Stickbow Target Archery Forums

If you haven't seen this great little e-book yet, I highly recommend it.



It's a quick and easy read, and touches on many of the mental aspects of our beloved sport.

Good read.

I thought so too. I liked how he described the target...being without purpose if not for the archer. When I thought of that next time I shot, I had this stupid emotional connection with that old bag stuffed with fluff. Weird.

If anyone has ever had one of those day where you were so focused you felt you couldn't miss,this sums it up pretty well.
(IN order to understand your bow,it must become part of your arm and an extension of your thoughts.)

I took some of my lunchtime to download and start reading. Todd, Thanks. This is going to be an interesting read.

The author's name is familiar -- I double-checked -- I have read some of his stuff -- makes you think. And look at the Acknowledgments at the end -- I am very curious to see how he weaves together material gathered from such people.

Rob

Nice section on expanding enthusiasm for archery into a much broader world: "the way of the bow is no different from any other path that is followed with enthusiasm" -- so seek out your allies. Finding allies can happen by chance -- I like Coelho's version, which is to do it purposefully.

I read Zen and the Art of Archery many years ago, and didn't care for it too much. I wonder if that was because I lacked the knowledge and experience I have now. Maybe it's that deeper understanding of the sport that made me like this book so much. Or maybe it's because back then, I was looking for that secret knowledge that would make me an awesome shot, and the book did not provide what I sought. I'm not looking for that 'secret knowledge' any more. I don't think there are any secrets that others can provide. Any secrets to improvement have to come from within Sounds corny, but I think it's true.

Hi Todd,

I think I am following a similar route.

I like Timothy Gallwey, who suggests envisioning the desired outcome, then simply paying attention to what you are doing. In archery, there can be a lot of things to pay attention to: what is string elbow doing, where are the force vectors, how relaxed is string forearm, how engaged is back, and on and on. He is not suggesting to compare what you are doing with some ideal form -- he is simply saying to pay attention. And, as you say, by paying attention to what is going on with your own shot, you can learn a lot.