Warming up

[SLOWHAND]

When I used to shoot target rifle, we would always shoot a few rounds to 'warm up' the barrel before competition. My Recurve definitely needed a dozen or so arrows before it settled down.(I always put this down to the string stretching).
But what about compound? I've noticed recently that my first half a dozen arrows dont group as well as later arrows.

Is it me? Or do compounds need warming up too?

[Anna K]

I'm not sure about the bow, but I always feel I'm shooting better after a few arrows, just because of settling down I think. When shooting recurve my first arrow would always be way off and then the rest fine. It's not so extreme with compound but I definitely feel better after the first end.

[Reg]

Not sure about the bow but it takes me a couple of dozen to get going!

[sambow]

I also fine the grouping changes slightly after a few dozen. Not sure if its the bow warming up or me though.

[blue]

ON competitions i notice a few bows comming to the field already pre strung. this would help to get the stretch out of the string before you start to shoot. the compound shooters whos bows are already strung have a definate advantage in that the string is always under tension and unlikely to stretch when you begin to shoot

[SLOWHAND]

Originally Posted by blue

ON competitions i notice a few bows comming to the field already pre strung. this would help to get the stretch out of the string before you start to shoot. the compound shooters whos bows are already strung have a definate advantage in that the string is always under tension and unlikely to stretch when you begin to shoot

When I shot recurve I would always try to get to a tournament at least an hour before the start.The first thing I would do was string the bow and give it several 'twangs'. I always added about 2-3mm to the brace height when I strung the bow knowing that after a dozen or so shots it would be at the optimum. If the tournament was a FITA Star I would always shoot at least a couple of dozen arrows on the practice field to 'warm up' the bow.
Most of the top archers I know never unstring their bows overnight if they are doing a two day shoot.

[clickerati]

I warm up my bow, just as I warm up my muscles before a comp. My bow certainly needs time to settle in, so I *try* to show up at least half an hour before, give it a few twangs, then a few pulls, then I warm up my muscles, then back to the bow.

[pyroarch57]

Originally Posted by blue

ON competitions i notice a few bows comming to the field already pre strung. this would help to get the stretch out of the string before you start to shoot. the compound shooters whos bows are already strung have a definate advantage in that the string is always under tension and unlikely to stretch when you begin to shoot

Yet another reason to shoot compound

[blue]

Originally Posted by pyroarch57

Yet another reason to shoot compound

I have only so far, thought of joining the dark side... maybe when i get older and can no longer hold 40+# on the fingers... lol

[Marcus26]

no, nothing to do with the bow. I work pretty hard to get better at being 'ON' from the first arrow. A few of my personal bests have been without warming up, just jumping in and going.
The only piece of good info from the PSE Holding Steady video was that the Ragsdales use to work on the same thing. Alot of people take too long to get going, or rely on getting into a groove. It's pretty important to not shoot that way because sometimes you never get going. Best off executing each shot as well as you can, no matter which arrow it is.