How to learn to shoot a bow. How to shoot a bow? Recurve bow shooting technique

Apart from the immense pleasure of shooting itself, there are many more reasons why you should start learning a bow. Here are 10 benefits of archery that will no doubt convince you to take up the sport.

1. No restrictions!

Any person can practice archery; neither age nor your physical characteristics can in any way become an obstacle to mastering archery, I’ll tell you more: many people with disabilities have achieved great heights in this sport!

2. Progress in physical development.

While it deceptively seems that everything is very simple, in fact, an archer experiences physical stress, and if at the very beginning you, as a beginner, are offered a weak bow, during training you will quickly achieve the desired progress and be able to switch to Larger bows, which in turn will help you develop your upper body muscles!

3. Mental activity.

Archery does not limit itself only to physical development. Shooting is inextricably linked with mental activity, requiring and developing the shooter’s attention, analysis of actions, calmness, concentration and mental flexibility.

4. Onions and the financial component.

Archery is a very financially flexible sport. The beginning archer has a choice from inexpensive traditional and classic bows to budget compound systems.
However, if you want to dedicate yourself high sport or participate in tournaments, competing with other shooters, then your costs may increase, and most importantly, you will be required to devote more time and dedication to shooting.

5. Wielding a bow is damn satisfying.

No matter what anyone says, the ultimate goal of any archer is to have fun, or, if you like, enjoyment. The archer receives a huge charge of positivity, seeing his progress and unfolding potential. The archer always knows that there is an eternal rivalry between the arrow and the target, and if the archer is focused on this, and not on what is happening around him, then, taking this into account, archery becomes much more fun.

6. Improves patience.

Archery is especially beneficial for youth as it teaches them the benefits of patience. Good performance in shooting is possible only with constant practice in training process, and as you know, the result is unattainable without patience and perseverance.

7. Training all year round.

Archery can be practiced both indoors and outdoors. outdoors, therefore, the weather cannot be an obstacle to training.

8. A very social sport.

People from many walks of life have associated themselves with archery. In competitive events, weight, height and how old you are are not important, you are initially on an equal footing with others, and you have every chance to show yourself in all your glory. I'm not even talking about the fact that in this sport there are no random people, here, either you devote yourself to the bow or not, and those who devote themselves are, for the most part, very peace-loving, sociable and sociable people. New interesting acquaintances and friendships are guaranteed!

9. Onions increase self-confidence.

As I said before, shooting provides you with great satisfaction from the combination of mental and physical activity, while bringing the shooter a good bonus of raising self-esteem. Whatever the results of your training today, one way or another, every archer is able to receive satisfaction from the work done, realizing that, first of all, he defeats himself!

10. Teaches you to take safety precautions seriously.

Archery can be extremely dangerous if done recklessly. Archery instills in the shooter a sense of responsibility for themselves and other participants, as well as for the equipment they use.

P.S. Leave all doubts behind, I guarantee that the interesting and fascinating world of ARCHERY awaits you!!

Chapter summary

The grip of the string, as one of the two points of contact between the archer and the bow, is critical important element technology. Proper grip of the bowstring will allow for proper expansion (Chapter 17), proper release of the arrow (Chapter 18), and maintain complete control of the overall shot. There is no feeling greater helpless than the feeling of a bowstring slipping from your fingers. It is the hook of the fingers that determines the position of the wrist when stretching and the position of the hand at the point of application. Proper grip of the bowstring will avoid problems with calluses and pain in the fingers.

Key elements of bowstring grip:

- the index finger controls the construction of the hook;
- gripping the bowstring “up” is a decisive factor for the correct position of the wrist, hand and butt;
- the bowstring should be located in front of the extreme joint of the index finger;
- the depth of the bend of the fingers should be such that the nails point back and up, towards the archer’s throat;
- the index and middle fingers should squeeze the finger separator: oddly enough, this will increase the space around the arrow shank;
- when building a hook on the string before lifting the bow, 80 percent of the force should be on the index finger. With the bending of the string when stretching the bow, the force will be redistributed in the following proportion: 40 percent to the index finger, 50 to the middle finger and 10 to the ring finger; ‐ thumb and little finger should be retracted “inside” the palm until lung feelings stretching of the skin between the thumb and index finger. The wrist should be relaxed and slightly arched, in a natural position. Once installed, the hook on the bowstring must remain unchanged until released. A common problem when changing hook depth is inconsistent draw length. Finger strength is developed through the exercises described in Chapter 16.

