Have you had one of those days when your arrows seem to avoid the centre of the target?
My last outdoor competition of 2024 didn’t go as well as I hoped, with more arrows on the ground than on the target! As the morning went on, I was getting increasingly worked up. Frustration and annoyance were an understatement of how I was feeling. At lunchtime, I was ready to go home. Luckily, the fellow archers on my target persuaded me to stay. I didn’t do any better, but completing the round felt better than leaving.
I missed archery practice for the next couple of weeks and annoyed myself.
The more I stayed away, the harder it felt to go back.
It’s a bit like the saying that when you fall off your bicycle as a kid, the best thing to do is get back on it. Sadly, I ignored this advice.
When I went back to the range, everything was fine. My scores were as I expected them to be, and everything felt fine. So what happened the previous week? I have no idea. Eventually, I accepted it was just an off day.
After a winter of indoor shooting, I participated in an outdoor competition in April 2025. This was my first time shooting at 60 yards (I entered the wrong distance in error). Not surprisingly, it didn’t go well. Yes, I came away annoyed, but this time, I went back into practice and soon forgot about it.
What did I learn from all this?
- There is no pressure to enter competitions. The only person pressuring me was me! I’ve decided for the next few months to focus on attending my club, working on my technique and skills, and not entering any competitions for a bit.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. Looking at my diary, my club attendance wasn’t great. I had missed weeks and hadn’t shot much over the winter.
- Think about the next arrow, not the previous. When I had a bad arrow, I focused too much on what happened, rather than paying attention to the next arrow.
- Pace is key. When things don’t go well, I forget about timings and rush each shot. With four minutes to shoot six arrows, I was finding myself with over half the time left.
I’m using a count of three between each stage of my release, from the set position to the release. This helps to avoid rushing and means I also breathe correctly.
Later in the year, I might return to competitions, but only when I feel ready.
Featured photo by Mikhail Nilov
Leave a comment