Are we more intellegent?

[Noble Savage]

Was just wandering about the average IQ of the top end archers, and whether it takes more or less brain power to shoot consistantly in the gold. Of course we all believe that we are a cut above the rest, but are there any stats? Does intellegence allow one to analyse and adjust ones form better, or does it just confuse the issue and if you have less analytical interference you are more likely to get into the "zone"?

[Watch_Man]

I don't think IQ plays a part. There are a range of employments in the top tiers of archery from Surgeon to manual trades and everything in between.

There is no doubt that mental toughness is important but this is not necessarily related to pure IQ IMHO.

[iori jones]

Agree with Watchman , sometimes intelligence can completely confuse common sense. It can also be also be completely inhibiting, as the milliped found out, when, having an enquiring mind it wondered how it managed to control all its" legs. Intelligence is just another tool.
Iori Jones

[phil_r_58]

Not all archers I have met are academically gifted, but most seem to have a psychologically more probing mind than the average population. Maybe thats what drives us to work so hard at what we do, working on tiny adjustments to get good groups etc., rather than spending the afternoons in the pub, or just watching telly? Or even worse, running round an archery field with a ball, getting in the way of proper sportsmen & women.