Archery Training & Technique

Consistent form is what separates tight groups from frustration. This section covers the shot cycle step by step, practical drills, and how to diagnose the mistakes that cost accuracy.

Close-up of an archer's drawing hand with a leather finger tab on the string at anchor — Photo: Michael M. Eugster

33 articles

Diagram of a bowstring showing the bare strand sections to wax in green and the centre serving, end servings and loops to keep free of wax in red, with three steps: apply, rub in, wipe off excess

Training

Bowstring Wax: Why, How Often and Does It Go Bad?

How to wax a bowstring, how often makers recommend it, why you should keep wax off the serving, what string wax is made of, and whether bowstring wax goes bad.

October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Two target faces: broadheads grouping away from field points before tuning, and both grouping together after tuning

Training

Field Points vs Broadheads: Why Impact Changes

Why broadheads hit differently from field points, and how to fix it: paper tuning, spin-testing, micro-tuning the rest at 30 yards, FOC and re-sighting.

October 14, 2026 · 9 min read

Chart comparing the effort to cock a 180 lb crossbow by hand, with a rope cocker (about half) and with a crank (about 10 percent)

Training

How to Cock a Crossbow Safely

How to cock a crossbow safely: by hand, with a rope cocker or a crank, centring the string, loading a bolt correctly, and safe ways to unload or decock.

October 13, 2026 · 9 min read

Compound bow standing upright with a sight, arrow rest and stabilizer fitted to the riser

Training

Paper Tuning a Bow: How to Read Tears and Fix Them

How to paper tune a bow: what it shows, frame setup, reading nock-high, low, left and right tears, the order of fixes, and when to see a pro shop.

October 8, 2026 · 10 min read

Archer drawing a recurve bow without a sight at a 3D deer target across a meadow

Training

How to Aim a Bow: Sights, Gap and Instinctive

How to aim a bow: eye dominance, anchor points, sights, gap shooting, string walking, face walking and instinctive aiming, with practice drills for each.

October 7, 2026 · 11 min read

Hunting crossbow with a camouflage stock and a telescopic scope mounted on the rail

Training

How to Sight In a Crossbow Scope, Step by Step

How to sight in a crossbow scope: safety, mounting, a 20-yard zero, multi-reticle and speed-dial scopes, broadhead checks and fixes for wandering groups.

October 6, 2026 · 9 min read

Illustrative top-view diagram of a crossbow bolt pushed by a crosswind: the bolt path curves away from the aim line and the gap widens at 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards, with drift exaggerated and not to scale, plus a panel showing that a side wind matters more than a headwind or tailwind

Training

Crossbow Shooting in Wind: Drift and Holdoff

How to adjust a crossbow scope for wind: why crosswinds push bolts, what makes drift worse, holding into the wind vs dialling, and when to shorten the shot.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified four-step diagram for checking crossbow broadheads: zero with field points of the same weight, spin-test every bolt on its tip and watch for wobble, compare broadhead and field-point groups on a target, then fix the cause and re-zero for the broadhead group, with notes from the TenPoint, Barnett and Ravin manuals

Training

Do Crossbows Need Broadhead Tuning?

How to broadhead tune a crossbow: why broadheads can hit apart from field points, the spin test, nock indexing, and when to re-zero for hunting heads.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Compound archer at full draw seen from behind the shoulder, with a release aid at the face, a sight on the riser and the bow arm extended

Training

How to Shoot a Compound Bow: Beginner Steps

How to shoot a compound bow, step by step: stance, nocking, clipping a release to the D-loop, drawing to the wall, anchor, peep and pin, and release.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified four-step diagram of stringing a longbow with a stringer: seat the bottom loop and slide the top loop down the upper limb, fit the pocket on the lower tip and the saddle behind the top loop, stand on the cord and lift the grip while sliding the loop into its nock, then check both loops are seated and measure brace height, with brace height guidance from Bear, Black Widow and 3Rivers

Training

How to String a Longbow Safely

How to string a longbow or other traditional bow with a stringer: fitting the pocket and saddle, seating both loops, checking brace height and unstringing.

