From: Subject: All you need to know about: Archery | Life and style | The Guardian Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 16:45:09 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00BC_01CA8D5D.46E79EE0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3350 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00BC_01CA8D5D.46E79EE0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/jul/28/healthandwellbeing.features2 =EF=BB=BF All you need to know = about: Archery | Life and style | The Guardian

Turn=20 autoplay on

Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off

Life=20 & style
Health=20 & wellbeing

All you need to know about: Archery

Buzz=20 up!=20
Digg=20 it

Lisa=20 Buckingham
The=20 Guardian, Saturday 28 July 2007

What the expert says
Michael Peart is a member of = the=20 Great Britain archery squad.

Use your instinct Archers will usually draw the bow = string=20 with their right hand, but simply pick up the bow and see what feels = natural. If=20 you use your right hand to draw, your right eye will be the one you keep = open to=20 look at the target, and vice versa for the left.

Position yourself One foot needs to be either side = of the=20 shooting line. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, weight even on = both=20 feet and your body at a 90-degree angle to the target.

Draw your arrow Once you're in position, you can = draw your=20 arrow from the quiver. Place it on the bow and slide it backwards to = 'nock' the=20 arrow - this is where you clip the back of the arrow (the nock) on to = the bow=20 string. The 'cock feather', which will be a different colour from the = rest,=20 should be pointing to the left.

Position your fingers on the string Curl your index = finger=20 around the string above the arrow and your middle and ring fingers = beneath it.=20 The string should rest just past the first joint of your fingers.

Prepare to shoot Lift your bow and pull back the = string=20 until your index finger is under your chin and the string is touching = your nose.=20 This is called your anchor point. Close one eye and get the sight on = your bow to=20 line up with the centre of your target.

Breathe easy Take a deep breath and then let out = half of it.=20 Clear your mind of everything except the target, and relax. Allow the = string=20 fall out of your fingers, rather than opening them to release it. Let = the rest=20 of your breath out and hold your position until you see the arrow hit = the=20 target.

Be consistent The key to success in archery is doing = the=20 same thing every single time - from the way you stand and how far you = pull back=20 the string to how far you let out your breath.

Build your strength It's very hard to work on the = muscles=20 you need for archery in the gym. The best exercise you can perform is to = get=20 into a shooting position with your bow, pull the string back and hold = for 30=20 seconds, relax for 30 seconds and then repeat as many times as you = can.

Be still The tiniest movement can make a huge = difference,=20 especially when you are shooting over a long distance. The arrow can = travel at=20 up to 60m/second and targets can be up to 90m away. One twitch and the = arrow=20 won't even hit the board. You get the most points for hitting the gold = circle.=20 The centre of that is called the x-ring (not the bullseye). You don't = get extra=20 points for hitting it, although it defines who wins in a tie-break = situation.=20

Getting started

There are clubs all over the UK and many of them welcome beginners. = Archery=20 is a great family sport, so you can take everyone from your six-year-old = to your=20 grandma. It's also a great sport for people with disabilities (they = often=20 compete directly against able-bodied competitors in tournaments). Club=20 membership costs around =C2=A335 a year, depending on the size and = location of the=20 club. You can do archery all year since most clubs move indoors in = winter. The=20 indoor season runs from October to March, when you can shoot in church = halls,=20 sports halls, etc (the targets are closer, but smaller). To find a club, = visit=20 the Grand National Archery Society at gnas.org or the International Archery = Federation=20 at archery.org.

Clubs will require you to have some tuition before they will allow = you to=20 shoot on your own. You'll start with targets that are about 10m away; = the=20 distance will then be increased as you improve. You can become fairly = proficient=20 after about six weeks. Courses cost between =C2=A320 and =C2=A350.

There's only one competition that's the preserve of the top archers = (the UK=20 Masters tournament). The rest are open to any standard of archer, so you = can go=20 along and compete with your club.

The gear

Clubs will usually provide you with equipment, so at first you won't = need=20 any. Wear flat, stable shoes - golf shoes are ideal. Don't wear any kind = of heel=20 that could unbalance you, and wear a close-fitting top so it doesn't = catch on=20 the bow.

