archery basics

archery can be a fun and rewarding sport, as well as being a source of exercise, but archery can be a mystery to some people, in this instructable i will talk about how to get involved in archery, different bow types, shooting styles and types of arrow that are available, remember that this instructable is a BASIC guide so i haven't mentioned every tiny little detail!, so move on to the next step!

Step 1 Getting involved!

the easiest way to get involved in archery is to join a local club, do some research on the nearest club that is in your area, or if you don't have a club in your area, you could just go it alone and buy a bow yourself, the reason i suggest a club is because of the community - you can talk to other members for advice on choosing bows to buy etc, many clubs also offer beginners courses for you to take which will explain all you need to know about archery to start you off, as well as beginners courses, clubs will have equipment for you to use so you will not have to buy your own bow if you don't want to, although it is suggested.

if you are still interested, move on to the next step!

Comments

[badideasrus]

i have to disagree on the wooden arrows not holding up thing. wooden arrows, back when, where used with very good results. and bows that they used them with had insane poundage. i've heard people say as much as 150 lbs for a longbow. they used wooden arrows. its been said that after a battle, they would go and get the arrows from the bodies and use them again. so they hold up just fine. i think the reason they use carbon and alluminum is the amount of control. a wooden arrow is organic, and subject of growth flaws and variations. this makes a wooden arrow bend differently. each arrow is unique. they are harder to spine test, and to find the right arrows for. they are also heavyer than other arrows. they work just fine however. also, i have yet to meet a hunter that shoots anything but carbon fiber out of modern compound bows, so the disclaimer that carbonfiber is dangerous is ridiculous. if you shoot it right, you're going to be fine. most use carbon fiber because it is the lightest, and most think it shoots the fastest. a carbon fiber arrow with the same spine as an alluminum has a smaller diameter shaft, meaning less drag. its really up to the user to determine which they like best.

[pfred2]

I hear wooden arrows can splinter and shatter. I've never bothered with them. I've shot aluminum and carbon and carbon is incredible! If aluminum was an improvement over wood then carbon something else entirely.

[aweis]

i have heard bows up to two hundred pound drawbacks in medieval times, and also with basic types of bows where you have the arrow resting on your hand when you shoot carbon fiber arrows and probably aluminum arrows with the plastic veins to keep the arrow straight; I image could easily lacerate your hand. i prefer wood arrows because i can make them myself. and aluminum seems such as it would be too light, and aluminum is not very sturdy. in my opinion.

[pfred2]

Well when you heard about those high draw bows did you hear how they were fired or what they were used for? Anything about lying down holding the bow with feet and using both arms to draw to fire volleys of arrows ever come up? No?

I bet you think they were just he men back then huh? History is often far more banal.

Carbon arrows are even lighter than aluminum arrows the same size. I do not know why you want a heavy arrow shaft when the tips are interchangeable. I prefer my arrow shafts as light and as strong as possible.

Your opinion aside aluminum is about 10 times stronger than wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength

And carbon fiber more than 10 times stronger than aluminum. Yeah them carbon arrows are that much better. Lucky for cowboys that native Indians couldn't get their hands on any.

[badideasrus]

of course they can splinter and shatter. but when? when the arrow is released? then you have not enough spine probably. in the arrow? so do carbon. and aluminum.

i do agree that they are improvements, but wood works very well too.

[aweis]

nice A-10 warthog picture.

[aaron1414]

i have a carbon arrow ....i think but iys back came off were it clips to the string for a compound bow will super glue work to put it back on

[badideasrus]

the nock came off? many nocks are not glued in. just a press fit, so that you can replace the nocks. nocks cost like 5 cents. carbon arrows cost $12-20 each.

[bedbugg2]

You should use proper archery glue on arrows that are being used on a powerful compound bow...look at this... http://www.merlinarcherycentre.co.uk/acatalog/Fletch-Tite_Fletching_Cement.html

[sparkster1]

 could you give me links to some targets

[bedbugg2]

Sure thing, here is a good range of targets for cheap http://www.merlinarcherycentre.co.uk/acatalog/Bosses.html the big ones are called bosses, and are good if you have lots of room to store them away when you aren't using them, but that target on the tripod would be a good choice if you had limited space :).

[wbrm77]

what is the board with the target called

[bedbugg2]

It's called a boss.

[Caym]

I always wondered why people say wooden arrows wont hold up ...
especially when you consider how heavy the longbows were in medieval times...

[p0g068]

 nice simple and to the point! the way it should always be! thank you... it was very helpful

[edfel01]

very good instructable!!! make another one!!!

[NRen2k5]

I wonder which recurves are so powerful that you shouldn't be shooting wooden arrows from them... ? I have a 50# Damon Howatt "Hatfield" that seems to shoot 70-75# shafts best and yes they are wood. Sure wouldn't mind shopping around for other nice bows.

[tincanz]

I've shot a composite recurve barebow for the past year, and for three years before that I shot a kids bow. I love archery...

[mattyts]

i like archery but i make my own bows out of cane since im not hi tech im only ten but this is a really good guide

[bubba j]

then if you want a nice reliable bow if made right got to these two instrutables how to make a bow for twenty bucks and bamboo bow and arrow so try then and have fun

[sharlston]

which two?

[arrow shot]

heh... i was hoping to find a bunch of flaws to correct you on, but i couldn't find any... except you should say arrow materials, not types. Although there are different types of arrows, or at least different placement of fletchings. Also, you forgot composite bow :o

[temp]

You could include composite bws in their own category, but most composites are shaped into recurves or longbows.

[redsuit09]

do you use a stabalizer?

[bedbugg2]

Yes

[aleigh45]

nice hoyt bows but what are they called

[bedbugg2]

The compounds?

[red-king]

good Instructable for anyone getting into archery!

now if only I could find an instructable about making a quiver... because I'm too cheap to buy one =P

[H0V3R1_0rd]

That's the GAU-8 avenger cannon. Other interesting facts: It shoots a few hundred rounds in a 2-second burst, penetrates all types of Armour, is built by General Electric, the A-10's front wheel had to be mounted off-center for the cannon to fit and pilots say that when you fire it the plane feels like is about to fall apart. In a video I saw a pilot said that his wife could tell if he had been firing this cannon because of the smell!

[LinuxH4x0r]

Nice. I shoot recurve without any sights with aluminum arrows.

[bubba j]

what brand?????

[LinuxH4x0r]

I have a PSE Buckeye and a no name one I got at a garage sale.

[bubba j]

i got that pse for my bro for christmas

[whatsisface]

Nice work. May I suggest you include scoring in your next one?

[bedbugg2]

sure!, thanks for adding some constructive critisism :) do you do archery?

[whatsisface]

I used to, stopped because of too much work.

[bubba j]

sad to much work but you've got a good point plze do that that would help youngens like me out alott

[gameboy7oa]

I use aluminium arrows with my English longbow. Longbows can be made up of more than two pieces because some bows, like mine, can be lamented with another wood or fiberglass. I have hickory backed with bamboo.

[bubba j]

i use too have that one it was too hevey though but i sold it for 200 bucks and i made it my self

[PyroManiac96]

lol shark with a vulcan coming out of it's mouth for some reason that is so funny to me right now