Recurve archery tips for beginners

Recurve archery is a fun yet very challenging sport, especially for newcomers. It takes a lot of skill, focus, and precision to finally hit the mark. If you are new to the sport, then you are on the right track. These recurve archery tips for beginners will greatly help you once you step on the range.

I will be sharing some beginner recurve archery tips and tricks to help you improve your skills and will surely, help you make the most out of your recurve bow – that is assuming you already have one.

If you’re new here you can learn about the basics of recurve archery in our Recurve Shot Cycle and Recurve Archery Basics guide. Then, you can learn How To Train for Archery and find specific archery drills and exercises in our Drills & Bow Training Library and Archery Exercises Library. You can also find loads of detailed videos on our Online Archery Academy YouTube Channel. And lastly, if you’re interested in private coaching you can read about our online recurve archery coaching.

Let’s dive in with the first tip!

Master the basics

Every professional and skilled archer started from the basics. It is important to master the basics of archery and grow from there.

If you have a weak foundation in archery fundamentals, your growth will be limited. Just like a skyscraper, a sturdy foundation will keep you up but, if you have a weak one, one tremor and you are out.

What I mean is, you need to master the right stance, grip, posture, drawing, and other techniques. Be comfortable with each step and in the end, it will feel like second nature to you.

But why do the professional archers that I watched do “this” or “that”?

Well, the goal is to master the basics and improve from there. Once you master the basics, you may then improve your technique by customizing it to your liking. Not everyone has the same body type so each archer may get better results by testing out other techniques little by little.

Do not rush it though. Patience is the key to consistent improvement.

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Use the proper equipment

The right archery equipment should be used whenever you are shooting. This archery tip for beginners might sound cliche but, choose equipment that is appropriate to your skill level.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by equipment recommendations if you are a beginner archer. Ask around the range and you will get various answers.

With that said, here are some tips when it comes to choosing the right bow and arrows.

Choose a bow that is appropriate to your draw length. The common size for adults is 66 to 70.
It is important to choose a recurve bow that is comfortable for you to grip and shoot. This makes shooting more fun and it reduces the risk of injury as well.
Select arrows that are appropriate to the draw weight of your bow. There are several factors that will affect your arrow choices such as weight, length, and arrow stiffness.
The accessories such as the finger tab, arm guard, and chest guard should fit you well too. The finger tab, in particular, is crucial since it will affect your whole shot process.
Check out our best finger tab guide for options if you do not have one yet.

Using the right equipment will give you a better shooting experience thus, it will lead to faster improvement. If you are using the wrong archery equipment, then it will be more challenging to grow since instead of focusing on just shooting, you are going to think about your equipment too.

Consistent practice

Archery is all about consistency. Even with bad technique you might hit the gold sometimes, but without a consistent form, you won’t be able to do it repeatedly.

You have to develop a consistent shooting technique to be able to shoot with higher accuracy and precision.

So how would you improve your consistency? By practicing with the right equipment and with the proper guidance of a coach.

Professional archers practice and shoot hundreds of arrows every day. If you can do this, then good for you since this will build your muscle memory.

If the shooting range is inaccessible, visit our drills and training library for activities you can do while off the range. These drills might seem like a drag but believe me, they will help you in the long run.

Doing drills at home will also help you gain muscle memory of your shooting form. Combine the drills with archery exercises and you will notice an improvement the next time you hit the range.

Get a coach and consult a professional

Enrolling in an archery class is the best way to improve your archery. Instructors will teach you beginner archery techniques that will not overwhelm you. These coaches also know how to take it step-by-step and teach you based on your skill level.

The archery range you go to most likely has a qualified instructor that will guide you. You may also check for a local club that offers group lessons or practice sessions.

If you want a more private session, check if there are certified instructors that do private 1 on 1 coaching. This will give you more in-depth guidance compared to group sessions.

Another option is to take our Online Archery Academy online courses or apply for our private coaching program. You can check out this one-month progress from one of our students in the video below.

Final Thoughts

Olympic recurve archery is a fun and rewarding sport for both beginners and experienced archers. Hopefully, these beginner archery tips will help you jumpstart your archery journey.

Before you go back to the range, do not forget to master the basics, use the right equipment, get a coach and practice consistently.

Lastly, do not forget to have fun. Get out there, hit the gold, and be the next archery champion.

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