The bowstring is grasped by folding the fingers into a hook around the bowstring, thereby creating the first permanent reference point in the archer-bow system. There are only two points where the archer makes contact with the bow: the rest of the bow hand and the hook on the string of the drawing hand. These two points are critical, and any errors in other elements of the technique will be reflected in them. All the power of the bow rests on the finger hook on the string and the rest of the bow hand. Incorrect placement of fingers on the bowstring can lead to painful calluses, cracking and keratinization of the skin. Particular attention to all elements of the bowstring grip will not only ensure shooting accuracy, but also sporting longevity.

A key element of the hook that is often overlooked is the "up" grip direction, especially the index and middle fingers. When looking at the bowstring grip from the side, the nail of your index finger should point slightly upward. Most archers do the opposite, thereby reducing the control and pressure of the index finger on the string. Figure 4.1 shows the direction of the hook.

Figure 4.1 - The index finger is the key to proper grip of the bowstring. Squeezing the finger guard allows the index finger to grip the string "up" toward the jaw. In the incorrect example, the index finger is directed towards the throat, in the correct example, towards the chin.

Only with an "up" grip does the index finger apply the correct pressure in the correct direction to achieve the best release. Improving your “up” grip will help you avoid common problems such as inconsistent pressure on the string and slipping of the string from your fingers. To make it easier to understand, remember that the bottom of the index finger, the surface closest to the middle finger, is where all the pressure from the bowstring should be felt. Squeezing the finger separator with the base of your index and middle fingers helps the index finger move into the correct position. Figures 4.1 and 4.3 show that with a correct grip, the top half of the index finger does not touch the string. The "up" grip provides the necessary space between the index and middle fingers to avoid contact between the fingers and the arrow shank. Figure 4.2 shows an acceptable distance from the index finger to the arrow.

Figure 4.2 - This photo shows the correct grip index finger and an acceptable gap between it and the arrow. Please note that this distance is just over a millimeter. Longer distances are difficult to achieve and unnecessary. As the distance decreases, the index finger rests on the arrow. When setting the hook before drawing the bow, your middle finger may touch the arrow. During the stretching process, the arrow will naturally rise towards the index finger due to the bend of the string. Also pay attention to the position of your ring finger. It is unacceptable for this finger to slip, since it is involved in stabilizing the hand, preventing twisting at the wrist.

The second important element of the grip is the relative position of the bowstring and the knuckles of the pulling hand. Again, the placement of the index finger is most important as it sets the position for the rest of the fingers. The string should be located 2-4 millimeters beyond the outer joint of the index finger, closer to the nail. Figure 4.3 shows the correct placement of the fingers on the bowstring. After installing the hook on the bowstring, it should not move in your fingers. Placing the string directly on the last knuckle of the index finger can cause pain and callus development. For unknown reasons, grabbing the bowstring with the middle finger directly at the joint does not lead to such dire consequences. When gripping deeper than this position, achieving a clean and quick release is much more difficult. The position of the bowstring on the index finger should be the same for all archers, however, the position of the middle and ring fingers is individual and depends on the length of the fingers.

At correct position bowstring on the index finger, on the middle finger it will take a position on the knuckle or slightly behind it, closer to the palm (Figure 4.3). If an archer places the string behind the knuckle of the middle finger (more common in men), a callus may form in this area. It is recommended to use moisturizers to prevent skin cracking, as well as periodically trim off dead skin areas.

Numbness, tingling and shooting pain in the drawing hand are all symptoms caused by improper finger positioning on the string or improper distribution of pressure on the string. Also, these symptoms can be caused by too thin skin of the fingertip. When choosing a fingertip, you should take into account the ability of the skin to stretch and thin. Changing the position of the string on one of your fingers, even by a millimeter, can mean the difference between pain and comfort.