July 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified view from behind a right-handed bow: on a recurve the arrow point sits just outside the string lined up with the limb centres, and on a compound with a release the point sits in line with the string about 13/16 inch from the Berger button hole

Training

How to Set Centre Shot on a Bow

How should an arrow sit on a rest? Set centre shot by sighting down the string: just outside it on a recurve, in line on a compound, then confirm by shooting.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified diagram of a bowstring with a bow square resting on the arrow rest and a nock point set above square, beside a crimped brass nock set and a tied thread nock point with the arrow nock below each

Training

How to Install Brass and Tied Nock Points

Recurve bow nocking point height and how to fit one: find square with a bow square, crimp a brass nock set or tie one on, then fine-tune by shooting.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified side-view diagram of a takedown recurve riser with the upper limb seated in its limb pocket over the limb bolt and the lower limb being slid in, beside a five-step assembly order and a box of Hoyt-only limb bolt limits

Training

How to Assemble and Take Down a Takedown Recurve

How to disassemble a recurve bow and reassemble it: fitting limbs, Hoyt's limb bolt limits, stringing with a stringer and a safe take-down order.

April 3, 2026 · 5 min read

Archer wearing glasses and a cap at full draw with a compound bow, seen from behind on an indoor range

Training

Archery With Glasses: Anchor, Peep and Lens Tips

Archery anchor point with glasses: keep your head upright, check string-to-face contact and peep alignment, avoid progressives and see an optometrist.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Four-panel diagram of making a paracord wrist sling: cut two 5.5 foot and two 4 foot lengths of 550 paracord, loop the long pair alternately from the centre, tie a cobra weave a little longer than your fist round the middle, then fit a mount under the stabiliser and test the sling

Training

How to Make a Paracord Bow Sling

How to make a bow sling out of paracord: the cord you need, how to size it, the weave steps, fitting it under the stabiliser, and how to test it safely.

March 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Close-up of four wooden arrows with orange, blue and black feather fletching and coloured thread bindings at the front of the feathers

Training

How to Straighten Crushed Feather Fletching

How to straighten arrow fletchings: the steam-and-finger method a feather maker recommends, how to avoid scalds, when to re-fletch, and how to store arrows.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Archer drawing a modern American flatbow (longbow) with a wooden arrow, bow arm extended and draw hand at her face

Training

Longbow Shooting Form: Cant, Anchor and Release

Longbow form explained: canting the bow, split-finger vs three-under hooks, traditional anchors, instinctive and gap aiming, and release and follow-through.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified four-panel diagram of the eye-dominance test: framing a distant target in a small opening made with the hands at arm's length with both eyes open, closing the left eye so the target stays centred for a right-eye-dominant person, closing the right eye so the target jumps out of the opening, and a small blinder on the left lens of a pair of glasses for a right-handed, left-eye-dominant archer

Training

Shooting a Bow With Both Eyes Open

How to shoot a bow with both eyes open: test your eye dominance, why it can help, blinders for cross-dominant archers and a simple drill to learn it.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified diagram of the follow-the-arrow rule: a group to the left means move the sight left, a low group means move it down, and a sight at the end of its windage travel needs other checks

Training

Bow Sight Maxed Out? Fixes and the Follow Rule

Bow sight up or down, left or right? Follow the arrow: move the sight toward the group. Plus why a sight runs out of travel and the checks a pro shop makes.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Compound bow string with a peep sight tied into the strands, the sight and riser beside it and a target in the background

Training

How to Install and Tie In a Peep Sight

How to install a peep sight on a compound bow: why you need a bow press, setting peep height, splitting strands, serving it in and checking alignment.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Simplified diagram of an arrow on a padded bow shelf, showing a feather folding flat as it passes and a stiff vane jumping off the shelf

Training

Shooting Off the Shelf vs Using an Arrow Rest

Arrow rest vs off the shelf on a recurve or longbow: how shelf, stick-on and plunger setups differ, why feathers suit the shelf, shelf materials and tuning.

Updated October 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Simplified diagram: light from a fish underwater bends at the water surface on its way to an archer's eye, so the fish appears higher and shallower than its real position

Training

How to Aim When Bowfishing: Refraction Explained

Bowfishing how to aim: why refraction makes fish look higher, published aim-low rules of thumb, how depth and angle change the hold, and polarised glasses.

