In recent days most of the archers going back to their shooting in a traditional way. If you aim with a recurve bow, you must have an idea that there are mainly two shooting types: Aim using a bow sight and aiming without a bow sight. Sight is prevalent, but many people in recent days like to take the challenges of instinctive shooting. It would be best if you relied on your judgment each time your draw to shoot the bow. Finally, I can see two main types of aiming style, like- Olympic or Barebow which means with or without sight.
Here to help you, I am trying to discuss both of them. First of all, I will show you how to aim using a sight?
How to Aim a Recurve Bow Using a Sight?
Here I will discuss the basic Olympic shooting, and I will show you:
- How can you grab the string by using Mediterranean techniques?
- Try to draw the string and archer in your hand in the Olympic style.
- Fixed the Aim on the target.
- Make the proper Olympic release.
How Can You Grab the String by Using the Mediterranean Techniques?
These are the techniques that you can grab the string by changing your barebow to Olympic. In recurve bow shooting, you need to use the three-down techniques. During aiming with the sight, you need to grab the string with the Mediterranean methods. The other name of this is split-finger techniques. You have to put your middle and ring finger over the string below and close to the arrow nock. After that, put the index finger above it. This is the way you can fix your arrow’s knock between the middle and index finger. All of the finger tabs have a cut in the leather pad in Olympic archery, which will protect your finger.
Draw the String and Anchor Your Hand:
You need to use different anchor points on your faces during the aiming, known as three points anchoring. This method uses three points of your looks to anchor the string correctly. In the barebow anchoring, when we draw the string, besides taking the index finger to the corner of the mouth, you have to keep your hand resting below the jaw. Most of the semi and pro-finger tabs come with a shelf to achieve this condition. You must do this to complete the three anchoring points, and they are-
- Touch the bottom of your jawbone, and then you can place the finger tab shelf. Try to use your hand’s edge, which generates your index finger and thumb, if your index finger does not have a shelf.
- It would help if you touched the string with the tip of the nose
- When you do the previous two steps correctly, you can reach the third contact point. And that is the string that is touching your lips.
If you can do all the processes correctly, it will give you a permanent point to anchor your jawbone. If you use your hand, it is alright, but it will vary from shot to shot if you move your thumb.
How does the Sight Work to Fixed on the Target?
Most of the recurve bow works almost in the same way. It would be best to use a sizeable threaded f rod that is nearly 4 inches long with a circular or square tip. This tip has one marking in the center. The tip is hollow and has some specific color like- red; for this, while focusing on the target, you can easily see it. You can see some models with a center hole marking, where you can put fiber optic. The rod is fixed with a block that mounts to a verticle bar. It has the mechanism to adjust the sight pin. Different models have different mechanisms, like- wheels or screws. In most of the models, you need to loosen the screw and then move the block manually.
On the other hand, the professional models have large wheels; you need to do exact and small tweaks to the sight. The sight block always goes with the verticle bar. All the bars have numbered marking, so you can quickly move to calibrate the sight. These numbers can never represent the distance or the other parameters; it only helps you to recalibrate.
A large horizontal bar is always fixed below the verticle bar and mounted to the riser’s cire block set. If you want to give extra protection, you have to detach the block and store it safely completely. Otherwise, the pin screw and the pin sight tip might break completely.
How can You Aim at the Centre by Using the Sight and Doing a Perfect Shot?
Here I will show you how you can grab the string and how can you anchor it? Now, this is the final time to aim at the target. One thing you should keep in your mind is that, during aiming, sight is only the reference point, nothing else. To get an accurate result, you need to make the X from the target with the pin’s dot’s center. You need to give 3 to 5 seconds for the aiming and then release. If you cannot provide the required time, then please undraw and then start over. Otherwise, your arm will feel tired, and it isn’t easy to fix the target again. When you can do it correctly, then it’s time to release. Thus you can aim by using sight.
I think the whole process will be straightforward and easy for you; however, you have to pay attention to some factors.
- On the Focus Area
As I told you before that, the sight is nothing but a reference point. So, you must concentrate on it and focus on it correctly. The sight pin circle, most of the time, seems on a blurred shape. The beginner archers must follow this easy task. Most of the time, the beginner archer likes to focus on the sight pin instead of that point or target, and ultimately the double point is shown there.
- Alignment
Most archers like to add the fourth element known as a straight alignment or the rear sight with the three contact points of the Olympic anchoring. That means you need to align the square with some other reference point in the bow. It can form a straight line between the shooter’s eye, the target, the chosen point, and the string. In this way, the archer can gain horizontal consistency as well. You can align the riser’s inner edge of the string with the sight pin’s edge. It is better to choose any point that you want. It would be best if you calibrated the sight for the alignment point. The shot will rotate over the riser’s axis, and the shot also deviates to the site if you change the point from one to another.
What will be the Shot Process?
When you start using the site, you need to pay enough attention to the sight and the target; then, you can get the actual performance. If you ignore all those things, no matter which site you are using, it will affect the shoot. Always make the arrow go off-center and never rotate the elbow. That’s why I always suggest the beginner archer start their shooting with the barebow. Some accessories will help you to distract the less. After enough practice, they can get their right form and then tweak small things, and that will be the proper time to add the sight.
- Try to Shoot with a Full round and then Adjust
In the Olympics, all the archers tweak the sight after shot. They can do it after lots of practice and when they are perfect. They can always make exact and small adjustments. But I can see the opposite condition in the case of the beginners and the intermediate archer. When they shot the arrow, it doesn’t land in the center. To avoid this situation, you need to shoot on a full round. If you see the deviations’ pattern, there is a chance of the sight will be higher. Only after that can you tweak the sight.
