Tag Archives: American Flatbow

Sharons bow and arrow set up
Jul 13 2018

Quick tip on brace height check

Showing the brace height and cresting

Showing the brace height and cresting

We all know how important it is to have your bow setup right and ensure it is at the correct brace height. I wanted to offer a quick tip to all archers out there for checking your brace height on your bow, which doesn’t involve having a rule.

When I made up the last batch of arrows for Sharon, I crested them in colours to match her fletchings, are pink and orange.

Close up of a couple of finished arrows

Close up of a couple of finished arrows

Before I started I measured the brace height for her bow and made sure that where the two colours met on the arrow, it would be in line with the light coloured strip on her bow, when at the correct brace height.

I then edged the divide between the two colours with a black band.

One of Sharons' finished arrows with black edging

One of Sharons’ finished arrows with black edging

Since this band coincides with the white band on her the bow riser, when the bow is at the correct brace height. It means she has simply to nock an arrows and check the banding on the arrows matches up with the light stripe on her bow and she will know her brace height is correct.

Sharons bow and arrow set up

Sharons bow and arrow set up

It is a simple and quick method that does not need a bracing rule, just a little bit of preparation when making your arrows. You could easily adapt the idea with any arrows, by putting a mark on the arrow to coincide with the correct brace height.

I hope this helps and thanks for reading.

Jun 28 2018

Hardest lessons to learn in archery – Why does my arrows comes off the rest

I’ve had this question come up a couple of times recently, so I thought I would put a quick reply up now in an attempt to help people out.
“Why does my arrow keep flipping off my rest or bow when I draw up?”
Okay there can be a few reason why this can happen, so I’m going to pick out the three most common ones.
  • Twisting of the bow string.
  • Throwing your bow arm.
  • Damaged rest.
Twisting of the bow string is probably the most common of all reasons the arrow flicks off your bow and occurs normally about mid draw. when you are drawing up.
When you are starting to draw up your hand is gripping the bow string, as you draw the string back you twist or rotate the string, this twisting results in the nock moving and arrow flicking off the rest. So if I explain this from a right handed archers perspective. A right handed archer with the bow held in your left hand, will draw back the string and in the process will twist the string effectively rotating it counter clockwise. This rotation is what causes the arrow to flick off the bow.
A solution to this is to ensure you are not gripping the string too tightly, try relaxing your fingers, before drawing up.
Throwing your Bow arm – Sometimes when people draw up, they end up “throwing” their bow arm, this can be due to you drawing up too quickly or enthusiastically. As you draw up you move the bow arm quickly and then abruptly stop when at full draw, however, the momentum flicks the arrow off the rest. I’ve seen this quite often with young children who are quite excited and energetic in their draw cycle.
The solution is to slow down your draw sequence, being more controlled in the draw, with less rapid movements.
I have also seen both of the above examples being as a result of the archer fighting the bow in some way, possibly because they are over bowed or not comfortable in their draw technique.
Hoyt rest

Hoyt rest on Sharons’ old bow

Damaged Rest – If you are using an arrow rest on your bow it is possible that the rest has become damaged and is no longer holding the arrow on bow. This problem isn’t that uncommon especially if you are using something like the Hoyt plastic super rests.
Close up of Hoyt rest

Close up of Hoyt rest

There is nothing wrong with these rests and I use them on my beginner bows and Sharon used to use these rests on her bows and would often replace them, sometimes in the middle of a competition if she saw it was wearing or damaged.
For this reason it is worth carrying a few spares in your quiver just in case  you need to replace them.
Okay, so these are some very quick tips and advice, I hope this helps and thanks for reading.
Shooting group at Wolverine
May 2 2018

Shoot Report – Wolverine Archers – April 2018

Wolverine Archers

Wolverine Archers

So we loaded the car on Sunday morning for the drive up the motorway to the Wolverine grounds, while still being slightly jet lagged from our Canadian ski holiday. Due to multiple sets of road works it would prove to be a slow drive north and equally slow drive home at the end of the day. You can read a write up of a previous shoot visit here.

This time there were some 105 archers making the trip and enjoying the shoot, a few less attendees than normal, though still a good turn out. Maybe a few had been put off by the prospect of road works. We were very fortunate to have a great group with Lynne and Mark from Centaura, Lynne shooting Barebow and Mark primitive. Though I have to say that at times we weren’t being overly serious.
Wolverine has got a bit of an unfair rep with some for having parking issues if its wet, which I feel is a little unfair as if you drive carefully you shouldn’t have any problems and there are always plenty of people willing to help if you get stuck.
The course on this occasion would comprise of 36 target comprising a mix of paper and 3D faces, with more 3Ds than paper faces.
Tricky shot at paper face mountain lion between trees

Tricky shot at paper face mountain lion between trees

Downhill 3D boar shot at wolverine

Downhill 3D boar shot at wolverine

3D leaning bear seen from red peg

3D leaning bear seen from red peg

Sharon shooting at Wolverine

Sharon shooting at Wolverine

Sharon shooting at 3D

Sharon shooting at 3D

Lynne shooting at a small 3D dragon up the the hillside

Lynne shooting at a small 3D dragon up the the hillside

Lynne shooting at paper face target between trees and uphill

Lynne shooting at paper face target between trees and uphill

Another 3D boar shot at wolverine. It was actually shoot from the right off a bank

Another 3D boar shot at wolverine. It was actually shoot from the right off a bank

Shooting group at Wolverine

Shooting group at Wolverine

 

I think the laughing round and good humour must have works as we all four of us came away with medals, with 3 first places Sharon, Lynne and myself with Mark getting a second.
Thanks for reading.