Stickbow Target Archery Forums

Copied in part from my reply to a question on another site:

With most of my set ups arrow speed is 165 fps or so. Point on 55 to 60 with most set ups. I point aim, basically instinctive, to 40 yards, and use split vision thereafter. I shoot at my club's field archery course so have worked out gaps for the longer distances which I use with split vision, focussing on target center. Our butts are straw bales 3 high on concrete pads, so about 5 feet high. Here are my gaps and sight references for my competition outfit:

45 yards base of butt, -2.5 feet
50 target bottom, -1.5
55 point on
60 top of bale+, +3
65 front shelf, on
70 web of thumb or rear shelf, on
80 second knuckle, on (requires looking through my hand, using both eyes)

This is for a 42# longbow drawn to 30", and 500 grain cedar arrows, shot with three fingers under. These vary with different bows and I have notes for each, but they mayn't be referred to in sanctioned competition.

Note, they vary also on the day depending on the weather and the suppleness of my muscles. I check this at 50 yards during my warm up and adjust as needed. As the round progresses it may change again. I watch for that so I can promptly adjust if need be. I also monitor my follow through to behind my neck, as these figures depend upon it.

Note that thiese gaps work fine for field archery, the 900 round and long range marked 3D, which I do well at. At short range 3d I am just point shooting, instinctively, and some days are better than others. On bad days I strive to 'feel the force' and yearn for exact center. Sometimes the force will then show up.

I do better not knowing or trying to estimate distances. Numbers interfere with feelings and take me to the wrong part of the brain. - lbg

Longbowguy, I aim a lot like you -- my point-on is 61 yards -- so I aim 'instinctive' at short range, split vision at longer ranges -- except my gap is measured in arrow widths at the end of my arrow, instead of feet at the target face. And, I use the split vision at long range to 'get me in the ballpark' at the beginning of the shot, then aim instinctively for the final second or so of the shot. So basically, I aim instinctively at all ranges, except that at long range, I have not shot enough arrows in my lifetime to trust my instincts, so I begin the long shots with a set gap before moving to instinctive.