Archers wear a guard on the arm holding the bow, to protect it from = the=20 string when they shoot, and a finger tab, which is a soft leather pouch = that=20 protects their fingers. Some people also wear chest guards to keep = clothing out=20 of the way. A pair of binoculars can be handy for seeing where your = arrows have=20 hit the target when shooting long-distance.

The type of bow most commonly used is called a recurve bow. If you = buy your=20 own, you will also have to buy a sight, for lining up the arrow to the = target,=20 and stabilisers, which are carbon rods that protrude forwards from the = bow and=20 are weighted to stabilise the bow when shooting.

For equipment, visit clickersarchery.co.uk or = altservices.co.uk. Good = brands to look=20 out for are Hoyt for bows and Easton for arrows. Bows cost from =C2=A340 = to =C2=A31,200,=20 and arrows from about =C2=A31 to =C2=A330 each.

The upside

Reduces stress Staying cool and precise under = pressure can=20 enable you to apply those skills in other, more stressful areas of your = life

Sharpens the mind The focus and mental clarity = needed for=20 archery will boost your ability to concentrate

Tones the upper body Repeatedly lifting the bow and = drawing=20 the string strengthens the muscles in your arms and shoulders

Burns calories A 10st person would burn about 180 = calories=20 an hour. In a typical one-day tournament, an archer will walk five to = six=20 miles

Strengthens the back The majority of the work in = archery is=20 done by the scapula muscles in your back, which take the strain when you = draw=20 the bow string

The downside

It's frustrating The addictive element of archery is = that=20 it's simple to learn and yet so hard to perfect (a bit like golf). Even = the best=20 archers in the world can't hit the centre of the target every time.

The weather can scupper you British summers are=20 unpredictable and the wind can ruin a day's shooting. There will be = flags above=20 the targets to show wind direction, but it's very hard to shoot well in = bad=20 weather.

It won't do much for your cardiovascular fitness = Archery=20 makes you stronger and burns calories, but it's not going to boost your = heart=20 and lung system in the way that sports such as running = do.

Life=20 and style

Health=20 & wellbeing

= Society

Health: best treatments

Read information about the best treatments for 180=20 common conditions, including: Bronchitis,=20 High=20 cholesterol, High=20 blood pressure.

This information is brought to you by the British = Medical Journal=20 in partnership with Guardian.co.uk

About = our=20 partnership

=20 =20

Browse over 140,000 profiles and find a date=20 today

24 hours

1. South=20 Africa v England - as it happened
2. South=20 Africa v England - as it happened | Andy Bull and Sean Ingle
3. FA=20 Cup: Manchester United v Leeds United - as it happened | Barry = Glendenning=20
4. FA=20 Cup: West Ham v Arsenal - as it happened | Barry Glendenning
5. Peru's=20 mountain people face fight for survival in a bitter winter
More=20 top stories

7 days

1. South=20 Africa v England - as it happened
2. South=20 Africa v England - as it happened | Andy Bull and Sean Ingle
3. Irish=20 atheists challenge new blasphemy laws
4. FA=20 Cup: Manchester United v Leeds United - as it happened | Barry = Glendenning=20
5. FA=20 Cup: West Ham v Arsenal - as it happened | Barry Glendenning
More=20 top stories

Free P&P at the Guardian bookshop

=20
- 50=20 People Who Buggered Up Britain
- =C2=A37.99 with free UK delivery =
=20
- I=20 Drink Therefore I am
- =C2=A316.99 with free UK delivery =

Sponsored features

UK=20
USA=20

UK

Browse all=20 jobs

Grants = Officer (Commonwealth Associations & Capaci=E2=80=A6

commonwealth foundation.

central london.

Basic annual salary of =C2=A331,519. 15% tax = free gratuity at=20 the end of contract..
GENERAL=20 PRACTICE MANAGER

st stephens health centre.

london.

=C2=A340,000 - =C2=A350,000 + NHS = pension.
Fellowship=20 Networks Manager - Scotland, Ireland, N=E2=80=A6

rsa.

scotland, ireland, northern ireland or north = east=E2=80=A6.

=C2=A322,000 - =C2=A324,000 p.a. (commensurate = with experience) +=20 benefits.

USA

Browse all=20 jobs

=20

Loading jobs...

jobs=20 by