Beginners advice for aiming without a sight

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Hi

I hope you dont mind me asking you guys a question. I know its probably stupid thing to ask, so please excuse my complete lack of knowledge but Im just starting out in archery.

A week or so ago I spent the day at an archery experience place shooting arrows at 3d targets (field archery style) at various distances barebow. I had a fantastic time and am going back again in 3 weeks! The problem I have is that I have absolutely no clue at all how to aim. Ive read lots of articles (most of which seem to talk about the use of sights) and was given basic advice about instinctive shooting but I just couldnt grasp it.

Now, I know there are lots of theories about aiming etc but my question is very basic. I can get the stance pretty much right, and the draw but what I dont understand is how should I aim? If I look past the bow and arrow to the target I can see two arrow heads in my periferal vision. I am right eye dominant (and right handed). Am I supposed to be lining up one of those arrow heads with a position on the target? Do I point it left or right of the target? Above or below the target? I really have no clue. When I asked people on the day I was given tips on my stance, draw, anchor point etc but no one would answer the basic question, what am I pointing at, what am I lining up?

To give an example. When I was a kid my dad took me to the shooting gallery and taught me how to fire a gun in the arcade. He showed me how to line up the sight then how to aim that at the target. Once I got that, i was able to hit the target virtually every time. I try and relate that to archery, in its most basic form (lets forget the technical stuff about judging distance, angles etc). If shooting an arrow straight over a short distance how do you aim?

What I found on that day was that my arrows seemed to go everywhere but on the target (think of the knife throwing man at the circus with the assistant against the target and all the knives all around her, thats what my arrows were like except most didnt hit the target face at all!). Most went left, some above and some below the targets. A lot fell short of the target and a few went over the top. When I did hit something it was complete fluke and I was unable to replicate it. I found this really frustrating as everyone else was pretty much hitting the target at least half of the time, whereas I was lucky to get one arrow out of six anywhere on the target!

I know this post is a bit long winded and Im sorry if its confusing. If anyone can shed any light on this for me I would really be very grateful. I know aiming is a subject too technical and complicated that cannot be explained in a forum post but any little tips or tricks would be much appreciated.

Oh, and in case this makes any difference, I tried out several recurve bows on the day and the one I was most comfortable with and ended up using all day was a 16lb draw weight (I know, Im a big jessie!).

Thanks so much for your help, and apologies for my total ingorance!!

Regards

Witchie Poo Cat

[English Bowman]

The first thing about aiming is that it is the least important part of the shot. Don't get hung up on it, get everything else right first.
There are different methods for bare-bow aiming which I can go into more detail on if you want, but the one I'd use is point of aim. What you do is choose a point to aim at that will make the arrow hit the target. If you're seeing two arrows then you need to close your left eye, then aim at a point below the target. If the arrow goes high, then aim lower, if it goes low, aim higher until you hit. Then you know where to aim.

Alternatively get a bit of tape, or even better draft excluder, tape it to the back of the bow. (The side away from you) and stick a dress-makers pin into it, then you have a sight.)

Best still join a local club with a coach who can help you

Daniel

[geoffretired]

I agree with English Bowman, aiming is not the most important part of the shot and certainly pointing the arrow is only part of aiming. The string needs to be pulled to the same part of the face on every shot, so the back of the arrow is in the same position every time.When the drawing hand pulls the back of the arrow to the same place every time, then you can start pointing the front of the arrow.Other people cannot really tell you where to point, that is trial and improve. With a 16lb bow, loosing the arrow will have to be done very smoothly otherwise the string can be snagged by the fingers, giving erratic flight.

[Furface]

To answer the question...
You see two arrow points because you are looking with two eyes. So you need to decide on which arrow point to stick with. As you are right-eyed, I would come to aim with one point on the target, then close your left eye and see which arrow disappears (it would normally be the one that appears to be on the right of your vision). Then aim using the other point. If this turns out to be too confusing, you can always try closing your left eye (though this is not recommended as a - it might not be possible for you and b - it can introduce strain into your face). The end result is that you start training yourself to aim with only one eye

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Thanks guys for all the replies, they are much appreciated.

I guess I just didnt believe the staff at the archery day who all told me exactly what you told me. I just assumed there HAD to be a technique to aiming.

geoffretired - thats an interesting point you make about releasing the string as, at the end of the day, my arrows were fishtailing on the way to the targets and it was noted that I had hooked the string into the first joint of my finger and kept being advised just to hold with my fingertips (which was impossible as the nock on the arrows was lose so I was literally having to hold the arrows in place whilst drawing - will make sure I sort that out when I go again in 3 weeks!).

I start my lessons on Monday and my local field archery club has said I can practice in their woods in between times (the lessons are held at the target archery club but they wont let me practise until I become a member and I cant become a member until I complete the course). No doubt I will be back here with more questions in the very near future!

thanks again to all of you for your kind replies, its much appreciated that you explain things in laymen terms to a complete rookie like me!!

Witchie Poo Cat