An arrow is never afraid of shooting from the bow; but it is afraid of not reaching the target! - Mehmet Murat ildan
The basic goal of archery is to be able to shoot the target.
Clearly, this means that the archer must have a good sense of accuracy to join this sport.
But did you know that physical strength, balance, coordination and focus are just as important in archery?
Even the most skilled archer needs to train for long periods of time to prepare for competitions.
If what you want is to master archery techniques and forms such as those in field archery and target archery, then this article is for you.
Is field archery the earliest form of archery?
The earliest evidence of archery dates back to the late Paleolithic period. That's around 10,000 B.C.E.!
We know that ancient Egyptians and Greeks were fans of archery, using it for both military and recreational purposes. On top of that, the bow and the arrow were also found to be symbols of war and hunting throughout many parts of the world. In Asia, the Huns and the Mongols were among the large groups that relied on horse archers to expand their influence.
Later, towards the 16th century, bows and arrows were abandoned and heavily displaced by firearms, so the people who participated in archery after this period viewed it as more of a sport. With more and more archery competitions being held around the world, archery eventually took its place at the Olympic Games as one of the earliest sports to be included in the event.
Today, archery remains a popular sport governed by World Archery and there are even categories like target archery, 3D archery and recurve archery that professionals and amateurs can choose from. Thanks to famous athletes like Kim Soo Nyung, Darrell Pace and Hubert Van Innis, more and more people have gotten to know archery and become interested in the sport.
What about Malaysian athletes like Khairil Anuar Mohamad and Hasihin Sanawi? Get to know your Malaysian archers at the Olympics.
Target archery and more: what are the major categories in archery?
World Archery, the global governing body for all international archery events and tournaments, recognises three major categories of archery: target archery, field archery and indoor archery. Let's look at the techniques and forms you need to master in these archery categories.
Indoor archery
It is likely that you have already seen this category of archery. Indoor archery is actually a variation of target archery as archers also need to shoot at stationary, circular targets. However, the event uses shorter distances (usually 18 metres) and will take place inside a building, so you can find indoor archery events at many archery pro shops or even shopping malls in Malaysia.
According to championship-winning coach Marc Dellenbach, you must focus on these three aspects when shooting indoors:
- Building shoulder strength for a solid front shoulder position
- Training your sight to create a reliable aiming frame
- Maintaining balance and stability to shoot over shorter distances
Indoor archery is so popular that there is even an Indoor Archery World Series you can check out!
Target archery
If indoor archery is shooting at stationary circular targets over shorter distances, then target archery is the same except that it happens over longer distances (50 to 70 metres is the standard). This category of archery is the most well-known form of archery as it is featured in international events like the Olympics, Paralympics and World Archery Championships.
The point of target archery is to shoot as close to the centre of the target as possible. The target consists of ten scoring zones represented by yellow, red, blue, black and white rings:
- Innermost yellow rings = 10 and 9 points
- Red rings = 8 and 7 points
- Blue rings = 6 and 5 points
- Black rings = 4 and 3 points
- Outermost white rings = 2 points and 1 point
Depending on the target archery event, the archer will rely on various equipment items for competitive archery.
More on target archery in a bit.
Field archery
Finally, field archery also involves shooting at stationary circular targets, but this time, the targets will be of varying sizes and distances (between 5 and 60 metres). Even the heights and angles at which archers must shoot will vary!
Another interesting aspect of field archery is that the archer may or may not know the distances of the targets, so they will need the ability to judge how close or far away their target is. In addition to such distance judging, field archers must know how to deal with challenging terrain and develop skills like shooting uphill and downhill.
Currently, the World Archery Field Championships are held every two years.
Recurve archery vs compound archery: what's the difference?
Let's get back to the most popular category of archery: target archery. You may have heard of recurve archery and compound archery as the two main forms of target archery. Did you know they require a different set of techniques?
In standard recurve archery events, the target is set at a distance of 70 metres while compound archery sets the target 50 metres away from the archer.
The biggest difference between the two is the type of bow used. In recurve archery, a recurve bow is used - it is called by this name as the upper and lower limbs of the bow will curve away from the archer after it has been drawn inwards. A compound bow has many extra features, such as pulleys, cables, a magnifying lens and a release switch, which makes it heavier than the recurve bow.
When we compare the two, it is clear that recurve archery requires more muscular strength in the upper body as the archer will need to pull and hold the bowstring for a shot before releasing the arrow manually. Additionally, while there is an adjustable pin for archers to take aim in recurve archery, you could say that recurve archers need to have high aiming accuracy as they don't have a magnifying lens like in compound archery.
Even with the assistance in power and precision that a compound bow offers, archers will still need to possess strength and accuracy to make the near-perfect shot. They must also be able to use the added accessories on their compound bow with ease if they want to avoid making any equipment-related mistakes during competitions.
Would you like to know more through this introductory guide to archery?
How do I improve my target archery skills?
It is time for you to improve your techniques and forms in archery.
There is always the option of visiting places to learn archery in Malaysia.
On top of that, you can use these tips below to refine your archery practice:
- Practise shooting on a regular basis. This will help you develop your distinct style of shooting and improve the consistency and accuracy of your shots.
- Use shooting drills and exercises to improve certain techniques. This is one way to develop a routine for your archery practice while still being able to hone specific techniques like releasing the arrow at the right time. Try these archery bow training exercises for beginners.
- Seek feedback from experienced archers. Finding yourself stuck and unable to improve in archery? A great way to meet other archers who have competition experience is by joining archery clubs or local archery tournaments. In the archery community, you are sure to find someone you can speak to for advice.
Alternatively, you can always reach out to an archery tutor on Superprof.
Boost your recurve archery techniques and more with Superprof
A sure way to boost your techniques in recurve archery and other forms of archery is by learning with an archery professional.
Are you aware that you can find the best archery tutors on Superprof, which is just a few clicks away?
The Superprof Tutors platform assists students in looking for tutors from around the world - imagine subjects of interest like learning French, cooking classes and piano lessons. For archery lessons, you can immediately find archery tutors near your area by checking out the Superprof Tutors catalogue.
Superprof greatly benefits students looking for archery tutors because they can:
- find archery lessons for various skill levels, such as beginner and kids' lessons
- save costs by choosing their preferred budget for lessons
- get to know their tutor even before the first lesson - students can read their tutor's teaching details and other students' reviews
- quickly schedule their lessons as Superprof tutors get back to inquiries within the day
- have their first archery lesson for free!
With these tips for building technique and form in archery, and along with your Superprof archery tutor, you are well on your way to developing the skills needed for mastering this sport. Give it a shot!
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