3. Carry arrows in a quiver. - 6 -
Archery Etiquette General Never draw another archer's bow without first obtaining permission. It is generally accepted that one never touches another archer's equipment, including spotting scopes, without prior permission. When nocking your arrow, control your bow so as to not interfere with or distract any archers shooting next to you. Also ensure that the arrows in your quiver do not interfere or distract anyone. Never draw another archer's arrows from the target without first asking permission. It is courteous to draw arrows for others, but not without permission. Once you have finished shooting, move off the shooting line and stand behind the waiting line. Keep noise (including conversations) to a minimum so as not to distract other shooters. If you should damage another archer's arrow by stepping on it, etc., you should offer to pay for it immediately. Arrows that are damaged in the butt by other arrows are not subject to this. Do not make unkind remarks about someone else's (or your own) shooting. Do not offer advice about someone s shooting or their form. If you make a poor shot, do not express exasperation. Be a good sport. Absolutely no alcohol. Tournaments Before a tournament, whenever possible you should pre-register as soon as you can. Make sure that you are aware of the rules and regulations of any tournament you attend well in advance. Make sure your clothing is acceptable (check whether there is a dress code). If you have any doubts, then ask. Make sure your equipment configuration is acceptable for the class you intend to compete in. When competing in a tournament where you are the guest at the host club, you should act in such a way as to bring credit to your home club. Always abide immediately with any ruling of a judge. o If you feel you were not dealt with fairly, then you must protest in writing to the Tournament Committee. There is usually a fee for a protest that is returned if your protest is upheld. Make sure that your group is not holding up the tournament by taking too long to score or mark the target. In an un-timed tournament (such as 3D or field), do not take excessively long to shoot. o If your group has more than two slow shooters, ask the tournament directors to split the group. If the butts must be moved over a distance, offer your assistance to groups who might have difficulty moving their butt. Upon completion of shooting, help with totalling the score cards before putting your equipment away. The tournament committee needs the completed score cards back as soon as possible to prepare for the awards. It is your responsibility to check your own score card. o When you are satisfied with the score total, sign your score card. - 7 -
Additional Safety Rules for 3D and Field Courses 3D and field shooting is typically done on a trail of targets (shooting stations) in the woods. This means that there is extra risk of being shot, or accidentally shooting someone else. Maintain extra caution and situational awareness at all times. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others. If in doubt, don t shoot! Do not use the field or 3D courses alone until you are familiar with the layout of the property. The course layouts change from time to time. Make sure you know where the course starts and what color flags mark the course you intend to use. Follow the marked course at all times. o Do not walk the course backwards. o Do not take shortcuts off the marked or flagged trail. o Do not walk randomly in the woods. o Do not bail from the course and walk cross county back to the clubhouse. The exception to the above is that the main forest road is considered a safe zone at all times. Where the course trail intersects the road, you may take the road. When searching for a lost arrow: o Hang your bow in front of the target or have another archer stand in front of the target. o Do not cross into other shooting lanes or go behind other targets. o It is your responsibility to know where the danger zones are. o If you are shooting 3D, remember the field course may be active and vice versa. Do not shoot except from marked shooting stations. o Do not make up your own lanes or shooting stations. Do not shoot at anything except a legitimate 3D target or field butt. Occasionally, some stations of the 3D and field courses overlap and are not safe to shoot at the same time. o Make sure you are aware of other archers using another course and do not shoot in unsafe circumstances. o The layout of the field course does not change. Every archer using the 3D course must know the layout of the field course for safety awareness. Shoot within the limits of your skill and equipment. o Do not shoot if there is a chance you will overshoot the target or ricochet off an obstacle. The forest next to our property is frequently used by the public. Our courses are designed not to endanger anyone, but the layouts can sometimes look alarming to someone walking on public land just across our property border. Be sensitive to this and do not alarm anyone. - 8 -
