Starting in Archery

Beginners Corner

A good place to start

This is for all you guys starting or who feel they need a basic point to set off from where we are on firm ground as far as knowledge is concerned.

Archery is like many activities full of is own Jargon and terms... to feel comfortable with these new names is part of being comfortable with your equipment. This is true for you when talking to others on the beginners course, or to a coach, or indeed to Quicks to get advice or to buy equipment (although we hope we can talk you through it if you are unsure) Many of us feel silly when we dont know, but other archers and coaches in particular want you to get on so ask them and get them to test you. They will remember when they didnt understand either! They will want you to suffer as little as possible and to get on into the fun part of the sport. So here goes....

Things to do to help youself:

• If you can: Go to a club, individual or organisation who can instruct you
  Phone us for details of somewhere near you. This will enable you to be lent the equipment and shown the basics before you buy the wrong thing! Many clubs, indeed most clubs have a good coaching and beginners system and a good selection of equipment to teach you on as well. Even if you only want to shoot on your own at home or in the local farmers field (with his knowledge and permission) this is a good way to start. You can of course go it alone and many do from books or from the ground up. We can offer help if this is your preference.
• I Like to Get a good Book about the basics
  It is useful to have a reference manual or book to look in so that (even with the web) I can dip in and out of the book to confirm or disprove the ideas going on in my head about names of parts of the bow, or the technique the instructor has just shown me for holding the bow and the string! Then next time you return to the bow you have learnt a little more. Homework in this way is not hard but is of immense value.A book we recommend is Archery Steps To Success a good all round book.

          Learn the names of the parts of the bow and of the arrows
           And ask your instructor(s) to test you ....and ask them the names and function of the bits and pieces on their equipment. 

         The more views you can obtain the better picture of the sport you will get.

There are a number of good books on our online shop or, in our catalogue which is FREE TO YOU and a source of lots of information to help you on your way...without having to buy anything to start with. In fact we often advise people to hold off from spending lots on equipment until they have a good idea of what they want....usually found out after a few sessions learning at a club or similar. There are also videos and magazines plus rules of shooting ...all of which you may like to have later on, they probably wont help you to start with except in terms of interest.

• Have a good go at shooting with the Club Equipment and get used to the feel of a bow and arrows. Once you have done this for a few sessions, and you feel at home with the equipment....then you will need to work out some important basic information to fit you to a set of your own equipment.
• Get One of our Archery Sets if you are starting from scratch on your own and then the gear will match and you can get on with shooting and learning. (See Archery Sets on the online shop ). If in doubt talk to us about it; to be confident you have got the correct stuff before you place your order.

What You Need To Know to get your own bow and arrow

• Firstly how long an arrow you will draw/shoot....(see Quicks Cat. page 94 or in our on-line version). This is determined by how long your arms are...and so long as you use a bow that is nice and easy to pull will give you a good starting point for choosing yourself a bow. A good rule of thumb is to measure the distance from your chin to the base of you thumb and forefinger when your arm is stretched out sideways inline with your shoulders and your head turned towards your hand that is held out....I hope you can follow that description! Anyway thats how far back you will pull a bow.
• Secondly what type of archery do you want to enjoy? This may seem a funny question...but there are different bows and different forms of shooting. You can talk to others at your club or to us...and get advice.
• Thirdly how strong a pull bow have you been using, and about how much do you think you can pull. BEWARE: you should always be thinking ...."now where is this arrow going", and not "how am I going to pull the b***** bow" when you go to shoot an arrow! I have had customers go out of our retail shop having bought a bow they cannot pull or string (the action of putting the string onto the bow)...despite our protests...well suggestions!
• Finally Select Arrows that suit you and your bow. This can be a little tricky: but with a little thought is easily understood and once you have hold of the idea, doesnt change much for you. The problem is that the Arrow bends as it leaves the bow....and the amount of bend has to be about right so that it flies straight and doesnt hit the bow as it leaves. The tricky bit is that the "bendiness" of the arrow changes for long or short arrows. The charts in our catalogue or in Eastons Arrow Tuning and Maintainence Guide will give you information on this....and we can help if you are unsure.

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