Figure 4.3 - The figure shows the correct placement of the bowstring on the fingers. The string occupies a place in front of the knuckle of the index finger, on the knuckle of the middle finger and in front of the knuckle of the ring finger. The thumb is pulled back and down. The position of the top two fingers should be the same for all archers, only the position of the ring finger may differ. Also in the figure, the lower part of the fingers is marked in red: only there the pressure of the bowstring should be felt. We can observe a slight upward turn of the index and middle fingers.

Empirically, it has been found that the most consistent bowstring grip is achieved if the archer first touches the bowstring with the pads of his fingers and then “rolls” the bowstring to the desired location on the finger hook. The key point here is the only smooth movement of the fingers, without repeating movements and intercepting the bowstring with the fingers. Once the archer has placed the hook of the fingers on the string, he moves to the bow hand rest and beyond, to the rest position described in Chapter 8. The archer can now turn his attention to proper distribution of pressure on the string. Remember that the pressure on your fingers in the rest position is very different from the pressure at full draw, as is the angle between the string and your fingers.

In the ready position the string is almost straight; when fully extended, the string is bent by 20 degrees. Changing the bowstring angle will cause a change in finger pressure, even though the archer has not changed the finger hook settings. (Figure 4.5 illustrates the change in bowstring angle) Thus, in the draw position, the archer should feel 70-80 percent of the bow's force on the index finger.

We repeat, the index finger is the most important. During the drawing process, the force of the bow will naturally be redistributed between the fingers, while maintaining the same constant position of the fingers on the string. When the bow is fully drawn and the fingers are positioned correctly on the string, the pressure will naturally be distributed as follows: 50 percent on the middle finger, 40 percent on the index finger and 10 percent on the ring finger.

Figure 4.4 - It is very important to visually, and not just tactilely determine the correctness of the hook folded on the bowstring.

The depth of the bend of the fingers (not to be confused with the depth of grip of the bowstring) is different for each finger. When looking at the archer from the front, the nails of the index and middle fingers should be directed towards the throat, and not pointing to the side. Ring finger it does not bend as deeply as the others, and serves to stabilize the hand, counteracting unwanted twisting (see Figure 4.9).

After setting the desired depth of bending of the fingers, this value should not change one iota. Loss of the shape of the hook at the moment of shooting is the primary reason for the loss of connection with the back muscles, leading to a “two-handed” shot. Trainers often advise to “keep a deep hook,” which should be understood as “bend your fingers more,” rather than “grip the string further.”

Figure 4.5 - During the process of stretching the bow, the angle of the string on the fingers changes, and because of this, the sensation of pressure on each of the fingers changes. In the photo on the left, the archer feels 80 percent of the pressure with his index finger. At full draw, as shown on the right, the index finger only holds 40 percent of the bow's force.

In order to properly engage the back muscles when drawing the bow, the knuckles of the drawing hand must be positioned so that the forearm muscles are relaxed. To achieve this, the knuckles of the fingers should be extended and bent back until a slight stretch is felt in the bridge between the thumb and index finger. The little finger should be pulled back and bent, just like the thumb.

With the thumb pulled back, as shown in Figure 4.7, the pulling hand appears to be curved outward in an unnatural way. Many shooting textbooks incorrectly emphasize the need to keep the wrist flat. For example, take a bucket, a bag of groceries, or anything else that you can use to replicate the position of the bowstring on your fingers. Place three fingers on the handle of the bucket in the same way as on the bowstring when shooting and relax your forearm and wrist as much as possible. The wrist will curve outward naturally and the arm will settle into a balanced position. The exact same position is shown in Figures 4.6 and 4.7, and this is what you should use when shooting. With the forearm muscles as relaxed as possible, strong and stable back and core muscles will be able to maintain the tension of the bow without the involvement of the hand, wrist, forearm and shoulder. Stretching and shooting with an extended wrist prevents shoulder injuries by increasing tension in the forearm and biceps muscles and reducing angular motion of the joint. Tight biceps can lead to incorrect

Figure 4.6 - The natural position of the wrist is shown in the figure on the right. It is in this position that the forearm is most relaxed. In order to hold your hand in the position shown in the figure on the left, you need to tense your hand and move your thumb forward.

