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Do you want to take up archery as a hobby or sport? Maybe you are new to it or want to try it! Perhaps you are wondering how long it takes to learn archery.
No matter, what your needs are, we are here to help. However, to become a proficient archer, you have two choices to make before you start your journey on how to shoot a bow and arrow.
First Steps with a Bow and Arrow
Archery can take up to an hour to learn but takes a lifetime to master. The answer may sound snarky but is true because it can be hard to get your technique right and improve your accuracy. Getting started, buying the right archery equipment and learning the technicalities of aiming and shooting your bow can be grasped relatively quickly. However, honing those skills and building the muscles to do everything without fail every time takes a lot of hours and practice, whether you receive lessons, or learn to shoot a bow by yourself. However, if you are prepared to practice, then you can learn the basics, and how to line up a good shot.
To be able to shoot the arrow you need to learn to hold the bow properly and get consistency by pulling the bow string to the exact point each time known as your anchor point. You can do this by using the tip of your nose touching the string and placing your knuckle on a specific location close to the jaw, but yours can be different.
Furthermore, you need to look at your target the same way each time and release the string the precise same way every time. There must be no tilting, or moving your bow when you release the arrow. However, the most challenging part is doing it correctly and consistently every time.
Mastering a bow and arrow
The truth is it can take many years to master archery to increase your skill level and discover what you need to know. It can take up to three years for you to get good at it. Further, it depends if you are using traditional bare bows, Olympic, or a compound bow. In sports, you can find elderly archers beating youngsters at the game.
Sports are not about how your physical condition is, but also the experience you have. Alternatively, it is a mind game as some Asian cultures use it to meditate. The minimum limitation for bow hunting is 40 lbs, and you do not need to be Hercules to pull the string to take a good shot.
This applies to archery for beginners, but also those who have been doing it for a while – the more you practice, the better you get, and eventually, you reach a point where you need to adjust your workings not to feel limited. You will always be learning new things, and once you master the techniques, nothing can change it. Furthermore, it also depends on the teacher you have and your willingness to take criticism.
Alternatively, as mentioned it also depends on the type of archery you plan to learn. You will learn how to shoot with your Recurve Bow using a low draw weight and takes up to 12 hours for six weeks depending on the instructor who takes your classes.
The truth is there is no set point on the length of time it takes to learn all the skills, as you are always improving your skill.
Different Types of Archery
Depending on where you live, there are varieties of archery types you can practice. Each one needs a different shooting technique and equipment to master the skill.
Target
Target archery is the most popular one you can practice indoors and outdoors. The setup is simple and consists of shooting the arrow at a target with a bullseye in the middle. The most common objective is one with a gold center and known as World Archery used as the Federation Internationale de Tir a (FITA.)
The targets come in various sizes to shoot at different distances. Here the most common bow types used is the Compound, Barebow, or Recurve and suitable for all skill levels. Furthermore, it is the most common form for beginners to learn the sport.
Find out popular archery bows for beginners.
Field
This is the outdoors version of target archery and practised through uneven terrain and woodlands. On the course, you will find targets set up at various distances and elevations. Here shooters practice shooting at targets uphill or downhill at unmarked distances with light, dark conditions, and wind present. The typical archery range course comprises of 48 targets with 24 of them marked and the rest unmarked. The ideal bow used for Field Archery is the Barebow, Compound, and Recurve. Furthermore, it is suitable for all skill levels.
Bowhunting/Bowfishing
Do you want to get out into the wild or on the lake to hunt for your food? You can achieve this by doing bowhunting or bowfishing. You can use your bow with adapted fishing reel to catch fish or use it as is to shoot deer. The most common types used for hunting and fishing are the Compound, Barebow, and Recurve and made for survival skills.
These are only a few forms of archery you can consider, or you can think of partaking in the following:
- Crossbow – you can use your crossbow with any of the techniques mentioned above to shoot at known and unknown target distances.
