There are two major sighting systems used in archery: instinctual and mechanical. Instinctual shooting utilizes the archer's hand-eye coordination. This is the same approach used when throwing a ball at a target since there are no mechanical sights on a football or baseball. Mechanical sight systems use pins or reticules that are placed on the bow's riser. At full draw, the archer closes one eye and uses the sight as a reference point to place on the target, much like how a bead sight is used on a shotgun.
Instinctual Sighting
Step 1
Stand 10 yards from the target, nock an arrow and come to full draw.
Step 2
Focus on the target bulls-eye. Do not sight down the length of the arrow shaft or use any other point of reference. Simply concentrate on the center of the target.
Step 3
Inhale slowly through your nose and pause.
Step 4
Exhale slowly through your nose and release the arrow near the beginning of the exhalation. Stay focused on the target.
Step 5
Focus on the target for one more breath after the arrow has landed. The objective is to increase hand-eye coordination, concentration and a visual connection to the target, so be relaxed and take your time.
Step 6
Shoot more arrows, but do not consciously make adjustments to the bow position. Instinctual shooting is developed at the subconscious level and your body will make the necessary adjustments by itself as long as you maintain an intense focus on the target.
Mechanical Sighting
Step 1
Set the sight pin or reticule to the appropriate height on the sighting bracket. Many mechanical systems will have ranges marked on the bracket. These are meant to be guides only, not definitive points.
Step 2
Nock and arrow and bring the bow to full draw on a deep inhalation.
Step 3
Close the eye farthest from the bow. For a right-handed archer, this is the left eye.
Step 4
Move the bow arm until the sight pin is centered on the target, using the right eye.
Step 5
Shift your focus from the target to the sight pin. You can only have one object in sharp focus so make it the most important, the sight pin.
Step 6
Exhale slowly and release the arrow. Keep the sight pin on the target until the exhalation is complete.
Tips and Warnings
- The smaller the target you are focusing on, the more accurate you will be. Place a small sticker on the center of the bulls-eye and direct your focus to that to improve your accuracy. To adjust the mechanical sight system, move the pin in the direction you would move the arrows to the bulls-eye. For example, if your arrows are consistently landing below and to the left of the bulls-eye, you would need to move them up and to the right to be centered, so move the sight pin up and to the right.
- Always make sure you are shooting in a safe area with the space between you and the target, as well as behind the target, is clear of traffic.
References
- "Traditional Archery"; Sam Fadala; 1999
- "Archery: Steps to Success"; Kathleen Haywood, Catherine Lewis; 2006