Impact on shoulder joint, which may cause damage to the infraspinatus or deltoid muscles at the point of attachment to the humerus.

One last clarification regarding the position of the hand and the knuckles of the three drawing fingers: a common problem for many archers is that the knuckle of the middle finger protrudes further than the knuckles of the index and ring fingers. This problem occurs because incorrect position bowstring on the fingers and/or incorrect distribution of pressure on the fingers. Generally, the more “up” an archer can grip the string with their index finger, the less the knuckles will protrude. In fact, the knuckles should be hidden inside the hand so that the depression in the middle of the hand is clearly visible.

Steps

Archery

Position your body perpendicular to the target. When you are ready to shoot, position yourself so that you can mentally draw a straight line across your shoulders to the target (this line will be perpendicular to your feet). If you have the right eye, grab the bow in your left hand, point your left shoulder towards the target, and grab the string with your right hand. If your dominant eye is your left, do the opposite.

Stand straight and place your feet shoulder-width apart. Squeeze your buttocks to push your pelvic area forward a little. Keep your back straight so your arms and shoulders can form a "T" as you draw the string. The stance should be comfortable enough for you to stay in for a long time, but still firm and alert.

Lower the bow and place the arrow on the string. Lower the bow to the ground and place the arrow shaft against the bowstring socket. You should attach the shank of the arrow with a notch on it, the so-called nock, to the bowstring (the shank can be represented by a plastic nozzle). If the arrow has three feathers, position it so that one feather is facing up. Then place the arrow under the bead on the string (if there is only one bead) or between the two beads that mark the socket.

Use three fingers to lightly hold the arrow on the string. If you are shooting with a sight (based on the front sight), place your index finger on the arrow, and your middle and ring fingers under it. This is the so-called Mediterranean grip with an arrow between the fingers. If you're shooting without a scope, place all three fingers under the arrow to help you get it closer to your eye. Hold the back end of the arrow with your thumb and make sure it is level.

Point the bow at the target. Keeping your fingers on the string, lift the bow and point it at the target. Place your hands parallel to the ground and remember to hold the bow in a vertical position. IN correct stance your gaze will be directed along the arrow shaft.

Using three fingers, pull the string towards your face. Work your back muscles to increase strength, and relax your arm as much as possible. Draw the string until you feel enough tension on the bow, then you can use your chin, cheek, ear, or other body part as a guide to always draw the string to the same point.

• Try to pull the string back as far as possible. This will increase accuracy and also reduce the influence of wind and gravity.
• As you pull the string, lift your elbow up. This will work your shoulder muscles, not your arms.

1. Take aim. Most amateur archers use intuitive shooting techniques. To do this, simply aim the bow so that the arrow tip points towards the target. If you need to shoot more accurately, try purchasing an adjustable sight that attaches to your bow. While shooting, you can cover your non-dominant eye or look forward as usual with both eyes.

   Release the arrow by relaxing your fingers on the taut string. The goal is to perform a clean release with minimal deceleration and side effects on the arrow. Although this may seem like an easy task, the way you release the string affects the flight of the arrow, and any awkward movement or wobble can throw it off course. After shooting, wait until the arrow reaches the target, then lower the bow.

   • Do not move your hand forward to “strengthen” the arrow as it fires. Stay as still as possible for the most accurate shot.
   • Pay attention to the bow's recoil after a shot and whether you sway under its influence, as this may indicate that you are not in the best physical shape.

2. Load the crossbow with an arrow. After cocking, insert a bolt or arrow into the groove of the crossbow and align it with the guide. For safety, load your crossbow from the top, keeping your hands away from the trigger and the front of the weapon at all times.

