How Does One Even Begin 3d Archery Shooting
What is 3D Archery
3D archery is where you shoot at 3D animal targets and score according to the defined scoring zones (the more difficult the target, the higher the number of scoring zones). These can be shot with either a longbow or compound bow. The 3D archery range is an excellent place to practice your shooting skills if you are interested in hunting or recurve bow (Olympic style) competition.
3D archery involves more concentration and patience than any other type of target shooting. Because there is no score value, it can be difficult to keep competitive; many people find this makes their commitment even stronger towards hitting the scoring zones, but some may get discouraged by not having anything to compare it to (such as knowing they hit the bullseye every time they shoot at a standard round target).
There are several different styles used for 3d archery shoots, including FITA, NFAA, ASA and some clubs use combined formats. Some clubs hold competitions only once a year, some hold them weekly. Contact your local club to find out what type of shoot they have and how often.
If you are new, many clubs will allow you to come as a guest one or more times before joining. Since 3D archery is not a regulated sport it can be hard for people who want to begin 3D archery shooting to know where to start looking for equipment. Online auctions such as Ebay can be helpful if you want second hand equipment, but check the item carefully first – make sure there is no damage and make sure the bow isn’t “dry fired”.
Wherever possible it’s always best to buy brand new or from a reputable store – this way you know everything on the bow has been looked at and adjusted properly.
What is the best 3D bow?
There’s not really ‘the best’ bow. It just depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re just starting out, I recommend something cheap like this.
How do I find 3D targets?
I know some shops that sell them locally, but they can be bought online as well. Here are some you can buy them:
Picking a Bow
First off, you will need a bow. If you’ve never even touched a bow in your life, they come in all different shapes and sizes for both left-handed and right-handed people. If you know what kind of draw weight you want to use, then check out my [list of bows ]. *** list is below in the document
If you’re just starting out, I recommend something cheap like this [suitable beginner’s recurve] or this [compound suitable for beginners]. You can upgrade when you get better.
A Suitable Shooting Space
This is quite important, especially if you are still trying to perfect your form. I recommend at least 6 yards in front of the shooting line for beginners, but 10 yards or more would be ideal if allowed. If you don’t have much room to spare, then make sure someone is behind you in case you miss! A good technique for this is to lean back slightly when drawing your bow, so that if it were to go off there wouldn’t be any people behind you.
However, I wouldn’t recommend this for very short distances.
The Form
Everyone’s form will differ because no two people are built alike. The best way to get a feel for the proper way to shoot a bow is to find an instructor, but if you don’t have one, the best way to learn is by watching videos on YouTube. I’ve found that these are some of my favorite tutorials for beginners:
There is no wrong way to do it, as long as you’re comfortable and getting good shots each time! For more information, there are lots of sites that show detailed images of how to properly draw a bow.
The Stance
When standing at the line, feet should be about shoulder width apart. You can choose to stand on your left or right foot first, but I suggest that you practice standing backwards on both feet first before trying either of them. Additionally, it is recommended that you stand with your lower back arched forward slightly.
This will help prevent back pain after long periods of shooting by relieving stress from the lower back muscles. A good way to find this ‘neutral spine’ position is to push your belly button towards your spine until you feel a gentle stretch. To check if it’s correct, try tucking your tailbone under and arching your back upwards – this will make it difficult to breathe!
You should feel the stretch, but not to the point of pain. Arm position is up to personal preference, but I like to put my dominant hand on top of my non-dominant hand holding the bow for extra stability.
The Stance Part 2
When standing at the line, feet should be about shoulder width apart. It is recommended that you stand with your lower back slightly arched forward (neutral spine). The archer stance can be performed facing forwards or backwards on both feet.
Arms are placed in a way so as to provide additional support for holding the bow steady. Bow arm overlaps non-bow arm with dominant hand on top of non-dominant hand grasping the bow’s grip.
The Grip
If using a compound bow, then you should be aware that your non-dominant hand is the one that pulls the string back. If using a recurve bow, however, you will have to use both hands! It’s fairly common knowledge that the grip of a recurve bow is at an angle. What many people don’t know is why it’s angled in such a way.
