1) use feathered arrows, plastic vanes will contact the riser and make arrows unpredictable in flight.
2) use correct arrow spine for your bow, probably 400 [600] if you are shooting 40 [30] pounds of draw weight
3) flipper rest
4) 3 fingers under draw technique
5) use a simple 2-3 pin plate sight for aiming, cheap and robust
6) no amount of practice with the wrong technique and/or equipment will help you improve.
At the distance you are shooting 20m, I could easily get all the arrows inside the white ring. if you follow my advise you be able to as well, probably.
I'm trying to explain to you that there are a huge number of factors you are not aware of that will affect your performance, I'm just scratching the surface really.
your wife would probably need 600 spine arrows, or put some heavier points on those 500 spine arrows for her. for you and the 60 # bow, 340 spine, maybe 300 depending on the point weight.
good online tool for arrow spine (note the huge array of parameters)
sort of a line parallel to your thumb on meaty part of your hand, it might fell like the bow is about to fall off the side of your hand, but you'll know when its right because the arrows will all start to land in the same spot on the target.
It's very hard to archery coach by text, hence the need for you to find someone in person.
Just remember there is certain comradery in archery, it was always us peasants vs the lords.
Thanks. Will research and experiment. There isn’t any pro or even any archery shops near us. Also… My family has long-standing noble titles, so I’m afraid it’s long range rifles for me for anything serious. Archery is my way to mingle with the unwashed masses! Heheh
I don’t know if it matters with a recurve bow but if the arrows in a compound bow are not stiff enough they will flex and scatter just like you are having.
I think you might need a stiffer arrow perhaps 340 spine. Just go to a pro shop. Without the right arrow for you bow, you'll never get accurate.
60 pounds is very heavy for a learner. practicing with a 60# bow will put a huge wear on your shoulder. shoulder injury can completely end your archery quest. Perhaps get a set of 30-35 pound limbs.
Ok thanks. Would the strain be on the left shoulder? (The one holding the bow) or the right one (the one drawing the string). In fairness, I’m pretty big at 6’2” and son’t really struggle to draw the bow, but I had an old shoulder injury from martial arts days some 20-23 years ago (partially dislocated shoulder) that sometimes acts up. Not sure it’s related to any archery I have done cause I haven’t really done all that much of jt.
The strain will be on both shoulders and quite a lot. plenty of guys get injured at just 50#. You should start with smaller poundage bows and slowly build up the technique and muscles. starting archery at 60# is very risky for your shoulder , especially with a historical injury. You can just buy additional limbs and swap them out. get a 40# set and maybe a 50# set. most normal men can start with 40# and slowly move up the poundage. later your wife might get strong enough to use the 40# set of limbs. 60# is overkill, most deer can be hunted with 40#. What’s the intended target species, polar bears? I mostly shoot 30# or 40# at 30 yards.
Not sure about arrow weight, they are 32” which is the right length. I’ll post link to the bow and the arrows below this comment. Appreciate your take.
Do you have some of these nocks on the bow string so you get the arrow in the same place each time? I have 2 spaced and lined up with the arrow rest so the arrow fits between them with no excess gap.
Archery is far more complex than it looks. It actually took 11,000 years for people to prove that the arrow does in fact bent around the bow as you shoot it. Imagine believing something so weird with no conclusive proof. This bendyness (spine) is critical in making the arrow accurate. There is a lot of counterintuitive things in archery you won't figure out by yourself in your lifetime. The arrow length and tip weight matter more than you think also.
Just find the Archery/Bass pro shop and they will help you more than you can imagine. Be prepared to make a minor purchase to recompense them for their time helping you. A shooting glove is totally worth it, so is some string wax.
advise:
1) use feathered arrows, plastic vanes will contact the riser and make arrows unpredictable in flight.
2) use correct arrow spine for your bow, probably 400 [600] if you are shooting 40 [30] pounds of draw weight
3) flipper rest
4) 3 fingers under draw technique
5) use a simple 2-3 pin plate sight for aiming, cheap and robust
6) no amount of practice with the wrong technique and/or equipment will help you improve.
At the distance you are shooting 20m, I could easily get all the arrows inside the white ring. if you follow my advise you be able to as well, probably.
You haven’t actually given advice as such. Just said to get some advice.
My bow is 60lbs. What “spine” should I get for it? Wife’s is 30lbs so sounds like the right ones for her. What about the left hand grip?