   Place the crossbow on your shoulder. Similar to the rifle, place the crossbow against the main shoulder (it can be pressed against the shoulder notch or placed on top). Then place your non-dominant hand under the crossbow to stabilize it. Keep your fingers away from the trigger. Do not fire your crossbow by hand, as this can result in inaccurate and even dangerous shots.

   • Freehand shooting means that you hold the crossbow in one hand and use it to shoot.

3. Aim using the front sight or scope. If your crossbow is equipped optical sight, look into it and aim the reticle at the target as necessary. Be sure to read your scope's manual so you know which mark means what. If you don't have a telescopic sight, align your crossbow with an open sight that requires you to align the front sight and rear sight notch in line with the target.

   Shoot. When you're ready to shoot, tighten your grip on the crossbow and double-check your aim. Then pull the trigger in the same way as when shooting a pistol. When the arrow is launched, you will hear a slight click of the trigger.

Purchasing equipment

1. Buy a bow to suit your dominant eye. Most bows and bow equipment are marked for right- or left-handed use depending on which hand is used to draw the string. If your dominant eye doesn't align with your dominant hand, buy a bow and equipment for your non-dominant hand. Although it may take some time for your hands to adjust, choosing equipment to suit your vision will improve your shooting accuracy.

   • Crossbows can usually be fired with either hand.

2. Choose arrows for your bow. In the case of a crossbow, pay attention to the length, specific gravity and bolt notch requirements specified by the manufacturer of your weapon. For a bow, buy arrows that are about 5cm longer than your draw line. If possible, buy high quality arrows made from carbon, aluminum, fiberglass or wood.

   • If you plan on target shooting, buy arrows with sporting pointed tips. If you are going to hunt, use hunting points with sharp blades or blunt training points (for hunting small animals or birds). There are also hunting stun tips. Once they have caught their prey, they open up and cling to it.
   • To determine your own draw line length, draw the bow as if you were about to shoot. Then ask a friend to measure the distance from the front edge of the bow to the drawn string.
   • It is best to learn to shoot from a coach who will give you instructions, since beginners often make mistakes that are difficult to notice on their own, but a professional look from the outside will easily identify them and help correct them.

   Warnings

   • Do not draw the bowstring without an arrow to empty it, as this may cause hairline cracks in the bow.
   • Never aim at something you don't intend to shoot.
   • Be sure to have a protective barrier behind your targets in case you miss.

Archery technique is usually analyzed according to the following elements: positioning, grip, grip, bow tension, release (descent), breathing control, aiming.

Manufacturing
Leg position
Body position
Grip
Bow hand position
Capture
Bow draw
Release (descent)
Breath control
Aiming

Archery - This is the process of performing a complex motor action, the main elements of which are drawing the bow and releasing the string. optimal way of performing this motor action. Each archer has his own own equipment shooting, since all people are different in physical development, body structure, body weight and other parameters. Technical elements when shooting from sports classic bow differ from the shooting technique compound bow.

MANUFACTURING.

The position of the archer is determined by the position of the athlete's legs, torso, arms and head. Let's consider each element of making an archer separately.

Leg position.

The archer (right-handed) usually stands with his left side to the target. Legs, which provide support for the whole body, because shooting is carried out in a vertical position, must be straightened. The tension of the corresponding muscles creates a minimum of internal degrees of freedom for lower limbs and the lower part of the body, i.e. movements in all joints (ankle, knee, hip) should be minimal. This is prerequisite maintaining balance and reducing vibrations to ensure immobility of the shooter-weapon system. Naturally, overstraining the muscles of the legs and torso is unacceptable, because this can cause miscoordination in the basic movement control system.

The feet are located from each other approximately shoulder width apart, the toes are slightly turned to the sides. The position of the feet must be constant and not change from shot to shot. It is determined by the location of the characteristic points of the feet (the front and back points of the axis passing through the middle of the heel and the middle of the big toe).

There are three main manufacturing options: open, side, closed.

The choice of one option or another depends on the individual characteristics of the archer. These variations mainly differ in the position of the torso relative to the target line, determined primarily by the position of the feet.

