Mastering The Art Of Barebow Accuracy: Secrets To Precise Shooting

Barebow archery is a challenging and fun discipline that requires dedication and practice to master. It involves using a bow without sights, stabilisers, clickers, or other mechanical aids, relying solely on the archer's skill and technique. To be accurate with a barebow, one must focus on maintaining a consistent draw length and developing a precise aim.

There are several techniques that barebow archers can employ to improve their accuracy, including instinctive shooting, string walking, gap shooting, and face walking. Each method has its advantages and considerations, and the choice depends on the individual archer's preferences and shooting conditions.

Instinctive shooting, as the name suggests, relies on the archer's instinct and muscle memory developed through repeated practice. String walking involves adjusting the position of the fingers beneath the nocking point to raise or lower the arrow's point of aim. Gap shooting uses a known gap between the arrow's point and the target, with the gap varying depending on the distance. Face walking is similar to string walking but instead of adjusting finger placement, the archer changes their anchor point on their face to aim at different distances.

In addition to these techniques, barebow archers also need to consider their equipment, such as the type of bow, arrow rests, plungers, and weights, to ensure clean arrow flight and stable shooting.

While it may take time and dedication to master, barebow archery provides a unique and satisfying experience that connects the archer with the ancient art of archery in its purest form.

Mastering the art of instinctive shooting

Instinctive shooting is a style of barebow archery that relies on the subconscious and muscle memory. It is a challenging technique that requires dedication, practice, and faith in your abilities. Here are some tips to master the art of instinctive shooting:

• Muscle Memory and Instinct: Instinctive shooting requires building muscle memory for different distances. You will develop an instinct for each distance by shooting arrow after arrow. This process takes time and patience, as you refine your technique through repetition.
• Trust the Process: Have faith in your subconscious and trust that the arrow will go where you are aiming. Focus on the centre of the target and aim to put the arrow there. With practice, you will be able to repeat successful shots consistently.
• Proper Form: Maintaining proper form is vital for instinctive shooting. It ensures that the flight of the arrow is true, and any corrections needed are due to your aiming rather than imperfections in your shot process.
• Feel the Wind: As you progress, you will develop a sense for feeling the wind and atmospherics, which will help you make subtle adjustments in your shooting.
• Devotion and Satisfaction: Instinctive shooting may not yield immediate results, and it requires many hours of practice and frustration. Stick with it, and over time, you will see improvements that will boost your confidence and lead to even better results.
• Consistent Anchor Point: When shooting barebow, it is crucial to maintain a consistent anchor point. This provides a reference point for your shooting and helps you develop a feel for different distances.
• Equipment Considerations: Choose the right equipment, such as a plunger, barebow weight, and arrow-rest, to support your instinctive shooting. These accessories will help guide the arrow and stabilise the bow.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: Instinctive shooting is an art that cannot be taught but must be learned through experience. The more you practice, the better you will become at making instinctive shots. Experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you.

Remember, instinctive shooting is an individual journey, and what works for one archer may not work for another. Embrace the unique challenges of this style and enjoy the process of mastering the art of instinctive shooting with barebow archery.

Understanding the importance of consistent draw length

Consistency in draw length is vital for accuracy and overall performance in archery. The draw length is the distance between the bowstring at full draw and the grip of the bow. It is a fundamental measurement that affects several factors, including accuracy, consistency, and performance.

The Impact of Draw Length on Performance

Using the wrong draw length can lead to:

• Poor form: An incorrect draw length can cause inconsistencies in your shooting form, affecting your posture, muscle tension, and stability.
• Inaccurate shots: If the draw length is too long or too short, the arrow may not align correctly with your target, resulting in missed or off-centre shots.
• Inconsistency in arrow flight: A draw length that is not suited to your body and shooting style can cause variations in arrow trajectory, making it challenging to predict and adjust your shots accurately.

Achieving Consistent Draw Length

To achieve a consistent draw length, you should:

• Develop muscle memory: Practice drawing the bowstring to the same point repeatedly to build muscle memory. This will help you naturally find the correct draw length without having to think about it consciously.
• Use anchor points: Establish consistent anchor points, such as the corner of your mouth or a particular spot on your eyebrow, to help standardise your draw length.
• Maintain proper form: Focus on maintaining good posture, shoulder alignment, and back tension throughout the draw to prevent creep or collapse, ensuring a consistent draw length.
• Use a clicker: Although barebow archers typically don't use clickers, you can use one during practice to help you find and maintain the correct draw length.
• Adjust your equipment: Ensure your equipment, such as the arrow shaft length and nock height, is suited to your shooting style and draw length. This can include using different arrows for different distances to maintain consistency.

