Oh my gawd!!

[crispy]

Just got back from archery today and this has been really the first time I've shot outside with my LB (last one exploded on arrow no9, see previous thread). I'm in shock. I must've put up well over a hundred arrows and I must have hit the target about five times, how bad is that?? Only two people shot outside, possible the two nutters, one holding a longbow. There was a 20mph+ cross wind but even so......... it's no excuse. I need to find a fellow longbower I reckon, to get some advice...err coaching, the one thing I did notice though I was using a 70lbs LB and shooting at 70 metres and my technique went from standing still to throwing forward very quickly (don't know the technical term) but it felt very comfortable and if not getting the results I was at least, scare-ing the boss. It's dawned on me how far I yet have to go. pah...Portsmouth rounds! Got to get there quick as I'm just about to enter A 70mtr shoot at Pontiets, if nothing else I may provide the entertainment for the day.

[steve58]

Hey Crispy, that's a discouraging hit rate, but it does get better with practice! You say you were scaring the boss, did you work out a consistent line or length? or was it just to windy to get any useful feedback? By the way, 70# sounds pretty high for target, most of us round here seem to shoot in the mid 40s to mid 50s.

[Furface]

Keep practising! Groups are groups whether they are in the gold or the green. When you can recognise a consistent pattern, work on that. 20mph cross wind sounds pretty strong for a LB - was it consistent or gusty? And, yes, get a coach to watch and observe and analyse and feedback and discuss. Welcome to outdoor archery. Good luck

[crispy]

Hi guys thanks for the feedback, now thinking about it, the wind was pretty gusty, there was several times when the wind just blew the arrow off my hand as a started my draw and I had to wait for it to drop a little either that or put the arrow through the blokes neck standing next to me, can't afford to waste arrows like that.
I used the 70lb bow instead of my 50 due to the wind thinking the trajectory would be less, thus reducing the air time for the arrow I was having to tilt my bow 45 deg into the wind to keep the arrow on my hand.
Tommorow is another day, off up to the field to give it a go in less 'severe' conditions and try out the 50lbs against the 70lbs, watch this space I may be back saying RH has nothing on me, but I doubt it :-)

[crispy]

Well, lovely day today, warm, sunny and no wind (rare for West wales), any way I can sleep well tonight, thankfully after my discouraging day on Saturday I've decided not to make tooth picks out of my bows, I am able to hit the target, halleluja! Just gotta think like an artillery man, drop 'em in and don't drop short.

[Furface]

That's the spirit