The figure shows the position of the legs in open, side and closed types of position.

The most common currently is the side position.

All three types of preparation in archery are divided into preliminary and main.

Preliminary preparation consists of performing movements that ensure the correct placement of the feet relative to each other and the orientation of the torso relative to the target line. The head is usually turned slightly towards the target. The bow is either held suspended with the left hand, lowered along the body, or rests lower shoulder on the left foot and is held with the left hand, bent at the elbow joint.

The main preparation consists of performing the necessary actions for the shooter to assume a position with the bow drawn, until the bowstring touches certain (individual) orientation points on the face (chin, tip of the nose, etc.).

Body position.

In the archery position, this position can be assessed by a conventional vertical axis. Depending on individual characteristics, this axis can be positioned strictly vertically or with a slight tilt forward. With this position of the body it is easier to reduce unwanted touch and pressure of the bowstring on the shooter’s chest.

The position of the torso must obey the basic requirement - to create biomechanical support and maintain it throughout the entire duration of the shot. In this regard, the work of the trunk muscles should be as variable as possible, which requires constant training.

The position of the body is determined by the location of its characteristic points (the abdomen, pelvis, and the axis passing through the hip joints).

Head position.

The shooter's head is turned to face the target. The neck muscles that hold the head upright and are involved in turning the head should not be overly tense. Otherwise, it can interfere with blood flow, lead to excessive tension in the muscles of the torso and the arm that is pulling the bow, which, in turn, can cause incoordination of movements and, as a result, errors. The position of the head should be uniform and not change during the shot, otherwise it may negatively affect the quality of aiming.

The distance between the eyes (dominant eye) and the arrow shank should always be constant, so the teeth should be tightly clenched. The points (points) of contact between the bowstring and the face (tip of the nose, middle of the chin, to the right of the face) should be constant.

The lower jaw should be in close contact with top part brush and fingertip, because the hand that pulls the bow moves along the jaw bone and the uniform point of contact serves as a constant guide to the correct movement of the hand.

The leading eye should be located at a certain (equal) distance from the plane of the shot so that the bowstring does not obscure the sight's front sight.

Bow hand position.

The left (usually) hand holding the bow is raised towards the target, straightened and located in relation to the axis of the spinal column at approximately 90° (the change in this angle depends on the shooting distance).

The arm should be straightened and secured at the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. This consolidation is accomplished by simultaneous tension of the antagonist muscles for each joint. The hand holding the bow actively resists the increasing pressure of the bow as it is drawn. The hand, forearm and shoulder, when pulling and holding a stretched bow, should form a rigid system together with shoulder girdle and head.

Grab.

The position of the hand is determined by the chosen method of holding the bow ( grip). To hold a bow, there are several types of grip, differing in the location of the palm and fingers on the bow handle: low, medium, high.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Common to all types of grip is that the bow handle is inserted into a “fork” formed by the thumb and forefinger.

With a low grip, the back of the handle rests tightly against the base of the thumb, and the side fits tightly against the muscles of the palm. The conventional axis of the wrist joint is located at an angle of 45° to the plane of the shot. The middle part of the hand is located at approximately 120° to the forearm. With a low grip, the area of ​​contact between the palm and the handle is greatest.

With an average grip, the contact area is significantly reduced due to the fact that the hand is straightened, the angle relative to the forearm is approximately 180° and therefore there is almost no bending between the hand and forearm. The base of the thumb and the bottom of the palm do not touch the bow handle.

At high grip the hand is slightly lowered in relation to the forearm, and the area of ​​its contact with the bow handle is even more reduced.

The position of the forearm is mainly dictated by the need to ensure free passage of the bowstring when firing. To do this, the shoulder must be pronated at the shoulder joint so as to create a minimum of forearm surfaces protruding towards the shooting plane. the articulation of the forearm with the shoulder should be rigid, these two links form a single whole. Due to internal forces, it is necessary to eliminate possible degrees of freedom in the elbow and wrist joints.

Right hand position.

This is the hand that carries out capture, retention and release bowstring, and also participates in bow tension.