By focusing on consistent draw length, you will improve your accuracy and overall performance in barebow archery.

Using a plunger to guide the arrow

A plunger is a small but vital piece of equipment for barebow archers. It is also known as a "cushion button" and has two main functions: guiding the arrow down the centreline of the bow during the shot, and moderating the arrow's flexing upon release.

The plunger is a small cylinder that screws into the riser just above the arrow rest. It houses a spring and has a plastic "head" that sticks out of the tube. When you release the arrow, it flexes horizontally due to the bowstring going around your fingers. The plunger's spring action absorbs these imperfections and inconsistencies, keeping the arrow on a straight path as it leaves the bow.

To set up your plunger, first, make sure your arrow shaft is aligned with the centre of the bow. Then, adjust the plunger so that it guides the arrow in line with the centre of the bow. You can use guides like a Beiter limb line gauge to find the bow's centreline. Next, loosen the plunger's jam nut and spin it until the arrow shaft aligns with the centre of the bow.

Once you've set up your bow and tuned it initially, you can experiment with plunger tension. Small adjustments in plunger tension can increase your accuracy. If you're a right-handed archer, the plunger should be set so that the arrow points about half to one arrow width slightly to the left. If you're left-handed, the arrow should point to the right. The plunger tension should also match your draw weight—a soft plunger for low draw weight and a stiff plunger for heavy draw weight.

A plunger is especially useful for stringwalking or shooting at Field/Target distances. It allows for fine-tuning and can help with accuracy, especially as distance increases. However, it's important to note that a plunger won't correct horrible shots—you still need to consistently execute good form while honing your technique.

Choosing the right arrow rest

The arrow rest is an essential piece of equipment that helps stabilise the arrow until it leaves the bowstring. It keeps the arrow in place and minimises contact with the arrow, which could alter its trajectory.

There are two main types of arrow rest: stick-on and wrap-around.

Stick-On Arrow Rests

Stick-on arrow rests are simple to install and have a straightforward design with fewer moving parts. They are also lighter in weight. They are usually made of plastic or metal and are glued onto the riser on the shelf side of the bow. The downside is that they can be fragile and may need to be replaced often.

Wrap-Around Arrow Rests

Wrap-around arrow rests have a "plate" that is affixed under the collar of the plunger on the sight-mounting side of the bow. They are more durable and adjustable, but they are also more expensive.

When choosing an arrow rest for barebow, it is important to consider the type of bow and arrows you are using, as well as your skill level.

For barebow, a strong wire arrow rest is necessary because these archers typically use the string-walking method to aim, which puts downward pressure on the rest. The Zniper wrap-around arrow rest is specifically designed for barebow archers and is used by many top competitors. However, it is quite costly at around £70.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, the Hoyt Super Rest is a good choice for beginners. It is a lightweight, flexible plastic stick-on rest that can be found on the equipment list of many Olympic archers.

Another option is the Spigarelli wrap-around rest, which is popular across all disciplines due to its strength and durability. However, it may not provide good clearance when stringwalking at closer distances.

Ultimately, the choice of arrow rest depends on your individual needs and preferences. It is important to consider factors such as durability, adjustability, and cost when making your decision.

Knowing the basics of gap shooting

Gap shooting is an aiming method used in barebow archery that does not rely on sights. It is a very accurate and reliable method but can be challenging to master, requiring lots of trial and error. The key to gap shooting is understanding the concept of the "point-on distance". This is the distance at which you can hit a target by aiming with the tip of your arrow directly on it at full draw. At shorter distances, you aim lower, creating a visual gap between the target and the tip of the arrow, which is then used as an aiming reference.

When gap shooting, your primary focus is on the target. The tip of the arrow and the gap are in your peripheral vision. As human peripheral vision deteriorates the further an object is from our primary line of sight, it is important to keep the gap small so that it can be easily seen and used for precise aiming.

To find your "gap", start by pointing your arrow directly at the centre of the target and release. If your arrow goes over or falls short, adjust by aiming higher or lower until you consistently hit the target. Once you find this point, you have found your gap. This might be on the target or off it. If you are aiming underneath the target, you will be aiming at the floor at the base of the stand. If you find yourself aiming above the target, you will need to introduce "face walking" to find your gap again.

Gap shooting is often combined with "string walking", a more complex technique where the point of the arrow is always aimed at the centre of the target, and the archer changes the distance below the nocking point at which they hold the string. This raises or lowers the position of the nock of the arrow relative to its point.

While gap shooting is a simple technique, it is challenging to master and requires a lot of practice and patience. However, with good basic form and solid, patient practice, it can bring great satisfaction and joy to the archer.

Frequently asked questions