Archery Lessons (Slow Motion Training Video)

Hey FC Archers, 

Have look at this archery lessons in video formate (it’s only 3 minutes long) – The slow-motion footage does a great job of showcasing the ‘shot cycle’. 

Angle-by-angle slow motion video of the worlds best archers for training and coaching purposes. Learn to shoot like the pros. 

See you at FC Friday,

emmanuel

Toronto Archery Classes and Lessons for all ages! 

http://www.fight-club.ca/toronto-archery/

What do arrows really do in flight?

Arrow Flight…Real or Not Real?

What do arrows really do in flight? Many archery videos and pictures show arrows bending upon release, whipping back and forth like wet noodles as they leave the bow, and then spinning in flight toward the target. Is this real – or a camera’s tricks and illusions?

Arrow shafts do weird things in flight. First, the shaft (the arrow’s long, straight part)
flexes when the bowstring is released. The amount of “flex” in an arrow is called its spine – which is a measurement of its stiffness.

When shot from a recurve bow – the Olympic-style bow – arrows generally flex side-to-side upon leaving the bow. That’s because recurve archers use their fingers to release the bowstring, and the bow’s arrow rest (the little arm that holds the arrow) promotes side-to-side movements.

Archery in Slow Motion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuBnK86wxo

Whatever direction an arrow flexes, the movement is greatest when the arrow first leaves the bow, and then decreases and stabilizes as the arrow nears the target. The arrow’s trajectory – a high arc for recurve bows and flatter for compound bows – also straightens as the arrow hits the target. This flexing – and straightening – is known as the “archer’s paradox.”

Do arrows really spin while in flight? Absolutely! The arrow’s fletchings – feathers, plastic vanes or curled plastic wings – steer the arrow in flight, helping it catch the air and spin for a straight flight pattern.

So, now that you’ve seen arrows sent into flight by real archers, which movies get it right? “Brave” gets an A+ for archery in general and arrow flight in particular, making sure Princess Merida’s arrows fly true from release to their impact with her target.

Brave Archery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msWwIYRSTi0

Certificates and Medals

Certificate and Medal Presentations 

FightClub Winter Indoor Archery Tournament  

Bravo George G, Archie, George X, Penelope, Charlie and Declan!

FIVE COMMON ARCHERY MISTAKES 

That recurve archers face – and some ways to correct them

INCONSISTENT STANCE

Do your feet change position slightly from shot to shot? Your stance – where you place your feet when shooting – is the foundation for your shot. Your stance must be a solid and consistent arrow to arrow.

To ensure a consistent stance, apply painter’s tape on the floor where you practice. If you use an open stance, for example, place the tape so your foot alignment and toe position will be identical for each shot.

Remember, your stance not only affects foot position but also your balance and centre of gravity. By making your foundation solid, you ensure a more stable platform for strong shots.

ELBOW ROTATION

Correct elbow rotation is one of archery’s simplest, but most important, skills. This means keeping your bow arm’s elbow rotated straight up and down while drawing the bow and releasing the arrow.

If your bow arm’s elbow doesn’t rotate straight, many problems can result, including a bruised inner elbow and arrows veering to one side of the target. To prevent problems, rotate your elbow straight before raising or drawing your bow.

By setting the bow arm elbow correctly from the start, and maintaining its position during the shot, your upper body will be properly aligned, which results in a stronger shot and better arrow groups in the target.

HOOK (FINGER POSITION ON THE BOWSTRING)

When you place your fingers on the bowstring, do you actually look where you’re placing them? Or do you simply grasp the bowstring and start drawing? Rushing to place your fingers on the string is one of the most common archery mistakes. Taking a second look at your finger placement can pay big dividends for your shot.

Hooking the bowstring with too much finger tension – or in the wrong place on the fingers – can cause many issues. The problems range from missing the target entirely to developing painful finger blisters.

Therefore, make sure you place your fingers on the string for each shot exactly as you were taught, and be sure your hand position relative to the bowstring is consistent. Hooking properly and consistently creates tighter groups!

ANCHOR POINT

For beginning archers, anchoring consistently can be a challenge. The anchor point is a spot on your face – usually the corner of your mouth or just below your chin – where you pull the bowstring every time.

To understand the importance of a consistent anchor point, consider what an anchor does for a boat: It keeps the boat from moving. Likewise, an anchor point prevents archers from placing their draw-hand in different spots each time they shoot, which would send your arrows flying in different directions.

You can determine your anchor point with your instructor’s guidance. The most important part is drawing the bowstring to the same anchor point every single arrow. If you feel it changing, work with your coach on techniques to become more consistent.

STRONG SHOTS

A common mistake made by many archers is failing to finish the shot with strength. Aiming too soon often causes weak shots. Another culprit is focusing so much on aiming that you forget to focus on the proper muscle movements.

Weak shots can cause low shots and side-to-side groupings, depending on whether the archer is right- or left-handed. Fortunately, weak shots are easily fixed: Just change your focus.

When you’re at full draw and ready to aim, stay focused on the muscle movements your coach taught you. Aiming is important, but it’s equally important to use your muscles to create a strong release and follow-through. By focusing on the right technique at the right time, your shots will be stronger and your groups tighter and more consistent.

No Archery Classes this Week

No archery classes this Easter Friday.