Note: Do not change the course, move a target, move a shooting stake, move a flag, add or remove obstacles. Report any target layouts that you feel are unsafe. If necessary, any member may (and must) declare the 3D course closed for safety reasons. o In this case, sound a horn three times. Wait, then repeat. o Contact the Range Director or board member as soon as possible. o Improvise a sign or wait at the clubhouse so that no archers will start the course until the safety issue has been resolved. In the event that you hear the emergency signal mentioned above, stop shooting immediately and return to the clubhouse. Follow the marked course trail until it intersects the main road, then follow the main road. Our forest contains real deer, foxes, wolves, coyotes, skunks, racoons and even the occasional bear. There is also a large quantity of poison ivy, plenty of mosquitoes and some biting ants. o Make sure that all archers, guests, children and pets are neither harmed by nor disturb our flora and fauna. Respect the weather and hiking difficulty, especially in winter. o Take water. o On hot days, pace yourself especially on the steep terrain. o Wear sturdy footwear with good traction and ankle protection. Take a cell phone with you and know what parts of the property you have reception on. In an emergency, call 911. o Know the address of the club and be able to give your approximate distance and direction from the clubhouse (EMS cannot save if you cannot call them or they cannot find you). - 9 -
Before Shooting Safety Test 1. What should you do if you find a crack in your bow limb? 2. What should you do if you find a crack in a wooden arrow? 3. What should you do if you find a crack in the plastic nock on your arrow? 4. How should you dress for shooting? 5. What should your bowstring be checked for? While Shooting 6. When is it safe to nock an arrow when shooting with a group? 7. When is it safe to nock an arrow when shooting on your own? 8. What does one whistle blast mean? 9. What do two whistle blasts mean? 10. What do three whistle blasts mean? 11. When is it permissible to step across the shooting line? 12. What should you do if your arrow falls off the arrow rest as you are drawing or aiming? 13. When is it permissible to hold an arrow on the bow with your index finger? After Shooting 14. What should you do when you finish shooting your arrows? 15. How should you approach the target? 16. When should you retrieve arrows that fall short (in front) of the target? 17. When should you retrieve arrows that land behind the target? 18. What should you check for before pulling your arrows from the target? (For answers, see page 23) - 10 -
10 Basic Steps to Good Shooting Form 1. Stance o Place one foot on each side of the shooting line, shoulder-width apart o Stand straight with your shoulders level o Keep your legs straight, with your knees relaxed 2. Nock your arrow o With your string hand, pick up your arrow (below the fletch) o Rotate the arrow so that the cock feather points away from the bow o Place the nock below the nock point, and make sure it clicks into place 3. Set your bow hand and arm o Lightly balance the centre of the riser in the V of your hand (between the thumb and the index finger) o The pressure should be taken up on the pad of the thumb o Keep your bow hand relaxed do not grip the bow 4. Set your drawing hand o Set your fingers on the string with the index finger above the nock and the second and third fingers below the nock (or, alternatively, three fingers below the nock if shooting with a traditional bow) o Avoid touching the nock of your arrow with your bottom finger whenever possible o Rest the string between the first two joints of the fingers o Keep the back of your hand flat 5. Drawing the bow o Keep the bow shoulder low o Point the crook of your elbow towards the string while raising the bow arm to the target o Using a 50/50 power balance (i.e., 50% pushing your bow hand towards the target and 50% pulling back the string with your string shoulder blade), draw the string straight back to the anchor position o Slowly move your string elbow back (as if pointing it towards the person standing behind you on the line) 6. Anchor o Position your drawing hand on your face in the same spot every time o A good reference is to set the tip of your index finger below the corner of your mouth o Keep the back of your hand flat and parallel to the string 7. Hold and aim o Focus on what you re aiming at o Commit to the shot, or if it doesn t feel right, let it down and start again 8. Release the arrow o Relax the string fingers and let the string pull through them towards the target (avoid flinging your fingers wide open to let go of the string, because this will make the arrow land off-centre) 9. Follow through o Keep your bow arm up and pushing towards the target o Your string hand should travel straight back (not out to the side), and end up below your ear o Keep your eyes focussed on where you re aiming (keep aiming!) 10. Relax o Once the arrow hits the target, let down your bow in a controlled motion o Take a few deep breaths and get ready for the next shot! - 11 -