Updated October 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Three backpackers with loaded packs and trekking poles walking down a grassy mountain ridge above forested valleys

Training

How to Get in Shape for Elk Bowhunting

How to get in shape for elk hunting with a bow: a 12-week outline built on pack hikes, leg strength and shooting tired, plus CDC altitude facts.

July 11, 2025 · 5 min read

Simplified diagram comparing a bowstring change on a recurve, where a stringer with a pocket on the lower tip and a saddle on the upper limb lets the archer stand on the cord and lift the riser, with a compound in a limb-tip bow press that flexes both limbs so the string and cables go slack, with Bear, Hoyt and Mathews guidance

Training

Changing a Bowstring: When You Need a Press

Changing a bow string without a press works on recurves and longbows with a stringer. Most compounds need a maker-approved press. Here's how to tell.

June 23, 2025 · 5 min read

Chart of five paper tears for a left-handed bow: bullet hole, nock high, nock low, nock left and nock right, with the mirrored rest adjustment for each

Training

Paper Tuning for Left-Handed Archers

Paper tuning for a left-handed archer: a mirrored tear chart, why left and right tears flip, the same vertical-first order, and mistakes to avoid.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Diagram of nock tuning: numbered arrows, a group with one flyer, and a rear view of a nock rotated 120 degrees so the next vane sits on top

Training

Nock Tuning: Rotating Nocks for Tighter Groups

How to nock tune arrows: number and shoot each shaft, rotate a flyer's nock one vane position, re-test, and avoid the vane clearance trap.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Field archer at full draw with a recurve bow, aiming along a woodland lane at a distant target

Training

How to Keep Your Bow Arm Steady

How to keep your bow arm steady in archery: why some float is normal, how to set the arm, draw weight, stabilizer mass and holding drills.

March 29, 2025 · 5 min read

An instructor explaining technique to a group of new archers outdoors

Training

Archery Practice Plan: 10 Drills and a Weekly Routine

A structured archery practice plan: arrows per session, warm-ups, 10 proven drills from blank bale to pressure games, weekly routines and a practice log.

March 20, 2025 · 7 min read

Close-up of an archer at anchor with the drawing hand under the jaw and the string at the face

Training

Target Panic in Archery: Symptoms, Causes and How to Fix It

Target panic explained: symptoms like freezing off target and snap shooting, what causes it, a self-test, and a step-by-step recovery plan for any bow.

February 19, 2025 · 8 min read

Three-panel diagram of installing a drop-away arrow rest: mounting with the arrow at the Berger button hole and centre shot in line with the limb bolts, attaching the cord to the down cable or a limb, and timing the cord to take up tension in about the last inch of the draw

Training

How to Install and Time a Drop-Away Rest

How to install a drop-away arrow rest on a compound bow: mounting, centre shot, cable or limb cord, timing and paper checks, plus when to use a pro shop.

Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Explore other topics

Group of young students at the shooting line practising with colourful beginner bows

Guides

Step-by-step archery guides for beginners: choosing a first bow, understanding draw weight and draw length, safety basics, and what gear you actually need.

Browse

Indoor archery range with arrows in floor stands at the shooting line and target faces on the wall

Gear

Plain-English explanations of archery equipment: bows, arrows, sights, rests, stabilizers, releases, and accessories, and how to pick the right specifications.

Browse

Olympic recurve archer at full draw with a red competition riser and sight at London 2012

Reviews

Research-based archery product reviews and buying guides that explain specifications, intended use, and trade-offs, clearly separating facts from opinion.

Browse

Two modern compound bows with cams, cables, stabilisers and sights standing on grass

Comparisons

Side-by-side archery comparisons: compound vs recurve, carbon vs aluminum arrows, and other decisions explained with the key differences that actually matter.

Browse

Crowd-filled stands at the Olympic archery venue at Lord's Cricket Ground, London 2012

News

Archery news and updates: competitions, rule changes, notable equipment releases, and developments in the sport.

Browse

Archery shop wall lined with compound and recurve bows, arrows and accessories

Equipment

Every article organised by the gear it covers: recurve and compound bows, arrows, sights, rests, releases, targets, protective gear and bowhunting.

Browse