Simon Needham - Archery: The Art of Repetition

The aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in archery, whether they are new to the sport, have shot a little, or are of a reasonable standard. Whatever your skill level, this volume will be an invaluable aid to improving both your shooting and your understanding of archery.

I wish that, twenty years ago when I began my archery career, I had known what I know now. I have therefore aimed to put all of my accumulated knowledge into this volume, so as to provide a bank of ideas and knowledge upon which archers of all levels and abilities can draw. If you are a newcomer , starting your archery career with a good method will mean that your progression through the sport will be much easier.

Archery, like many other experiences in life, is easier to learn if it is broken down into the various parts which make the whole, such as style, equipment , fitness, psychology, tuning and so on. However , once compartmentalized for ease of reference, these parts should such not remain separated, or even, perhaps as in the case of fitness, ignored. You must always remember that ultimately each of the component parts is integral to the whole. While you may get by in your shooting by ignoring some parts of the whole, inevitably this will hold you back from attaining your true potential.

Reaching your potential in archery is like completing a personal jigsaw; each of us will have our own jigsaw of excellence. The key to success is in finding all the individual pieces to it. All archers have the same ultimate focal point the centre of the picture. It is the differences in body build and make-up of the neural pathways, in the main, that will determine the pieces that form your own personal archery jigsaw.

The simplest way of explaining archery is that you need to be able to carry out the same actions and thoughts repeatedly, to hit the centre of the target every time the art of repetition. In theory , you can hold the bow however you want, stand on one foot, stick your finger in your ear when you pull the string back, and if when you let go the arrow hits the middle of the target, you will score a ten. But the chances of being able to achieve a ten every time from this method are negligible. Ask yourself: Am I able to repeat the movement easily, and is there any way to make what I am doing easier to repeat time and time again? You need to consider that the body and mind work in a specific way. Biomechanics refers to how the body works mechanically and psychology to how the mind works utilizing these two underlying mechanisms is vital to your eventual success in archery.

This book will enable you to put together the main part of your jigsaw, quickly and easily. You will be able to shoot well from the very start. Archery should be a learning progression which begins the moment you first start shooting and which enables you to maximize your potential. The photographs here all show archers who have reached international level and have shot over a score of 1300 for a FITA (maximum 1440), or are international medal winners.

Glasgows shooting ground all ages practising together.

Chapter 1

Archery is a sport for all. Whether you are six or sixty-nine years old, are fully fit or have physical challenges, you can have a go at archery. I know of one-armed archers and even blind archers. They all shoot in the same competitions. The age at which you can take up archery varies between clubs. Due to the shorter attention span of younger children, some clubs may require the parents to stay and supervise their offspring, thus providing an opportunity for the whole family to participate in the activity.

Generally, archery is taken up in the first place as a hobby or recreational sport, with most people content to shoot at their local club and enjoy the social side of archery. Some people then get the bug and start entering local competitions , eventually moving on to national competitions. A few of the most determined may even reach the Olympics. However, archers of all ability levels need to be able to learn to focus on the control of their minds and bodies. Accordingly, many professional people find that archery is an excellent distraction from the rigours of a high-pressure working environment .