About 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to have a meeting with the ,then, world Number 2 archer and also world Number 1 moving target rifle shooter. The meeting was arranged after a phonecall. I asked if he would help me out and he wanted to know more.
" You pull a string and let it go, now what else do you want to know?"
" I'd like to know how to pull the string properly and let it go properly," I replied.
"You'd better come up to the house, then."
The address was given and a time/date was arranged. I had been shooting about a year, so you can imagine what this felt like!!!!
We had tea on the patio and then we had a chat and he gave some insights into the complexities of this wonderful sport.);:cheerful:
He didn't really. He explained how simple it all was. (I must stress that simple and easy were seen as two very different things.)
He explained how he determined where to place his footmarkers.( very simply and logical)
He explained how he held the bow and how he managed to repeat the grip on every shot. ( equally simply and logical)
It was clear that he was self taught;many archers were in those days.
It was also clear that he was a thinker and that he had worked things out for himself,not copied someone who shot well.
If I were a famous coach or archer, I could sell my ideas in book form. I am neither. My ideas would not sell, not because they are wrong( they might be of course) but because I am unknown. Dick Fosbury was unknown too and he broke high jump records and his technique is still used to this day.
I am not making myself out to be anything other than an archer with an interest in shooting; and in technique more than equipment.
As an archer,I feel that too often, shooting is seen as something complicated. I've seen ten year olds with lovely techniques- so how complex can it be?
If the simplicity could be brought to the forefront, it is my belief that we would see more archers shooting well. I am not talking about archers getting to international level. That requires years of hard work that most people cannot give to the sport. I am talking about club level archers who perhaps would like to shoot for their county or reach MB standard. I am talking about archers with potential who have become so bogged down that they have reverted to long bow shooting as a way of clearing their cluttered minds.
Don't get me wrong, I love talking about most aspects of archery, and the complexities of, for example, Joe's explanations are fascinating and challenging. But I feel that is a separate issue from the simplicity of shooting arrows. It may be difficult to show others how to shoot, that does not mean shooting arrows is difficult.);:melodrama
" You pull a string and let it go, now what else do you want to know?"
" I'd like to know how to pull the string properly and let it go properly," I replied.
"You'd better come up to the house, then."
The address was given and a time/date was arranged. I had been shooting about a year, so you can imagine what this felt like!!!!
We had tea on the patio and then we had a chat and he gave some insights into the complexities of this wonderful sport.);:cheerful:
He didn't really. He explained how simple it all was. (I must stress that simple and easy were seen as two very different things.)
He explained how he determined where to place his footmarkers.( very simply and logical)
He explained how he held the bow and how he managed to repeat the grip on every shot. ( equally simply and logical)
It was clear that he was self taught;many archers were in those days.
It was also clear that he was a thinker and that he had worked things out for himself,not copied someone who shot well.
If I were a famous coach or archer, I could sell my ideas in book form. I am neither. My ideas would not sell, not because they are wrong( they might be of course) but because I am unknown. Dick Fosbury was unknown too and he broke high jump records and his technique is still used to this day.
I am not making myself out to be anything other than an archer with an interest in shooting; and in technique more than equipment.
As an archer,I feel that too often, shooting is seen as something complicated. I've seen ten year olds with lovely techniques- so how complex can it be?
If the simplicity could be brought to the forefront, it is my belief that we would see more archers shooting well. I am not talking about archers getting to international level. That requires years of hard work that most people cannot give to the sport. I am talking about club level archers who perhaps would like to shoot for their county or reach MB standard. I am talking about archers with potential who have become so bogged down that they have reverted to long bow shooting as a way of clearing their cluttered minds.
Don't get me wrong, I love talking about most aspects of archery, and the complexities of, for example, Joe's explanations are fascinating and challenging. But I feel that is a separate issue from the simplicity of shooting arrows. It may be difficult to show others how to shoot, that does not mean shooting arrows is difficult.);:melodrama