Capture.

The grip in archery technique is the way of holding the bowstring and can be deep or medium.

The most common is a deep grip. It is characterized by the fact that the gripping hand is positioned perpendicular to the bowstring (before the bow is pulled). The bowstring is grasped with three (sometimes two) fingers in such a way that the load on them is as uniform as possible, and the bowstring itself is located on the extreme bend of the distal phalanges of the fingers (index, middle, ring). The rest of the fingers and palm should be as straight as possible. The thumb and little finger should be as relaxed as possible. With an average grip, the bowstring is located approximately in the middle of the distal phalanges of the fingers. The arrow nock fits between the index and middle fingers and should not touch or be pinched when drawing the bow and releasing the arrow. For this purpose, an instep support is installed on the fingertip.

After capturing left hand raises the bow, the right one, being in a half-bent state, holds the bowstring.

Before starting the tension, the right shoulder and forearm are positioned in a horizontal plane, while the shoulder joint should be lowered if possible, the elbow right hand slightly elevated relative to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

At sports shooting from a compound bow, a special technical device, called release.

In this case, the release, depending on the design, is either held by the fingers of the right hand (T-shaped), or attached with a leather strap to the forearm (carpal).

Bow tension.

The movement of all links of the right half of the upper limb belt must be coordinated so that the string moves in the plane of the bow. When tensioning it, the position of the fingers on the bowstring and general position the brush relative to the shot plane should not change.

The bow is pulled simultaneously by the muscles of the right arm and back. The initial phase of drawing (the first phase) of the bow is carried out mainly by the muscles of the right hand. The middle (second) and especially the final (third) phases of bow tension are performed mainly by contracting the back muscles that adduct the scapula to the spine.

The final phase of drawing the bow is the most important because... immediately before it begins, the hand involved in tensioning the bow passes (or is fixed, depending on the type of technique) through certain points of contact located on the face (the tip of the nose and the middle of the chin or just the chin, etc.). In the event that the hand is fixed under the chin, it has some varieties depending on the position of the fingers: submandibular, premaxillary, cervical.

Currently greatest distribution received submandibular fixation, when the hand is under the chin, the thumb and little finger are relaxed as much as possible. After fixing and clarifying the aim, the hand, due to contraction of the muscles of the back and arm, continues its movement along the jaw bone. This movement after completing the fixation is usually called “reaching out”.

With another version of the technique, the right hand touches the face at the same points (the main thing is that these landmarks are always constant), but does not stop, and as the aiming becomes more precise, it slowly moves back along the jaw bone, i.e. the effort to draw the bow does not stop.

During the final phase of drawing the bow, when the hand, being under the chin, moves back along the jawbone due to the contraction of the muscles of the arm and back (the main work in this phase should fall on the back muscles), the arrow comes out from under the clicker, a click will be heard and release occurs. The main requirement for the final draw phase of the bow is that it must continue without stopping after the click of the clicker and while releasing the arrow.

When drawing a compound bow, its character changes. this is due to the design features of the weapon (bow). The main force for pulling is developed in the initial (first) phase (70% of the bow's tension force). In the second phase, there is a fairly sharp decrease in the magnitude of the force (30% of the bow's tension force). When performing the third (final) phase of bow tension, muscle tension is significantly less than in its first phase. It is approximately 30% of the bow's tension force and practically does not change as the hand approaches certain fixation points on the face.

Considering these features, it is necessary to pay special attention to the position and work of the hand holding the bow, because increased demands are placed on it to maintain reliable support in the bow both during the first and during the second phases of its tension.

It should also be noted that when shooting with a compound bow using a breaker, the right hand in the final drawing phase is usually located to the right of the face and touches the right cheek, and is not located under the jaw bone, and the draw as such is not performed. However, the tension of the muscles of the back and arms, which perform tension on the bow while fixing the hand and lowering (releasing) the bowstring, should be sufficient to hold it, and its increase should even be subjectively felt. This can prevent the back and arm muscles from relaxing uncontrollably and causing the right arm to “give in” forward.

