Those of you who read this site and live in the UK will know that a few days ago the country was hit by Storm Arwen. This brought storm force winds and heavy snow to some areas, resulting in thousands of homes losing power for several days, some of these are still without power 5 days later. This was the first winter storm to hit the UK.
So what does this have to do with an archery? The impact of the storm on woodland has been dramatic to some clubs like The Redoubtables, who have seen countless trees uprooted, branches down and their course devastated. These are the obvious impacts from such storms, the less obvious issues such storms bring are the broken branches hung up in trees.
An example can be seen in the brief recording below I made when checking our field course.
I hope it goes some way to demonstrate how important it is to check your field courses for safety . It’s very easy to focus on the things in front of you, paths, trip hazards etc., but it is equally important to look upwards.
The second recording is more of a stroll round and hopefully provides you with an idea of the woodland we use.
If you check out my YouTube channel you will see a few recordings I’ve taken over the months.
It’s been a while, in fact, it’s been far too long since I have added anything to this site, for which I apologise. My attention has been focussed on developing the podcasts (https://anchor.fm/off-the-arrow-shelf) at the expense of the written word. So with only one minor delay to say Happy New year and I hope everyone reading this is well, let’s get on to this book review.
Cover Photo
Those of you who are familiar with field archery in the United States or other areas of the world for that matter may well have heard of Joel Turner. I have mentioned him a few times on this site and on my podcasts. He is a highly respected archer and coach, appearing in countless podcasts, videos and articles.
Joel has also authored Controlled Process Shooting – the science of target panic which is going to be the focus of this review. ISBN 9781981346431
Onto the first impressions, well these may not be positive for some people as pages per buck or pound are not high. It is quite a skinny pocket-size book rather than a huge encyclopaedia. The flip side of this is it gets to the point quickly, being quite focussed. It runs to 58 pages and I bought my copy online but it is available from several archery shops.
One thing that I really like is the way the book has been constructed with empty notes pages, where you are encouraged to add your own notes as you practise the processes outlined in the sections. I often end up with post-it notes stuck in books with my scrawl all over them as I don’t want to deface the book itself. I was actually talking about this very topic with Simon Thomas at the weekend, who also has the book.
Photo of inside cover
If you have ever watched any of Joel’s videos on YouTube or listened to a podcast, when he was discussing the principles of shooting, then you will be familiar with his style of presentation. The book is written in the same style as he speaks.
My advice would be for you to read it, then go back and read it again to make sure you understand what Joel is saying and the messages he is trying to get across. Then read it a third time to confirm this.
The section on mechanical releases is less relevant to my style of shooting as I shoot off the fingers, normally split-finger so I won’t comment on that chapter.
Some aspects of shooting a bow can be subconscious in the execution, but I still believe you need them to feel right. Maybe that is the way an instinctive archer has a closed-loop shot.
I found elements of the book interesting as Joel talks of a blueprint of a shot, which is effectively the same idea just different wording to how I describe a template of a shot to my students.
I am not sure that his style will suit everyone, in fact I would go as far as to say that it probably won’t suit everyone’s style of shooting or rather their mindset. That is just a fact of life as everyone is different and comes to archery via different life experiences.
Another chapter
I feel you will get out of this book as much as you choose to invest in working through his ideas. So, don’t expect to read it and that be it. You will get more if you read and work with it over time.
Like owning a pair of walking boots. You need to wear them to bed them in. You need to work with this book to get the most from it.
It reads like a training manual for archers wanting to gain control of their shooting, with the option for you to annotate with your own notes and thoughts throughout the book. Hence the blank ruled pages for you to add your own notes and thoughts. I think this is an important part of how to use this book, as it is something for you to work with. Not just read, but work with. That work will take time and commitment.
This is something I try to get across to all my students when I am working with them on improvements to their shooting. They have to work for it. There is no magic arrow. Money spent on top-level equipment will only go so far. “All the gear and no idea” is a phrase I have heard about many sports including archery.
For that reason, you need to read this book, give yourself time to process what is being said and then practise the ideas Joel mentions.
I am a fan of the open and closed-loop process, though not sure that fan is quite the right word to use. I can see what Joel is alluding too when he discusses it. I use a phrase of feedback and feed blocks when I am explaining it to students, but the concepts are very similar.
A long time ago I learnt the importance of listening to the feedback your body is providing you. It is one of the reasons that I spend so much time teaching my students the importance of coming down or drawing down if the shot doesn’t feel right or controlled.
I know some traditional archers are not a fan on his shot control and feel things should be more fluid or instinctive. that’s fine, that is their perspective and opinion. It is so important to recognise that what suits one person is not necessarily going to fit with another person opinion or style. After all, archery is a very diverse discipline and opinions do vary.
I can understand why some who purchase this book may be disappointed when it arrives, possibly because they expect a large document or weighty tome. I think they may fail to understand the purpose of it. I see it as a training guide for your improvement. Like all training material, whether it be learning to drive, brain training or DIY, you have to apply it. many will want to rush out and apply what is read straight away, which is great. My only comment is that you need to give yourself time to adjust to these ideas.
I believe some people will feel this is overpriced for such a small book, but I feel they might be missing the point. It is not a text you simply read, it is a guide for you to work with, or at least that is how it came across to me.
