May 26, 2007

archery arm guards

archery arm guards

archery arm guards
Important Archery Question....?

How can I keep the string from hitting my arm? It hits me on the inner forearm, and my guard doesn't help.
Any advice?

First, watch your bow shoulder, make sure the shoulder is relaxed and not rolled forward. Have another archer watch you if possible.

Then look at your bow elbow, is it hyper extended? As in, is it bending towards the string path? If not, then it's just a matter of turning the elbow out a bit. Here's what you do, raise the bow arm as if you're holding the bow to the target, bend the elbow such that the bow hand touches your chest, extend it out again and watch the position of your elbow joint. This is the position you want when holding the bow. Arm should be straight but not locked.

If your elbow is hyper extended, then you'd have to start doing some work on your bicep. Bicep curls will help with hyper extended elbows.

Another exercise for this is the rotation exercise, extend the bow arm, lean against the wall or corner of a wall. Pretend the corner is the bow grip, place it in your bow hand. Now, without moving your shoulder, try to rotate the elbow. Keep doing this exercise until you can easily move the elbow without any noticeable movement on your shoulder.

Homemade Archery Testing

There is really no "royal road" in learning archery. Your real progress cannot be seen after just a few days of training. It takes a lot of practice, hard work and of course skills before you can master the sport. It's better if you can research about archery online to find out basic things like how to get started and the basic equipment you need. If you're trying to save money, it's ok if you are going to buy used equipment. Make sure that they are still in good condition. Join a forum and ask questions, do not bombard people with questions though because this can be annoying for some. Before you shoot your question, do your research and find out the answer on your own as much as possible.

When learning archery, it's very important to choose the right bow because if you fail on this, you'll have a difficult time honing your skills. Choosing between a left or right bow depends which hand is more dominant and which eye is dominant as well. Figure this out by looking at something far away, form a triangle around it using both of your hands and slowly bring your hands closer to your face. Whichever eye your hands is drawn, that is your dominant eye. The bow that you purchase should not be difficult for you to pull. Ask an archery specialist what's the right draw strength for you. This can be determined by the bow's poundage.

Do not pressure yourself and try to shoot 20 feet away from the target if it's your first time. Always start close to the target. Cut the distance in half and you'll see the difference. Practice in keeping your arm that holds the bow as you draw straight. A lot of beginners bend their arm while drawing the bow and this brings them poor results. Always hold your arms steady so it will be less exhausting for you to shoot.

For more information and tips in Learning Archery, please visit http://archerylessons.org