The movement of the finger performing the release (pressing the release button or the trigger of the disconnector) must be smooth and autonomous so as not to cause an uncontrolled increase in tension on the muscle groups directly involved in the execution of this movement.

Issue(descent).

Release - This is the release of the bowstring from its grip. It is performed during the final phase of drawing the bow. The main requirement for release is instant, simultaneous and complete relaxation of the fingers holding the bowstring. If this condition is met, the bowstring itself, as it were, opens completely relaxed fingers and leaves them with minimal deviation from the plane of the shot.

Relaxation of the fingers and release of the bowstring from the grip occurs when the clicker clicks, but one must always remember that the tension of the bow after the click of the clicker and at the time of release should not be interrupted.

When using a release, the fingers of the hand that pulls the bow and holds the string are not directly involved in its release. The release in this case can be called a descent, because depending on the release design, the archer presses with his thumb or forefinger a special release button or trigger that activates trigger to release the bowstring.

When using a release, it is possible to achieve minimal deviation of the string and bow from the plane of the shot, and due to this, the deformation of the arrow is reduced, which ultimately has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting.

Breath control.

When firing a shot, the archer strives for the best stability of the shooter-weapon system. To do this, it becomes necessary to stop breathing while it is being performed, i.e. eliminate unwanted movements chest. Hold your breath for 10-15 seconds. is not difficult even for an untrained person. This time is quite enough to complete the shot. As the bow is drawn and immediately in front of it, breathing becomes more and more shallow and is held by the archer at a natural respiratory pause, and the stop should be at a moment slightly less than half-exhalation. This is the most rational and natural cessation of breathing, in which a slight tone of the respiratory muscles remains, corresponding to the general tone of the body.

The level of oxygen in the blood and its supply in the lungs is quite sufficient for the normal functioning of all body systems within 10-15 seconds. Moreover, with training, the reflex threshold of the urge to inhale moves away when oxygen in the blood decreases.

With such a breath-hold, the archer does not experience oxygen starvation, i.e. a state of hypoxia does not occur, and therefore there is no need for hyperventilation. In case of hyperventilation of the lungs, an undesirable phenomenon for the archer may occur: oversaturation of blood oxygen, which causes slight dizziness, uncoordination of movements and loss of stability.

Aiming.

The aiming technique consists of pointing and holding the front sight in the aiming area in the center of the target (usually). The front sight can be rectangular, trapezoidal, dot-shaped, round or ring-shaped. When aiming, the archer primarily sees the sights, the bowstring, and the target. The structure of the eye does not allow one to see the sighting device, the bowstring and the target equally clearly at the same time, i.e. three objects at different distances. Therefore, the eye focuses in such a way that the front sight is most clearly visible, the target less clearly, and the bowstring even less clearly. The string can be located to the right or left of the front sight, which is not of fundamental importance. The main requirement is that the string always be on the same side of the front sight and at the same distance from it.

When aiming when shooting from a classic bow, you must remember that the hand that is pulling the bow should touch the jaw bone and slowly move back by contracting the muscles of the arm and back. The mouth should be tightly closed.

These actions must be controlled, otherwise the distance between the eyes and the arrow may change, which will lead to an error in aiming.

When aiming with a compound bow, as a rule, a level is used to control the position of the bow in the horizontal plane, an optical sight and a peep-site (a special device with a small hole that is attached to the bowstring at the level of the eye involved in aiming). So we can talk about a certain combination of diopter with an optical sight. When the bow is at full draw, the shooter's eye, the middle of the pip-sight hole (diopter), the front sight and the aiming point are located on the same straight line.

The line formed by the pupil of the eye, the front sight and the aiming point is called aiming line.

Aiming area - This is the area of ​​a circle bounded by a circle centered on the aiming point. It may be larger or smaller depending on the degree of stability of the bow position. The higher the skill level of the archer, the smaller the area of ​​oscillation of the sight's front sight.

The position of the head should provide the most favorable position of the eyes. In no case should the neck muscles be overstrained, which can lead to incoordination of actions in the final phase of drawing the bow.

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