If you’ve been looking to start hunting, or you’ve been trying to get into the hobby of shooting bows, you may have been looking at recurve bows. A recurve bow is, in short, a very powerful bow that can be adjusted to assist with different tasks. In recent years, it has become popular because of its use in The Hunger Games. Here are some tips that you can use if you’re learning how to shoot a recurve bow for the first time.
- Make sure that your stance is correct.
Your stance is incredibly important, because it will determine exactly where your arrow is going to go. Stand perpendicular to the target, with the hip that is opposite of your dominant hand facing the target. Be centered as best as you can, and keep your feet shoulder width apart. Turn your head, and not the rest of your body, toward the target to keep it straight, and hold the bow as comfortably as you can. Not too rigid, but not too loose, either. Make sure you have a good grip on it before you even start to load your arrow.
- Draw the bow as fully as possible.
Loading the arrow, also referred to as “knocking” your arrow, means that you need to put the end of your arrow onto the string. It usually clicks on, depending on the arrows that you have. Always load the arrow pointing toward the ground. Then, turn your arms so that your shoulder and the bow are parallel to your body, keeping that same grip. Keep the elbow of your bow arm as straight as you can so that you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself while shooting. Then, you will want to use your eye (or a sight) to line up the target as best as you can.
- Shoot the arrow.
Shooting the arrow should happen in one fluid motion. All you have to do is relax your fingers – don’t jerk, don’t pull, just gently let them fall off of the strong. Then, the arrow will fly through the air toward your target. Do not move until the arrow stops moving. The slightest bit of motion could cause the arrow to fly off of its course. Just stand in position until the arrow hits its intended target, and then slowly pull your bow down so it’s facing the ground again.
It sounds simple, but it takes a lot of practice to be able to get it just right. There are so many little things that you have to pay attention to, and if you don’t have any experience with it, it may take you a few tries to be able to get the whole thing down pat. If you want to make sure that you get the most out of shooting your recurve bow, work with a professional that can give you tips and teach you while you’re actually holding the bow. Good luck and have fun shooting your bow!