Stickbow Target Archery Forums

Archery is a 3-dimensional sport (height, windage, and distance are involved). Why shouldn't aiming also be 3-dimensional? Except for compounds (which have a peep sight), it seems that for all bows, both longbow and recurve, both traditional and Olympic bow, aiming seems to be two-dimensional -- a front sight and a target.

Rob, you have described the closest thing to 3-dimensional aiming -- what you call trajectory aiming. Will you tell us a little more? How you do it, what ranges it works at, when it ceases to work, what you gap is at the range it ceases to work, and whatever else you may consider of interest.

Thanks
Arc

I should modify that last post -- most aiming is 2-dimensional at best. Those of us who shoot purely instinctive use one dimension -- the target. Those who shoot split-vision (where the target is in focus, and the arrow is kinda background) aim with maybe one and a half dimensions. And those who truly gap shoot, seeing both the arrow and the target, aim with two dimensions.

Is this the method where you sort of visualize the flight of the arrow and then point the hand where it takes to get that flight? If so, it is how my "mentor" is trying to teach me to shoot. If I practice a lot at longer ranges it works good for me from about 35-80 yards. The shorter shots are over too fast. For practice he has me starting at my point on distance (60yds) and one day I go 5 yards shorter with each set of 6 arrows down to 30 yards. The next day go 5 longer each set to 80 yards. This is supposed to ingrain the look for each distance. My success is moderate, but it seems like it could work with more practice.

It would be interesting to hear more on aiming this sort of way.

Yes, although there are a few details I am curious about as to "how" you can best visualize the flight of the arrow.

I've tried a lot of variations on this with enough success that I want to know more. Figured I'd ask this forum.

I too found Rob's comments about "aiming the arrow" interesting. Interesting enough to change my anchor point and give it a try. For the first half dozen targets (14 target field course) I was significantly better than the last time I was out. It started to fall apart after that but I think I was falling back into more of my old stance and habbits. It's going to take more practice, but then what doesn't. I think this has a lot of potential and would like to hear more.

Arc - target recurve archers certainly use three-dimensional aiming by paying attention to string alignment. I haven't as much experience as you guys in barebow shooting, but I assumed that you all checked for string alignment as well.

Hi John,n
String alignment certainly can help for windage.

But, because the arrow shot from a recurve bow drops so much, I think the most interesting problem is hitting the right elevation at any range from 15 feet to 80 yards. I can't think of a legal way to use the string to help with that .

Arc

Dave T -- just a note on anchor points -- I believe Rob uses the traditional fairly high 'corner of the mouth' anchor point -- and I use a low 'against the chin' anchor point. Both work with this system -- although I do think a higher anchor is easier.

Rob, when you do check in, I'd like to know your thoughts on anchor too.