Aiming • Aiming • Aiming There is no trick that I know of to help steady a bow while aiming other than shooting with confidence and self-assurance. Only after all of the basic fundamentals in form and technique does the subject of precise aiming come into play. Sufficient strength is needed to hold your bow steady, and aim at a specific target. The aiming part of your game should be ingrained in your mind and should be automatic. Do not put too much energy into aiming. As you raise your bow, you will be looking at your target; it won’t take long to find the middle. While you are there in the middle of the bulls-eye, you will be floating in and out. Concentrate on shot execution as your pin floats in and out of the middle. You cannot stop the pin from moving. This is where the strength issue comes in to play. You will need time to hold on target for 7-9 seconds for maximum accuracy. The pin will come back to the middle, time and time again. After about 7-9 seconds, concentration deteriorates and the shot process begins to break down. LET DOWN and try again! Free your mind from the task of aiming. Accuracy Aiming Tips: 1. Relaxation – relax your body and mind. Very important. 2. Do not be over-bowed (too much poundage); be able to hold your bow steady for 7-9 seconds. 3. Stable platform also helps– proper foot position, good ankle support, even weight distribution all play a role. 4. Use optics – know exactly where the middle is located on the target. Exactly. 5. Center your pin guard or pin in the peep. Check your bubble. 6. Do not force your pin on the target. Float your pin in the middle and allow it to freely float around. You will time and time again float back into the middle. You can not stop the pin from moving. 7. Do not think about aiming. 8. Do not think about where the arrow is going. 9. Continue aiming after the shot. 10. Practice shooting at dots; increase the size of the dot as you increase yardage so the dot stays proportionately the same size. Most archers have an aiming process. Some archers raise their pin; others may lower their pin to the bulls-eye or come in from the right or left side. Personally, I raise my pin from below the bulls-eye. I do not start concentrating on the release until I am floating in the middle. Keep in mind that the best exercise for shooting a bow is…shooting a bow. Accurate aiming should be an effortless skill. Keep practicing, be patient and you will profit.