beginners course.

[felixity]

i had my first beginners session this evening and i had a great time...im hooked!

i actually managed to drive onto the field and get out of the car which if any of you actually knew me you'd realise was a massive achievement (my parents were astounded)

i was shooting a 20lb bow and we started at 15yrds and the some of us moved up to 20...i have to remember my sightmarks i was staying in the gold on a huge face at 15yrds and within the 8 at 20 (it had got quite windy..ill blame that). i didnt miss the boss at all and i only twanged myself once. i did, however, have a repeating problem of the string ending up down the back of my arm guard. but apart from that no major problems (i got over pinching the nocks pretty quickly)...

i kept getting asked if id done it before (i really dont think a 1hr have a go counts for much)....must be all the videos ive been watching online - or maybe it was just beginners luck.

the only things i feel that i want to invest in in the next few weeks are my own tab and arm guard.... can you try tabs for fit or do you have to buy and try... is there a lot of difference between sizing on different brands? (i was right between sizes on the club tabs which i found a little uncomfortable)

i have managed to stumble across a club with 24/7 shooting avaliablity...they do their beginners differently to most as well in that they have 18 weeks and you just basically have to turn up to 4 and complete this checklist (although i think they were a bit surprised by how many people turned up this evening)

not sure that im looking forward to discovering all the places i didnt know it was possible to ache tomorrow...ive already found a couple.

[tisrob]

Well done Felixity, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. From your previous posts it looked like you were going to anyway.

Like all equipment try as much as you can both at the club and at your local archery supply shop. Don't rush into anything - even if it looks like a good buy at the time.

Look forward to seeing you in competition some time.

[Harold's Eye,It wasn't me]

I wish I could bottle your enthusiasm I would make a fortune. Really glad you enjoyed yourself and it sounds like you did fantastically well for your first time.

Regarding the 'twanging', well you are not a 'proper' archer unless you've experienced the bow arm bruise (although we try to avoid it of course).

I am sure your coach will watch for your elbow and hand position if you point out that you are catching your arm guard.

Carry on enjoying yourself Felixity, I can sense a star of the (near) future.

[felixity]

i wish you could bottle my enthusiasm too....i have a tendancy to drive people nuts...i cant help it!

as for rushing into buying...i wasnt planning on it...it was more comfort wise with the tab and arm guard. i wouldnt even know where to start with trying things otherwise, although looking around at shops to see who offers what in terms of ranges and calculation of a very 'ball park' budget has begun. the club has loads of beginners equipment so i wont be rushed i dont think.

i'll have to get to know a few people at the club fairly well before id dare to ask to try anything out! im awful. im hoping that if i force myself to enough competitions i might get a bit more confident. its a dream........

[tisrob]

One or the beginners at our club is as enthusiastic as you. He completed his course towards the end of last year, borrowed the clubs equipment to get through the Winter season, and has recently bought his own bow and setup. He practices over the weekends but really wasn't up for doing competitions.

We had our club open competition coming up and I dragged him into it. He had such a great time that he hasn't stopped entering competitions, and league matches, and as a result of talking to other archers and seeing how they shoot he has managed to improve his own skills too.

Really worth considering when you complete your course. Good luck.

[felixity]

well....i shot great for the first hour (mainly 8, 9 and 10's) and then quite badly for the next hour. i was using the same 20lb bow... i guess i got tired... or i could blame it on the fact that my shooting partners sight fell of as i came to full draw and after my giggles subsided i had lost my ability to get a good grouping. i think tiredness might win out as i also managed to give myself a couple of stingers during the second hour as well.

edit: i should probably say that the sight falling off would have been much less distracting if it hadnt just done exactly the same thing in the previous end (it was his own marksman not a club bow)

we had moved up to 30yds this week and only my first arrow missed because i hadnt adjusted the sight enough. i may have enough space on the sight to get a few further yards... possibly

i seem to have improved my 'bow grip' loads but i still dont stay still long enough after i release. i can definately tell the difference between a good shot and a bad one straight away... they seem to sound different somehow too.

all in all im having a brilliant time... i cant wait until im a fully fledged member so i can go and shoot whenever i feel like it!