- 3D – this form of shooting is similar to field archery and makes use of 3-dimensional target-resembling animals. The fantastic thing is the sports great to practice bowhunting as it teaches you the same skills used in the wild.
- Clout – this technique is the same as target shooting. The only difference is the target is massive and marked on the floor with a flag comprising a bullseye. Here you learn to shoot the arrow in an upwards position to drop it as close to the flag.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We hope that we have helped answer the question of how long it takes to learn. However, we know there are other questions on your mind. Here you can find some solutions and advice to specific questions asked by our followers who are keen to get started with how to learn to use a bow and arrow.
Is Archery Hard to Learn?
For some beginners, it is difficult but you can master it easily. The best way to begin is about ten feet away from the target. Yes, you will break some of your arrows and have them quickly repaired. You might start shooting with a fiberglass bow weighing up to 25 pounds but will spend more on an advanced one later. Eventually, you start moving away further from the bag as you gain strength.
How Do You Start with a Bow and Arrow?
As you start archery, you can begin with target shooting and suitable for all ages of archer to partake. Think about it this way it is the perfect time to bond with your kids. All you need is a Recurve or Compound Bow and made for shooting at targets. The Compound bow can also be used for hunting or more specifically deer hunting. The Recurve has only one string and forms a W-shape. When it comes to draw weight, you should check what it is on the bow that you are buying. If you plan to take your hobby to the next level with world archery competitions, you should avoid using traditional bows and aim to practice with a Recurve Bow as that is the type that is typically used. The opposite of this is the longbow that forms a U-shape. The next step is to find a place to shoot such as a shooting range or archery organization and you are set to start with your hobby or sports.
What Draw Length Should A Bow Be At?
For a perfect shot you will want to have a good archery form. To achieve this, knowing the draw length to shoot the bow at in a single shot is quite important and doing so can be quick. By measuring your arm span and then dividing the measurement by 2.5 you will be able to find out the draw length you need to shoot arrows. It is also important to measure the draw weight too.
What Bow Type is Recommended?
Before you start shooting and get your fingers on the string, you may want to look at some different types of bows, such as recurve, traditional and compound. Since they are more energy efficient than many straight-limbed or traditional bows, less effort will be needed for a single shot and you may be more able to shoot arrows.
Is using a Bow and Arrow Beneficial?
While the activity is a stationary sport, you still need an amount of endurance, focus, and strength to perform well. Furthermore, archery has health benefits and improves your mental health at the same time. The benefits for archers are as follow:
- When drawing the string of the bow, it places stress on your muscles in the arms, chest, back, and shoulders. You get the same exercise as lifting weights. Eventually, the more you practice, the more your muscles groups develop in your upper body.
- You learn to balance, as you need to hold your body still when aiming to make the perfect shot. This helps you to gain control over your balance and more practice you get it develops the core muscles to help you balance for a steady aim.
How can I teach myself archery?
Whether you plan to use archery as a hobby, professional sport, or for hunting, there are ways on how to learn archery by yourself. If you are planning to take archery as a hobby, you should know by now which bow to buy. However, if you are still uncertain the best bow to start with is the Recurve.
At first, you do not need to buy the riser and limbs as you can purchase them later. Find your suitable height and draw length when picking the bow. Furthermore, calculate your draw weight or visit an archery shop to help determine all these factors to take into consideration.
The important thing is you must be able to handle the draw weight and do not want to end up with a bow that is too heavy to handle. Another vital thing to learn is how to string your bow and best to get a bowstringer as it makes the task more comfortable and safer. Now that you have your bow you will need to learn how to stance, do arrow nocking, pulling, releasing, and so much more.
You can find multiple systematic guides available online. Further, you need to know how stiff and heavy the arrow needs to be. Using a too light shaft can cause your bow to break. There is loads of information readily available, but we still advise you to visit a professional to see if your self-learned skills are any good or need fixing.
As you can see, it all depends on what form of the sport you want to partake in. How long it takes to achieve competence in archery all depends on how determined you are to master the skill. Not only does it improve your ability but offers you loads of benefits when it comes to your health.