If holding for this grip on a flat vertical plane, there would be too much range of motion from pulling back only slightly to exerting all of your strength to pull as far as possible.[Note: This paragraph can be cut down or left out if necessary.] When Relaxed and ready to shoot, arms should be at a 30 degree angle from the body.
The Nock
A nocking point is where you place the arrow on your bowstring to ensure it’s in the best spot. The arrows come with different types of ‘nocks’ on the ends depending on what material they are made out of and how far up the shaft they sit. They might also have an indicator as to which direction they should face, but if not there’s a way to identify this by looking at the fletching (the feathers that stick out of each end).
If both fletching appear at equal angles then you’re good to go! If not however, then it should face the opposite of its fletcher. If using a recurve bow, remember that your arrow should always sit above the grip of the bow and not below it as this may cause damage to you or those around you!
The Draw
Recurve bow draw is done with arms outstretched at chest level, palms facing forward. The string is gripped by the middle three fingers of each hand. Remainder of fingers rest lightly on string hand as brace against the inside of the other arm’s elbow to aid in stability and consistent positioning during full draw.
When relaxed, brace against the other arm helps maintain a neutral wrist position allowing for consistency from shot to shot. Bowstring comes back between thumb and index finger so that the nock lines up with the index finger on the shooting side. Drawing a bowstring back to fire an arrow is the most challenging part of archery, but this doesn’t have to be the case! If you are right-handed, your left hand should grip below your right elbow and vice versa for the opposite.
The correct draw length depends entirely on how far back each person can comfortably pull their own bowstring so if you’re practicing at home then don’t stress yourself out trying to obtain that perfect draw length just yet! All that matters is being able to hold it steadily enough that both arms are roughly parallel to each other. If possible try aiming upwards slightly when drawing back in order to get used to this ‘arc’ motion before transitioning into aiming correctly in a 3d archery target.
You may feel a bit silly with your arms outstretched for this exercise, but once you know how to hold a bow correctly then it will seem natural! Holding a bow steady is all about the stance and not just the draw so don’t worry too much if you’re struggling at first.
The Release
This part of archery seems simple enough since it’s just letting go of an arrow but can prove difficult when building up muscle memory in order to shoot accurate shots without thinking about each step along the way. Keep in mind that releasing an arrow from its nock during shooting or aiming should be done from where your finger rests on the string–NOT through the index finger itself.
The Follow through
Letting go of an arrow is where many people forget to maintain their form. The biggest thing to remember here is to keep your bow arm relaxed! If you are doing everything correctly then follow-through should look similar to that of when throwing a ball…even though it might be awkward in the beginning.
Remember not to lean back when drawing either, but instead stay upright so all the energy used in pulling back can be channeled directly into aiming and firing! When aiming, extend both arms out in front of the chest with a slight bend at the elbow so that angled line created by arm, string hand, bow grip and arrow all meet at one point. As stated above, your bow arm should never be tense as this can cause significant problems down the road as you continue shooting.
Try to keep as much of your weight as possible on your back foot so that pulling back is easier and more natural, but don’t lean too far forward either! Finally, don’t forget to have fun while practicing your new hobby! If you’re not having a good time then chances are you’ll soon stop enjoying archery altogether. So whether it’s a sunny day at home or a rainy one out in the woods, find what makes you feel comfortable and go from there.
It may take time for everything to sink into place, so just relax and enjoy yourself! A 3d archery target doesn’t move after all–so there’s nothing to be stressed about when practicing! Good luck with your shooting! Now go out there and bag yourself an ace!
What kind of arrow / bolt should I use?
The sky’s the limit! That’s why I included some of my favorite brands in my list of bows . If you’re just starting out, or don’t want to invest a lot of money into arrows and bolts, then this arrow*** from Easton will do just fine. The best way to find what you like is to go shoot as many different kinds as possible. Good luck with your shooting! Now go out there and bag yourself an ace!
