Archery Mistakes to Avoid as a Beginner

Joshua “Josh” Estep MD is an internal medicine hospitalist based in Newport, Oregon. He obtained his MD from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences following his pre-medical studies at the University of San Francisco. Aside from medical practice, Dr. Joshua Estep has an interest in archery.

Archery involves unique gear and measurements, which tend to pose challenges to beginner archers. However, a beginner can start properly by identifying and working to avoid fundamental archery mistakes.

Mistake #1: Delaying in releasing arrows
Beginners should consistently strive to strike a balance between taking their time on shots and spending excess time. When an archer delays too long, losing aim becomes more likely. Ideally, aiming should take at least three seconds and not exceed five seconds.

Mistake #2: Maintaining an improper stance
Archers must position themselves properly to hit the target. There must be sufficient space between each foot. In addition, beginner archers should stand straight to avoid slight arches over the bow. At the same time, an archer should not vertically face the target.

Mistake #2: Producing an improper draw length
You want to make sure that your bow doesn’t have too long of a draw length for your height. To get your draw length, take your height in inches (rounding up to whole numbers) and divide it by 2.5. This number will give you the draw length to look for in a bow.