Okay so this is not strictly an archery related, actually it has very little to do with field archery at all, other than it takes place in woodland. This post is part review and part my thoughts following a bushcraft experience day I spent in sunny Wales. Yes, I did say sunny Wales before you wonder if your eyes are deceiving you. It was a warm, dry day spent in the woods with the experts from Original Outdoors (https://originaloutdoors.co.uk/) Some of you may know that I have for many years had an interest in bushcraft and associated skills. So, for a birthday gift Sharon bought me a bushcraft experience day. Now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial date and plans were put on hold for a few months. This meant it would be early August before I was able to journey up to Wales to attend the session. The course was based in North Wales, not far from Ruthin, with the first challenge being finding the secluded spot where the instructors would meet you. We would then take off into the wooded hillside for a mile walk to what would be our base camp for the day. The woodland they have access to is a huge private wood, ideal for covering the variety of bushcraft topics they run courses on.
Me doing my best to prop up a tree while listening to Richard
So, what does bushcraft mean to you?
This was one of the interesting questions we discussed with Richard our main instructor for the day, as we walked to base camp. Though along the way there were multiple stops to examine local edible flora or fauna, along identifying which trees make the best tinder, how tree sap can be used in fire lighting and more. Before I go any further though, I’d like to apologies to the lady who was the other instructor now, as though I spoke with you my memory for names istruly awful. I think her name was Amy but not 100% sure. Sorry I could blame my age but I’ve always been terrible with names. Anyway, back to the question of what is bushcraft? We discussed how it varies depending on what you have read or where you might be in the world. What we in the UK think of as bushcraft skills might be considered basic skills in other areas of Europe. The thing is the subject is one that generates different views from people. Some see it as core survival skills, others see it as simply being resourceful in the countryside. Whatever your viewpoint I think the instructors on the course would be able to tailor something suitable for your needs. From my perspective it is simply having some skills that make being out and about in woodland more enjoyable. I guess less survival skills and more outdoor skills in my view. I’ve also been interested in learning near forgotten skills whether those be bushcraft or others. So back to the course. The first topic was that of fire lighting. Our instructor Richard took us through different fuels and ignition methods, along with the importance of preparation of the materials and surrounding area.
Richard explaining axe sharpening
These are key principle of fire starting and important factors to consider, along with other less immediately obvious ones, such as location of fire with respect to tree roots if in woodland, what rocks might be in the surrounding area as some will explode when heated. There are a few YouTube videos I’ve seen of this happening. Along with the time spent in sourcing dry tinder and preparation of the materials you are going to use.
I made fire and yes, it’s harder than it looks.
There is something very satisfying about being able to make a fire with limited resources. Whether this be using a single match to start your log burner on a cold winters day or getting a campfire going, to while away the hours when camping with friends. After the course I was thinking about what was covered and it brought back memories of childhood.
So I made fire you can see I’m happy
I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have used fire lighters to start a fire, whether this be in ours or my Mams wood burner, in one of our garden fire baskets or a campfire. It’s not meant to sound like me boasting, it’s just the way I way taught to start fires. I can still remember being about 4 or 5 years old and my Nan showing me how to use scrunched up newspaper and sticks to start the coal fire in our living room each morning for heating and hot water. Yes, I am that old thank you. Having said this lighting a fire without a match and in the middle of a wood is a whole different ball game to trying to light one in your own home. I had lit fires using a ferrous rod and striker before but by striking it into cotton wood or mixed tinder bundles. I had never used birch bark as the fuel before and it took some perseverance and expert guidance, but after a few attempts I managed to ignite the bark and start the fire. If you check out their YouTube channel they have it listed as the six-bundle fire lay method. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQLeFTp6x9Y&feature=emb_title)
I was smiling to myself when doing this as the effort it initially took, is not always reflected accurately on different TV programs. In addition to starting a fire you were instructed in how to safely extinguish the remains of the fire to ensure it was completely out and remove signs of the campfire. Other topics we covered were the creation of simple string. Cordage is something all civilisations have always needed and we were able to try our hand at making string from stinging nettle stalks. This was something I was very curious about as I can recall my grandfather mentioning how they used to use nettle stems as string in the garden to tie up plants. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to cover friction fire lighting which was a shame, but there are only so many hours in a day. To be fair to the organisers, we were given the choice of whether to cover that or tips on axe / knife sharpening. As a group we opted to go for knife and axe sharpening.
fires out so time for some simple wood carving
We also did some simple wood carving for a pot hook. I have to say that brought back memories of my early teens when I would find a decent size stick and spend hours, removing the bark, smoothing the surface and use it as a walking stick. Even made a short one for my Nan who was too short to reach curtain and draw them easily. So, I made up a small stick long enough for her to reach the curtain and light enough so she didn’t struggle holding it.
Okay so not the most exciting thing but a pot hook
Like most organisations these days they also have an Instagram @originaloutdoorThey also have a podcast the Angry Badger which is quite entertaining to listen to, being available on Spotify and other platforms. As I said they have their own YouTube channel too (https://www.youtube.com/user/originaloutdoorvideo) . I felt the small group size really helped with interaction, I know they were operating on reduced numbers due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of attendees.
Personally, I felt part of the enjoyment was confirming things I thought I knew, with the opportunity to just experiment and learn some new skills in an incredibly friendly and welcoming environment. All in all, it proved to be a really good day. Thank you for a great birthday present, even if it was a few months late. The best thing of the whole weekend though, wasn’t the course, but the opportunity to see my Mam for the first time in months due to the COVID-19 restrictions on travel in Wales. Thanks for reading, stay safe.
My Archery Experiences 