Who aims off in a wind?

Ok This is an obvious question. What do we all do in the wind.

[avalon]

I guess it depends on the conditions... If it's a variable wind, then I'll aim off (though if I haven't had to do it in a while I may as well be just shutting my eyes and hoping ) If it's fairly constant I'll change my sight, and then accommodate any further wind changes by aiming off.
If I just moved my sight to cope with the wind, I'd probably spend all day adjusting it, and never settling down!

[Thunk]

We never have a constant wind on our field; it usually blows right to left down the shooting line, but the speed varies all the time. IMO you couldn't keep up if you adjusted the sight all the time!

Yesterday it was different - blowing in your face on one end, and then directly behind you for the next!

[KevinH]

It depends on the conditions on the day; I prefer to get the windage adjusted, but if things are changeable I'll aim off rather than keep moving my sight.

[morphymick]

In a steady wind I adjust windage to suit.

If gusting, adjust windage for steady wind and aim for the gusts.

Mick

[wingate_52]

Variable conditions are there to test the archer not just the equipment. Use what you have, constant adjustment is not the way to go. Experience and judgement comes into play.

Originally Posted by wingate_52

Variable conditions are there to test the archer not just the equipment. Use what you have, constant adjustment is not the way to go. Experience and judgement comes into play.

Who said anything about constant adjustment?

What I do now:-

Shoot sighters see where the group goes, adjust windage for left and right error. Then I just shoot the thing and hope the arrows punch through any gusts. Keep an eye on the target flag and the wind. Only adjust windage if there is a noticeable wind direction change.

I find the wind effects me more than the arrows. I have also found If I brace well ie push pull hard, the wind effect on me is reduced considerably. Check out my last jounal entry.

I don't like to aim off as it upsets my aiming method, ie circles within circles. I may experiment with canting the bow in future, but as yet I don't think I need to. I'm not sure if aiming off would work for me anyway as my brain would still be aiming at the middle of the boss anyway. I feel it depends on the archers mindset what works best for them.

One way or another, wind is part of the game, we all have to shoot in it at some time or another. I hear so many moaning about it, especially at tournaments. I feel a lot of archers have lost on a windy day, before the bow comes out of the case .

[Marcus26]

First up I rarely get drift, even in high wind. Combination of high energy bow and X10's work great.

Secondly I never aim off and never move my sight. I cant my top limb into the wind and use the bubble as a guide. This way I can continue my usual aiming processes.

[MrT]

I check the flag nearest the target and aim off. As we rarely get steady cross winds at our field, it's the only option other than continually adjusting the sight.

I read about aiming off in "Total Archery", and the first time I tried it was at our 50th Anniversary shoot, where I shot a personal best and came 2nd in the recurve so it obviously works for me!

[Max]

As an ex racing dinghy sailor, used to dealing with killer gusts and wind shear on inland lakes, I have got used to reading wind conditions almost instictively. I have found that shooting in wind is all about feel, observation and most imprortantly, timing. Aiming off is a good trick if you can master it, but let the bow do the work for you - the arrow will punch through the wind, if you don't tense up and try and fight it. Watch the flag - pick up on any visual clues from gusts on the grass and feel the wind on your face, then when you sense a moment of slack air, execute the shot (or tack the boat - same principle).

Wind at ground level is extremely turbulent - over 100 yards, the twists and shear will vary considerably. If you want to watch and learn about surface wind shear, park your car above one of the many inland reservoirs and watch the wind shear play across the surface as dark ripples and rosettes, then tell yourself that what the flag is doing is only a small part of what the arrow will experience in its flight. Feel the force Luke! Relax and don't fight it.