- Adjust the Sight
It would help if you looked at where the group landed after you shot the whole round. Then I will know what the direction to adjust the sight is. You know, the sight always follows the arrow. That means you need to move the sight in the same directions where the arrows are almost near the target’s center. Like- when the group falls above the center, the sight should be moving upwards. On the other hand, when the group falls below the center’s target, the sight should be moved down. The group always landed between these directions; you should only combine the movement of the sights.
- Calibrations
It would help if you recalibrated the sight when you want to shoot from a different distance. Take a notebook and record each of the settings to avoid repeating all the settings each time. Lots of apps you can install on your mobile phone to keep all the records. Taking a notebook record is better than taking a phone record because you can not use any electronic device on the games.
- Shoot From the Long Distances
When the distance is mentioned in the games, you must maintain that distance, like if you need to shoot from 20 meters, you need to start from further. If again start from 30 or 50 meters, you need to recalibrate the sight. Remember that don’t start the shooting from a distance; you might be aiming too high and surpass the target at that time. On the other hand, while the shot is too low, the arrow may hit the wood, and the bow will damage. To avoid all the negative consequences, you need to maintain what is written in the instructions. From the given point, you need to go 2-5 meters backward and then shot. For the next round, adjust the sight and keep a record in your notebook.
- Release and the Follow Through
For the Olympic style or the barebow, the string releasing is almost the same. It would help if you relaxed your finger, which is very important. When you are opening your hand, it will tense the muscle. It will affect the clean release on the string and also the arrow’s direction. Another essential part is the follow-through. By the follow-through, you can elegantly finish your whole process. You know that when you are in a full draw, the string is pulling from your finger and pulling from the string; at that time, you need to keep your hand in a backward direction. After you naturally release your finger and your hands, you still have some energy to accumulate in your hand. Let your hand move back till your hand reaches the back of your ear. During using the blow sling, your bow’s hand never grips the riser. But it will rest on the palm of your hand. It would help if you moved forward while releasing the bow, and the bow sling will contain it. When you do not grip properly, the bow will be facing down. And remember that, don’t grab the riser after the shot. The release and the follow-through can help you to release the energy of your body after each shot. And you can do proper finishing by following all the steps.
Now I think this article can clear you how you can aim a recurve bow using a sight. Besides this, you can learn lots of things, including how you can split-finger techniques, sight words, and the Olympic anchoring.
How to Aim the Recurve Bow Without a Sight?
Here I am trying to show you four different ways to aim your recurve bow without a sight. You can use any of these methods and find out which method will be appropriate for you.
Starting With Bowhunting:
While aiming at a target, the sight must be straight to the bull’s eye. The arrow will release travels upwards until the specific points, and after that, it will begin to lose the height till it hits the target. When the arrow is on an upward flight, you need to lower your Aim when the target is close to you. If the distance is more, you need to raise the bow in a higher position.
Let’s see the first aiming techniques:
- Gap Shooting:
For gap shooting, you need to aim the tip of the arrow and think about an imaginary verticle line running through the center of the target. If the distance is ten years, you need to aim the arrow at a spot just below the bull’s eye. But if it’s 50 yards, you need to aim the arrow top of the bull’s eye. Always keep your arrow tip pointed at the center of the target. Based on the length and weight of the arrow, or the bow’s poundage and the fletching types, you can get the adjustment that you can make for each of the distances. It would be best if you made a repeatable shot cycle. You need to repeat raising your bow, know how you stand, and draw the string, the release, and the anchor point for every shot. However, this gap shooting will vary for the individuals.
During shooting, you must have an obvious idea about the distance and also the position you. First, aim your arrow points at the bull’s eye and then shot. And again, where the arrow lands near to the target. At the same time, shoot another two arrows and point at the target. Try to aim relatively higher when the arrows’ group is around a spot below the bull’s eye. At that time, think about the point of the distance.
Are you Looking for the Recurve Bow?
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String Walking:
The arrow tip is always on the target’s center during the string walking shooting. Foer different distances, you need to move your hands upward or downward of the string. For each of the shots, the anchor always points the same. If the target is close to you, you need to move your hands down the string. Comparing with the gap shooting, this type of shooting is better. Here the tip is always aimed at the bull,s eye. But after a certain distance, you cannot use this method because you cannot get an exact result.
- Instinctive Shooting:
In this method, you do not aim at the target. You need to focus on the point where you want to land your arrow. After that, raise the bow in a straight upward motion, and lastly, draw and shoot. Intensely concentrate on the target and then adjust with your body. This is ultimately a traditional method when the archer first shoots their arrow. You can use this method to aim your recurve bow without any sight. For instinctive shooting, you need to stand with your feet apart in a square stance. Then knock the arrow to the string, and just in front of you, keep it point on the ground. Try to focus on the target, and after that, bring the bow up in a horizontal line and then shoot. Like another method, here, you also need to practice more to get an accurate result.
- Face Walking:
In this method, the draw hand cannot move along the string. On the other hand, the anchor point moves up and down your face. This method incorporates the gap method for further distance. In many competitions, this method is illegal.
I think both of these articles can solve all of your confusion, and you can get lots of question’s answers regarding how to aim your recurve bow. Try all the methods and finalize in which way you are feeling comfortable. Try to practice more, and then you can make your archery more enjoyable when you hit the target correctly.