1. ABA Field Archery Instructor
Shooting Sequence
Set and Forget: Feet to Follow Through

2. Set and Forget
The human mind can only focus on one or two things at a time
The shot sequence involves many steps
Therefore in setting up the shot, set up each step and then forget it
But don’t change it later in mid shot e.g.
Set the feet and forget
Set the body and forget
Set the bow hand and forget …
At the end, all that is left is aiming and release

3. Stance Feet shoulder width apart, natural stance
Toes level with a line drawn from the middle of the target to the archer, or slightly open
Weight evenly distributed on both feet.

4. Stance
Square
Open

5. Body Upright and tall Shoulders at right angles to the target
Head turned to face the target
Brim caps off or turned back

6. Set the Bow Hand Possibly the most important step
The bow hand must be in the same position every shot
A sling should be used to avoid “grabbing” the bow when releasing

7. Set the Bow Hand Low wrist Knuckles at 35o to 45o to the riser
Handle on the thumb side of the “lifeline”
Thumb straight along the top of the handle pointing towards the target
Fingers curved loosely around the front of the handle without gripping it
Touching is OK

8. Set the Bow Hand
Lifeline
Sling

9. Nocking the Arrow Arrow fully clicked onto the string
Index vane out (fingers)
Index vane down or up depending on the rest configuration (release aids)

10. Hook Up Drawing Fingers (Finger shooting)
Three under, or one over, two under
Thumb and little finger touching
String along the crease of the first knuckles
Drawing hand (Finger shooting)
Flat back of the hand, knuckles not visible
Bow Arm
Relaxed “arm by the side” elbow position
Not over extended

11. Hook Up
Three fingers under
One over two under

12. Hook Up Drawing fingers and hand (Release aid)
There are many ways of holding a release aid
Trigger type
Essentially a relaxed extended fist
Caliper type
Back of the hand fairly straight
Index and possibly the second finger extended along the barrel

13. Predraw Raise the bow arm without raising the shoulder
Keep the drawing elbow high
End with the bow arm horizontal
Concentrate on the target

14. Draw Take a full breath in Horizontal pull straight across the chest
Slight elevation is OK
The body should remain vertical (Don’t lean back)
Slow and steady pull
Make sure the bow shoulder stays low and back
Do not allow it to roll forward
Rear elbow ends up higher than the rear shoulder
Rear elbow in line with the bow hand
Maintain the tension between the shoulders

15. Draw
Keep the bow shoulder low

16. Draw and Anchor

17. Anchor Jaw closed gently Finger shooters Release Aids
Finger in the corner of the closed mouth
Thumb knuckle at the back of the jaw
Release Aids
3 points to suit your release aid system
e.g. Tip of nose, bottom of jaw bone, jaw bone near the ear, neck muscle

18. Anchor

19. Anchor

20. Anchor

21. Breathing There is no single method Some general principles apply
Breathe in during the draw
Most archers have their lungs ¾ full to full during anchor and release
Some breathe out a bit at full anchor
Do not breathe out and breathe in again during drawing and anchoring
Do the same thing each time!

22. Aiming Personal preference Both eyes open One eye open
Close the outside eye (bow hand eye)

23. Aiming
Bare bow
Aim the point of the arrow at a suitable spot
Align a mark on the bow with part of the target
Sights
Move the sight down onto the centre of the target
Draw directly on the target
Focus on the target, be aware of the sight or the arrow tip
Continual movement is OK
Maintain back tension
Keep the drawing elbow pulling/moving backwards

24. Sequence Check
Mentally carry out a quick check that everything in the shot sequence is good
If not, let down and start again
BUT try not to let down very often. It becomes a habit and an excuse to not shoot

25. Release Concentrate only on the target
Don’t allow anything to enter your mind at this point
Gentle release
Fingers
Gently relax the drawing hand fingers while maintaining active pull back
Release Aids
Gently squeeze the release aid while maintaining active pull back
Do not tap or “trigger” the trigger

26. Follow Through Maintain the bow arm position
Don’t allow it to completely drop
Just let the natural forces take it
Usually forward, down and back a little
Try to follow the arrow flight through the sight window of the bow

27. Follow Through Drawing arm Eyes remain on the target
Moves back beside the face a variable distance
“Elbow” an imaginary person standing behind
Must not move forward or out from the face
Eyes remain on the target
Body as it started, tall and straight
Breathe out after the arrow hits

28. Relax Breathe deeply and relax before shooting another arrow
Don’t grab the next arrow straight after the release

29. Shot Analysis Did the shot feel good?
If not, try to work out why not and try to correct in the next shot.