I'm trying to explain to you that there are a huge number of factors you are not aware of that will affect your performance, I'm just scratching the surface really.
your wife would probably need 600 spine arrows, or put some heavier points on those 500 spine arrows for her. for you and the 60 # bow, 340 spine, maybe 300 depending on the point weight.
good online tool for arrow spine (note the huge array of parameters)
https://www.3riversarchery.com/dynamic-spine-arrow-calculator-from-3rivers-archery.html
hand position
https://www.archerytalk.com/threads/correct-grip-position.3667314/
sort of a line parallel to your thumb on meaty part of your hand, it might fell like the bow is about to fall off the side of your hand, but you'll know when its right because the arrows will all start to land in the same spot on the target.
It's very hard to archery coach by text, hence the need for you to find someone in person.
Just remember there is certain comradery in archery, it was always us peasants vs the lords.
Thanks. Will research and experiment. There isn’t any pro or even any archery shops near us. Also… My family has long-standing noble titles, so I’m afraid it’s long range rifles for me for anything serious. Archery is my way to mingle with the unwashed masses! Heheh
I don’t know if it matters with a recurve bow but if the arrows in a compound bow are not stiff enough they will flex and scatter just like you are having.
https://eastonarchery.com/2014/07/making-sense-of-arrow-spine/
Thanks. They are carbon fibre so this might be a thing.
I am no expert, but it is all about consistency. My only recent experience is with compound bows - haven’t shot a recurve bow for many decades.
Does your bow not have an arrow rest at all?
Are you shooting store bought arrows of the correct weight for your bow?
A compound bow with a sight is like a rifle at 20-30 yards.
Bow I use: https://amzn.to/44K8v9O
What poundage is the bow? It should be written on the bottom limb in white.
60 lbs
I think you might need a stiffer arrow perhaps 340 spine. Just go to a pro shop. Without the right arrow for you bow, you'll never get accurate.
60 pounds is very heavy for a learner. practicing with a 60# bow will put a huge wear on your shoulder. shoulder injury can completely end your archery quest. Perhaps get a set of 30-35 pound limbs.
Ok thanks. Would the strain be on the left shoulder? (The one holding the bow) or the right one (the one drawing the string). In fairness, I’m pretty big at 6’2” and son’t really struggle to draw the bow, but I had an old shoulder injury from martial arts days some 20-23 years ago (partially dislocated shoulder) that sometimes acts up. Not sure it’s related to any archery I have done cause I haven’t really done all that much of jt.
The strain will be on both shoulders and quite a lot. plenty of guys get injured at just 50#. You should start with smaller poundage bows and slowly build up the technique and muscles. starting archery at 60# is very risky for your shoulder , especially with a historical injury. You can just buy additional limbs and swap them out. get a 40# set and maybe a 50# set. most normal men can start with 40# and slowly move up the poundage. later your wife might get strong enough to use the 40# set of limbs. 60# is overkill, most deer can be hunted with 40#. What’s the intended target species, polar bears? I mostly shoot 30# or 40# at 30 yards.
Arrows I use: https://amzn.to/4pdRmN7
These arrows would suit a 35 pound bow, is that what you got?
It does have an arrow rest.
Not sure about arrow weight, they are 32” which is the right length. I’ll post link to the bow and the arrows below this comment. Appreciate your take.
I think we can get this figured out.
Do you have some of these nocks on the bow string so you get the arrow in the same place each time? I have 2 spaced and lined up with the arrow rest so the arrow fits between them with no excess gap.
https://www.3riversarchery.com/string-nocks-for-bow-strings.html
Are you putting the 1 colored feather so the other feathers clear the arrow rest?
Yup to both
Is There an archery range or store anywhere near you, they would be able to help?
Some Bass pro shop/cabelas have indoor archery ranges.
For what, exactly?
Like shooting, it just takes practice and time.
Archery is far more complex than it looks. It actually took 11,000 years for people to prove that the arrow does in fact bent around the bow as you shoot it. Imagine believing something so weird with no conclusive proof. This bendyness (spine) is critical in making the arrow accurate. There is a lot of counterintuitive things in archery you won't figure out by yourself in your lifetime. The arrow length and tip weight matter more than you think also.
Just find the Archery/Bass pro shop and they will help you more than you can imagine. Be prepared to make a minor purchase to recompense them for their time helping you. A shooting glove is totally worth it, so is some string wax.
The footnotes are epically funny, and relevant to my situation as well.