T-Form Shot a) Stance 1. Stand with your side towards the target. 2. Align your feet, with your weight even. 3. Stand straight and square to the target. 4. Nock your arrow against the nock locator. 5. Set the index (cock) feather towards you. b) Draw and Aim 1. Set your bow hand and then your draw hand. 2. Place one finger above the arrow, two fingers below the arrow. 3. Raise your bow towards the target. 4. Rotate your bow elbow so that it points down. 5. Relax your hands; your draw hand is flat. 6. Using a 50/50 power balance (i.e., 50% pushing your bow hand towards the target and 50% pulling back the string with your string shoulder blade), draw the string straight back 7. Set your chin on your hand; place the string on your chin and nose. 8. Align your string and arrow shaft, and keep your bow level. 9. Focus on the target. c) Release and Follow-through 1. Use your string shoulder blade to pull the string back. 2. Maintain relaxed bow and draw hands. 3. Count to three. 4. Relax draw hand to release. 5. Pull your draw elbow back when you release. 6. Keep your bow arm up and pointed towards the target. 7. Maintain your head position. 8. Your draw hand finishes close to your ear. - 12 -
Stance a) Square (recommended) b) Open c) Closed 1. Feet are shoulderwidth apart. 2. Toes are aligned. 3. Body is erect. 4. Weight is even. (For beginner archers) None 1. Front foot is turned outward 45 degrees. 2. Rear foot is forward six inches. 3. Body is erect. 4. Shoulders are square. 5. Weight is even. 6. The line to the target intersects the middle of your rear foot and the toes of your front foot. Disadvantages (For right-handed shooters) Waist will swing to the left upon release Arrows will land off-centre 1. Front foot is turned out 45 degrees. 2. Front foot is forward six inches. 3. Body is erect. 4. Weight is even. 5. The line to the target intersects the toes of your rear foot and the middle of your front foot. (For right-handed shooters) Waist will swing to the right upon release Arrows will land off-centre - 13 -
Stretching Exercises Elbow and wrist warm-up Vertical stretching of the torso Forearms circle around the elbows while simultaneously rotating the wrists. Shoulders Stretching the sides Cow head Vertical stretching of the shoulders Horizontal stretching of the shoulders - 14 -
Wrist Positions a) Low wrist b) High wrist c) Straight wrist 1. Pressure of the bow is along the inner side of your thumb, with your knuckles at a 45-degree angle. 2. The bow rests on the base of your thumb. 3. The centre line of your arm intersects the centre of your bow. 4. Relax your wrist backwards as the bow is drawn. 5. Relax your hand and fingers. 1. The centre line of your arm intersects the centre of the bow. 2. Your wrist is higher than your hand. 3. Pressure of the bow is on the small area of your hand. 4. Relax your hand and fingers. 1. The centre line of your arm intersects the centre of the bow. 2. Your wrist is level with your hand. 3. Pressure of the bow is on the web of your hand. 4. Relax your hand and fingers. Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Wrist Positions Type of Wrist Position Advantages Disadvantages a) Low Allows your wrist to relax backwards completely. Does not require great wrist strength. b) High Minimises the area of your hand contacting the bow handle. Minimises bow torque. Minimises the tendency to grab the bow on release. c) Straight Consistent from shot to shot. Makes deviations in position easy to feel. Promotes a tendency to grab the bow if your wrist and fingers are not relaxed. Difficult to maintain over a long shooting session without great strength. Promotes a tendency to move your wrist at release, due to fatigue. Difficult to maintain over long shooting session without great strength. Pressure against skin web between thumb and forefinger promotes tendency to wrap fingers around bow. - 15 -
Horizontal and Vertical Accuracy Techniques Affecting Horizontal Accuracy Many technique errors that cause horizontal errors are detected from a position behind the archer, facing downrange. From this angle, check for positions or movements that cause horizontal variations in arrow flight. The body leaning right or left perhaps the arrow falling off in that direction upon release. The shoulders are angled downrange. The bow arm appearing to the right or left (from behind the trunk) upon release. The bow tilting right or left. The bow turning right or left upon release. The string hand or arm flying away from the face upon release. a) b) c) Release the bowstring cleanly. Align the shoulder towards the target. Use a consistent anchor position. Align the bow vertically. Adjust your equipment so that your arrow clears the bow. - 16 -
