Arrows...Hmm a change of opinion.

OK I have had a great deal of input on this site about what makes the best arrow. I have changed my thoughts on this.

I shot today at 90m. I used my X10's. Unfortunatly, they are too heavy for me to shoot that distance. Nothing to do with the arrow, just my very high anchor point. Even with a 59lb compound I was struggling to get them to 90 without fletch contact on the bottom of the scope. So I will have to go with some ACE's instead as they are much lighter. I will have to go for speed to over come this problem.

Anyway my point is, and yes I'm getting to it..It does not matter a damn if the arrow is not pointing at the target when it's released. The wind today was quite gusty and from the side. No matter what arrow I was shooting, the wind on me was the biggest problem. I was blown off the boss on two occasions. On a calm day I feel almost any arrow will do as long as it's light enough to go the distance. In a wind, well...lets put it this way...I need to get better in the wind, whatever arrow I shoot.

So basically IMHO shoot any arrow that will go the distance, they will still be better than the ability of the archer to keep still when the wind gets up.

[bluebow]

Originally Posted by rgsphoto

In a wind, well...lets put it this way...I need to get better in the wind, whatever arrow I shoot.

While the mechanical aspects of equipment and anchor point do play a part, the most important aspect of shooting in the wind is to maintain a strong shot. It's very easy to allow your shot to collapse while trying to 'compensate' for the buffeting of the wind and when concentrating on getting the sight pin on gold.

A strong front arm is crucial. The draw force alignment advocated in Total Archery (amongst others) can provide this.
A strong follow through (i.e. keeping the pull on through the shot) with the string hand is also key. I shoot recurve, and in some respects having to hold the full draw weight poundage can be an advantage in the wind compared to the reduced holding weight of a compound.

With regards aiming don't expect to be able to hold out sight pin steady on the gold. IMHO, the best advice on what aiming really is can be found in Al Henderson's "Understanding Winning Archery". He suggests that an archer "changes their conscious concentration efforts from just holding a pin on a spot to concentrating on the spot they want the shot to go and believing it will arrive there".

Wind or no wind, every shot should be strong. However in wind, a strong shot will mean that you've given the arrow the best chance of stable flight and best chance of hitting gold.

[SLOWHAND]

No matter what arrow I was shooting, the wind on me was the biggest problem. I was blown off the boss on two occasions.

I know just what you mean, holding a bow (about 5' long) on a windy day is very difficult. Yet the top archers seem to manage it better than the rest. I was shooting a double York at Lilleshall last year with some good archers, on the first day the conditions were ideal and I managed to get on the leader board, on the second day the wind was so bad it was blowing tripods over. I was about 90 points down on the first day but Simon Needham still managed to score over 1100. With me I know it is partly a confidence problem, dont really know what the answer is except to concentrate and keep focussed.

[Barry C]

Joe Tapley's website includes exhaustive work on how arrow fly in the wind and is the main reason Michele Frangilli is still shooting ACE to this day.

Also thinking "strong shot" can screw you up. just aim off and shoot your normal shot - a normal shot should be strong anyway so no need to worry. If it isn't strong then you know you need to do some form work on the practice range. Incorperating some form of push into your technique is a very good way to reduce unwanted post shot bow movenent away from the aiming point.

[bluebow]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Also thinking "strong shot" can screw you up. just aim off and shoot your normal shot - a normal shot should be strong anyway so no need to worry. If it isn't strong then you know you need to do some form work on the practice range. Incorperating some form of push into your technique is a very good way to reduce unwanted post shot bow movenent away from the aiming point.

Barry you are quite correct. Your normal shot should be strong. In the wind you need to maintain your normal shot. I've found it all too easy to let normal technique slip because I'm too focused on the wind.

[morphymick]

Sounds like you all need more ballast to combat the wind.

Mick

[Barry C]

Ive always been a firm believer that a healthy counterweight will help your shooting.

[Max]

Originally Posted by morphymick

Sounds like you all need more ballast to combat the wind.

Mick

Not sure Mick - I have enough balast for two people, but it is offset by increased sail area - I nearly had to reef in my trousers! Maybe one of those aerodynamic Ski suits used for downhill racing might help . It was a bit on the breezy side for sure on Sunday - I struggled to shoot pure back tension while trying to resist punching the button. Both Rich and I lost arrows by being physically blown about, unfortunately Rich had gone for real 'Dark Side' arrows - black X10's with black fletchings - great in the boss, but in the grass.....Oh Dear! Luckily we had a metal detector with us.

[geoffretired]

I'm built like a racing snake;not much weight and not much sail area. The best way to shoot in a wind is to forget all the clever stuff about arrows and stabilisers and go for something much more effective and very simple. It's all to do with foot placement. Normal placement is just not up to the task.
First assess the strength and direction of the prevailing wind. Then place footmarkers to make best use of the prevailing wind; by that I mean place them downwind of the largest guy/gal on the line.

[bluebow]

Originally Posted by Max

Maybe one of those aerodynamic Ski suits used for downhill racing might help

Gotta be regulation green or white!

What about aerodymanic wings to create downforce? They might even introduce turbulance in the air that would give archers shooting downwind even more stability problems