Archery: How To Get Started And Why You Should

Far, far before the days that rifles were used in hunting or sport, humans used bows and arrows. This is why archery is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating back to ancient times when we had to use arrows to take down animals for food. Now, archery is seen as more of a hobby where we attempt to hit small targets from varying distances. Archery has maintained its spot as a global sport, staying on the Olympic stage throughout the years. 

A lot of people get interested in archery every few years when they see it at the Olympics, and there was also an influx of intrigue when “The Hunger Games” series became popular. Getting into archery isn’t the easiest thing, and beginners can tend to feel overwhelmed. For starters, there are different types of bows, with the two primary being the compound and recurve, with the latter being the ideal for beginners who want to know the intricacies of archery.

You’ll want to get familiar with the bow and its parts, including the string, sight, riser, limbs and nock point. As for which bow you select, it’s really up to how comfortable you feel. The best practice is to work with an expert and find a range that allows you to both learn and get some practice. Bows aren’t as expensive as they used to be, thankfully, with archery being one of those sports where the technology has become more accessible to the average person.

With that said, you don’t have to be Robin Hood on your first try to really get into archery. The most valuable tool is working with someone that has knowledge and can coach you into finding your comfort zone. Practice, of course, makes perfect, so don’t give up on your archery dreams before they even start. For some added motivation, here are some reasons why you should get started in archery.

Physical Health

People tend to think that archery is standing around and shooting an arrow then calling it a day, while not taking much physical fitness. However, good archers tend to be in better shape than most of your favorite baseball players. That’s because archery requires tremendous core strength, as well as strength from the arms, back and shoulders. You’ll likely be tremendously sore from archery at first, but less so when you build your strength up over the first few weeks.

Mental Health

Think about the time you’ve done a physical activity like jogging/walking, cycling or really anything else. You’ve probably been hyper focused and afterward felt like you were in a better overall mood. This is especially true for archery, as it requires the physical activity that produces natural endorphins to help improve your mood, and there’s the mental aspect of archery, especially when it comes to focus and patience. Archery is basically meditation in this regard, and you’ll feel a lot calmer overall.

Year-Round Sport

The great thing about archery is that you don’t need it to be sunny with no wind and 70 degrees outside. There are plenty of indoor ranges that make archery a sport that you can participate in all 12 months of the year. With that in mind, it doesn’t feel like a waste of money when you can pick up archery at any point. It also helps to combat some of those winter blues when you find an indoor range.