Horizontal and Vertical Accuracy Techniques Affecting Vertical Accuracy Technique errors that cause vertical errors are most often detected from a position down the shooting line, directed toward the front of the body. From this perspective, check for these positions or movements that cause vertical variations in arrow flight. An uneven shoulder line. The body leaning towards or away from the target. The hips sliding forwards and the upper body tilting back. The bow arm moving up or down upon release. Shot-to-shot variations in the anchor position. Shot-to-shot variations in the bow hand grip. Shot-to-shot variations in finger pressure. Zoom in on the string or bow hand to see whether its position varies from shot to shot. An observer also can stand behind you as you re shooting to look at your back and watch your form. a) b) c) Keep the bow arm up. Use a consistent bow hand Stand upright. Keep the finger pressure on grip. Keep your draw length bowstring even. consistent from shot to shot. Use a consistent anchor position. - 17 -
Troubleshooting Assessing Your Archery Form Checking Bow Hand Errors Checking Draw Errors Checking Anchor Errors - 18 -
Troubleshooting Assessing Your Archery Form Checking Release Errors Checking Follow Through - 19 -
Troubleshooting Assessing Your Archery Form Checking Horizontal Alignment Errors Checking Vertical Alignment Errors - 20 -
Types of Bows Straight-Limb Fibreglass Bows The straight-limb bow is inexpensive, and both right-handed and left-handed shooters can use the same bow. However, the straight-limb bow design does not provide much leverage when an archer bends the limbs by pulling back the bowstring. Also, the arrow sits to the right or left of centre, and the archer must compensate for this setup when aiming. Straight-limb bows are adequate for beginners because the initial emphasis should be on learning proper shooting form. However, serious archers rarely use straight-limb bows. Recurve Bow The recurve bow design is more efficient than the straight limb bow design. A recurve bow in its relaxed position has limb tips that are bent back, away from the archer. The bowstring lies across two to three inches of the limb. When the bowstring is drawn back, the curves straighten to provide leverage. When the string is released, the curves return to their C shape. This series of actions imparts more arrow speed than a straight limb. The terms used to describe the various parts of both straight-limb and recurve bows are shown on the following page. Compound Bow Compound bows are characterised by an off-centre, or an eccentric pulley or cam mounted on each limb tip. The energy required to rotate the part of the pulley with the long radius is greater than the energy required to rotate the part with the short radius. The pulleys are mounted so that the energy required to pull back the bowstring is the greatest at middraw and the smallest at full draw when the archer is holding to aim. When the archer releases the bowstring, this situation is reversed, and the energy applied to the arrow is increased. For example, an archer with a 40-pound compound bow of 50 percent let-off or reduction holds only 20 pounds of resistance at full draw. Forty pounds of thrust, however, are imparted to the arrow. Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Bows Type of bow Advantages Disadvantages Inexpensive Little cast Straight-limb fibreglass Can be fitted for right-handers or left-handers Not centre-shot Greater cast Shooting for distance Recurve Greater arrow speed. requires a high draw weight Interchangeable limbs if take-down style. Holding weight is less than draw Must be fitted for archer s Compound weight draw length. Potentially faster arrow speed - 21 -
Bow Parts Recurve Bow - 22 -
Safety Test Answers (From questions on page 10) Before Shooting 1. Do not shoot. Seek advice at a pro shop. 2. Break the arrow into two pieces and discard. 3. Remove the cracked nock and replace it. 4. Wear close-fitting clothing. Remove jewellery and pocketed items. Tie long hair back. 5. Fraying or a broken strand, frayed serving. While Shooting 6. After signal (one whistle blast). 7. After checking for a clear target area. 8. It is permissible to nock an arrow and begin shooting. 9. It is permissible to cross line to retrieve arrows. 10. Stop shooting immediately emergency situation. 11. After two whistle blasts, or when all archers have stepped back from the line. 12. Ease the string forward and start the shot over again. 13. NEVER! While Shooting 14. Step back from the line and place your bow in the designated area. 15. At a walk, watching for arrows that landed on the ground. 16. On the way to the target. 17. After positioning a fellow archer or your bow or quiver in front of the target. 18. Archers or spectators standing in the way. - 23 -
Notes - 24 -