Realistic target for Bowman?

[PorlyP]

Originally Posted by Little Miss Purple

I made bowman within my 1st year of shooting, then my life fell apart. Now the close of my 1st full outdoor season is nearly on me, my form has returned and brought a bit more with it - those Mb scores are but a handful of points away!!

I have tried to shoot everyday, even when things were really tough and I thought about packing it all in - I kept on shooting

Way to go, LMP

I'm so jealous you can shoot every day, I'd love to be able to.

[clickerati]

Originally Posted by SLOWHAND

Before Archery I shot target rifle...

Me too, Dave. Hitting a 50p-sized chalk at 100yds wasn't a problem. Archery isn't as easy for me, sadly.

[Stretch]

I thought I was doing OK when I shot 1191 after 18 months in the sport (six months on, 1 year off, 12 months) and I was averaging mid 1100. That was until I met Steve Winfield who made GMB in his first year - OK so GMB was 1223 in those days but he was shooting an Olympic Dream

When I coached (as in the verb to coach, not as in Coach the noun ) I'd usually expect to get at least one archer (if dedicated) past 1100 within their first year.

Set progressive reachable SMART goals and do the work you need to do to make them. If you miss one - push harder. Bear in mind that some people will need to work harder and longer to get the same end result

Good luck

Stretch

[PorlyP]

Originally Posted by Stretch

I thought I was doing OK when I shot 1191 after 18 months in the sport (six months on, 1 year off, 12 months) and I was averaging mid 1100. That was until I met Steve Winfield who made GMB in his first year - OK so GMB was 1223 in those days but he was shooting an Olympic Dream

When I coached (as in the verb to coach, not as in Coach the noun ) I'd usually expect to get at least one archer (if dedicated) past 1100 within their first year.

Set progressive reachable SMART goals and do the work you need to do to make them. If you miss one - push harder. Bear in mind that some people will need to work harder and longer to get the same end result

Good luck

Stretch

Cheers stretch, I think my only limit right now is getting the outdoors practice!

Indoors I'd like to be C/D classified before the end of the year.

[SLOWHAND]

Originally Posted by PorlyP

I will mate, work on form and nailing 560 for a portsmouth this winter (once will do), and get real serious next year. Will shoot my alies until I get to 80, then I'll see.

Hoping to be strong enough to gt to 36/40 lbs at some stage next year.

Gym Ahoy!

Dont make the mistake of going up in poundage too quickly and by too much. My first 'real' bow was a W&W Striker with 32lb limbs (35 on the fingers) and I could shoot well in excess of 1100 in a FITA with ACC's, I also shot a tournament 590 Portsmouth with it. The real key to good,consistant shooting is to be totally relaxed at full draw, look at photo's of any of the top archers and you will see that there is no sign of strain or tension in any part of their body. I now shoot with 41lb on the fingers (it took me two years to get there,going up in small increments) I can pull and hold a lot more than this but I dont feel fully relaxed over the course of a full tournament. If you do change limbs dont forget that different company's have have a slightly different way of measuring poundage and 36lb W&W limbs are roughly equal to 38lb Hoyt's. One other little tip, when you buy new arrows (and ACC's or better are essential for decent outdoor scores) buy them one spine too stiff, but get them cut an inch or so longer than you normally would, so they are just on the edge of the clicker plate if you use one. Also get the heaviest pile the arrows will take. By doing this,as you go up in draw weight you can keep them in tune by reducing arrow length and pile weight.

[PorlyP]

Originally Posted by SLOWHAND

Dont make the mistake of going up in poundage too quickly and by too much. My first 'real' bow was a W&W Striker with 32lb limbs (35 on the fingers) and I could shoot well in excess of 1100 in a FITA with ACC's, I also shot a tournament 590 Portsmouth with it. The real key to good,consistant shooting is to be totally relaxed at full draw, look at photo's of any of the top archers and you will see that there is no sign of strain or tension in any part of their body. I now shoot with 41lb on the fingers (it took me two years to get there,going up in small increments) I can pull and hold a lot more than this but I dont feel fully relaxed over the course of a full tournament. If you do change limbs dont forget that different company's have have a slightly different way of measuring poundage and 36lb W&W limbs are roughly equal to 38lb Hoyt's. One other little tip, when you buy new arrows (and ACC's or better are essential for decent outdoor scores) buy them one spine too stiff, but get them cut an inch or so longer than you normally would, so they are just on the edge of the clicker plate if you use one. Also get the heaviest pile the arrows will take. By doing this,as you go up in draw weight you can keep them in tune by reducing arrow length and pile weight.

Excellent tips, thanks a lot! I won't push too hard on the poundage side of things, I expect to change towards July of next year, if at all.

Good Form is what I want first to be honest!

[Random_guy]

I will pass the 1 year of shooting mark in about 2 weeks time, and i'm hoping to get my 3rd bowman score at the double fita this weekend.... Also have made it past 1100, and similar to others on here, my form isn't great, but is enough to make the scores. I'm going to work heavily on form during the indoor season, and i am also changing limbs, but that is more complicated.

My current limbs are 36lb winacts, which i've wound up as far as they'll go and allow for proper tiller. The new limbs will be 40lb FX's would down as far as they'll go, so *should* be about the same poundage, and i shall be working my way up over the course of the indoor season. To facilitate this i'm going to the gym this term and i won't be winding them up at all until i can shoot a full day (competition in the morning, practice in the evening) without feeling fatigued.

[buzz lite beer]

As Slowhand suggests follow the simplest path available, no need to put to much pressure on your self, relax, enjoy have an inward smile at your achievements, give yourself praise at every opportunity, that shot that felt good, don't just load another arrow and shoot again remember how pleasant it felt, how smooth your release was, how your bow arm was steady throughout the shot. constant positive affirmations like that will boost your self esteem no end. If there's one thing niggling or putting doubt in your head about your form isolate it, resolve it, and put it to bed and move on.