Bow Hunting, Competition Archery, Shooting Tips, Traditional Archery
Form and Technique: Perfecting Your Traditional Archery Stance
Nov
No one wants to miss the target. If you’re not positioned right, though, this is a likely outcome, and you may struggle to do well. You’ll want to make sure you’re positioned correctly to be able to aim properly, and that starts with looking at how your body stands when you’re ready to go. With proper form and technique, over time, it’s possible to improve and be able to walk up and get into position fast.
So, how can I improve my archery stance? There’s actually a lot that goes into an archery stance, but most of it will become second-nature with a little bit of practice. For those serious about improving, the following is a good start for how to improve your stance right now, enabling better positioning so you can focus more on aiming and progressing other skills instead of worrying about where your feet are and whether your body is standing straight enough.
Why Does the Stance Matter?
Archery is a game of skill, but skill depends on more than being able to aim and pull back the string. It depends quite a lot on how you stand before you even start to shoot. Being able to consistently hit targets starts with being able to stand in the proper position. If you’re not in the right position, you can’t aim accurately, and you’re more likely to miss the target. Even a small change in your stance can make a big difference and help you hit the target with ease.
As you improve your stance, you’ll be able to see how to make slight changes when you use a different bow or have to hit a target that’s closer or further away. You’ll be able to more accurately change what you’re doing to aim properly and start hitting not only the target, but the center of the target, more often. This elevates your skills significantly and can make a big difference when you’re looking for ways to improve. Before long, you’ll be shooting far more accurately and can start looking at custom bows for sale, entering competitions, and having a lot more fun.
Posture and Stance
There are differences between posture and stance when it comes to archery, and it’s important to know what they are when looking at ways to improve your stance. Posture is how your body is positioned when you’re standing, getting ready to shoot. It encompasses your entire body, not just your feet or legs, and is important to consider carefully when you’re looking at improving your stance.
Your stance is how your feet are positioned to get ready to shoot. The focus is mainly on your legs and feet, as the rest of the body will follow a little easier when your feet are positioned properly. If you’re ready to improve your skills, starting with your stance and looking at your posture can make a huge difference.
How to Position Your Feet
The feet position is the core of your stance and posture when using a bow. In general, there are two main stances: squared versus open. A squared stance is more common, as it is more stable. In this position, both feet are parallel to each other, spaced a little bit apart, but perpendicular to to target. This position is perfect for those who are new to archery or focusing on consistency.
The open stance has one foot, the one closest to the target, turned slightly toward the target. This creates a small angle that isn’t there with the square stance, making it a more natural position to stand in. This position can be more flexible and comfortable, but it does require more awareness of your own body to be able to be consistent.
Both of these stances are valid options for those who are looking to improve their archery skills, but one may be better than the other. Which one? Well, it depends. It’s important to try both to work towards finding a way to balance easily and find a stance that’s more stable for you. Practicing both will help you determine which stance is more natural for you and which one will help you consistently aim better.
Make Sure You’re Balanced
Standing requires balance, and this depends not only on the position of your feet but how your weight is distributed, too. When trying the feet positions, make sure your feet are separated enough that you can balance properly without leaning too much on one foot. The goal is to have equal weight on both of your feet. Your knees should be slightly flexed, and your body should be straight above your legs. Imagine a string through your spine – it should be straight, not curved, when you’re balanced properly.
Positioning Your Core, Chest, and Shoulders
Once you’re standing with your feet in the right position and balanced, the next thing to focus on is your core, chest, and shoulders. Your core muscles should be able to help stabilize your body. If you’re twisting to be able to aim at the target, adjust your position slightly so that the muscles provide better stability. This will help your aim.
Your chest and shoulders should be in a natural position to make it easier to pull back the string. Focusing on engaging your core helps to make sure your chest and shoulders are in the right position, but avoid becoming too tense, as this will cause your shoulders to be a bit rounded, which can be incredibly uncomfortable and lead to mistakes.
Practice engaging your core to prevent swaying while shooting and to keep your posture stable. Even small movements or swaying can make a big difference when you’re shooting at targets that are further away, so it’s important to make sure you practice your stance while focusing on your core, chest, and shoulders to minimize leaning or swaying.
Getting the Right Head Position
Aim requires being able to see the target and know where the bow is going to go, so it follows that the head position will make a difference. Start by relaxing and looking straight ahead based on how your body is standing. You won’t be looking at the target at first, but once you’re standing and balanced, turn your head to face the target. Experiment with exactly where you face and how your head is positioned to be as accurate as possible when aiming. Make sure your head position doesn’t change while you shoot, as this could cause issues with your aim.
Building Muscle Memory
When you walk up and get ready to aim, it’s going to take a few moments to be able to get in the right position, especially when you’re just getting started. However, building muscle memory means your body hops right into position, with maybe a few minor adjustments from you based on the bow, the distance, or other factors. To build muscle memory, just practice.
The camera can be your best friend here. When you’re ready to work on your stance, set up a camera and take photos of yourself (or have a friend take some photos). You’ll be able to see your stance better, visualize whether there are any issues, like leaning while getting positioned or swaying while you’re aiming. Once you can see possible issues with your stance, you can work on ways to correct them. Continue to practice with the right stance and posture to build the muscle memory over time.
Mechanics of Drawing
Getting the right stance is just the beginning. From there, how you draw can determine whether you’re able to hit the target or if you miss. It’s important to make sure you’re drawing properly, using your back muscles and not your arms, to be able to hit the target. Using your back muscles will help prevent you from getting tired as well as make all of your motions smoother.
Practice with how you hold your arms, too. Your elbows should be positioned to be comfortable and stable, with the drawing elbow sitting level with or just above the arrow line. Make sure the elbow is pointing behind you, not off to the side, to ensure that you can use the back muscles when drawing. The other elbow should be slightly out, preventing the string from hitting it, but be careful not to have it out so far that it can strain the shoulders.
Make sure you work on creating the right anchor point for drawing, too, so you can be consistent and more accurate. This can be on the corner of your mouth, jawline, or cheekbone, but it should be the same every time you shoot. Regular practice will help your draw become smoother, leading to more accurate shots every time.
Fixing your stance can make a world of difference and help you be more accurate when handling a bow, but it does take practice. The stance needed for shooting a bow may not come naturally to you, but the information here can help you perfect it so you can improve your abilities. Take time to practice, going slow and paying attention to every detail, so you can improve your stance and your skill.
About The Author
ROB LEE
