Beginner archery 101 - where to start
Olympic archery, Field archery or Traditional archery?
Which one is right for you and how to get started. We often get asked at the end of the Longbow Archery Taster here in Chelmsford how to take it up as a hobby. This blog will help point you in the right direction.
Archery is a wonderfully addictive hobby
Not only is archery one of the most inclusive sports in the world, it is a wonderful hobby that appeals to many different types of people. Whether you go down a competition based route or you prefer competing against yourself, when you break everything down, it ultimately is just you and your bow (plus no doubt the countless friends you will make a long the way!).
Getting started can seem daunting with so many choices out there and picking the right discipline for you can often depend on availability in your local area, personal interest and of course budget. Buying your first bow can quite an investment so it is important to consider your personal journey before parting with money at your nearest archery supplier.
Try before you buy!
Before you even consider buying your first bow, make sure to have a go! Of course you can try our style on one of our experience days. In addition most clubs will offer open days or have a go sessions so you can meet coaches and see if their particular style is for you. Whatever you do, don’t invest heavily in equipment until you have tried the hobby first. Clubs will often either loan out or hire you equipment so you don’t need to heavily invest until you are really committed.
Olympic and Target Club Archery
Olympic style archery is probably the most common and easily recognised forms of modern archery. With excellent television coverage during the Olympics, it is often the flame that ignites a potential interest in the sport. Archery GB is the governing body for this style and you will most likely find a supported club in almost every major town and city. If you haven’t completed one already, most clubs will want to place you on a Beginners Course to learn the basics of shooting including range safety and etiquette. Local clubs will often have a supply of basic equipment to lend to you and give you the opportunity to try different bows and various gadgets during the Beginners Course. Joining a target club will often give you automatic Archery GB membership (with insurance) meaning you have access to supported competitions and to be guests of other Archery GB clubs around the country. Target clubs often have access to an outdoor venue for warmer months and sometimes indoors as well for winter shooting making them a good option for comfortable all weather archery fun! Target archery is perfect for those who want to concentrate on improvements and results. It gives you the chance to repeat in a very consistent way and see your improvements while giving you access to some very talented coaches. In addition you are not limited to any particular type of bow as target clubs will accept all types including the English Longbow, however you may wish to check with individual clubs in they have any limitations such as draw weights or materials used in manufacturing. As a beginner you will probably be recommended to learn Olympic Recurve until you know what draw weight and style you wish to shoot.
You can find your nearest club by using the Archery GB website
Challenge yourself with Field Archery
Field archery has become extremely popular in the last 20 years in the UK. It was original created for hunting practice and simulation as it often involves a set course 3D animal targets. These targets are often located in woodland, down track ways and sometimes across open fields. You don’t need to be a bowhunter to enjoy this (hunting with a bow is of course illegal in the UK), instead it provides a fairly unique challenge to archery using a specific point system and giving you the chance to shoot against very different challenges at each shooting lane. Targets nowadays can range from small rodents, around lakes, to larger animals such as bears. Manufacturers aren’t limiting themselves to recognisable wild animals, some courses even feature dinosaurs, dragons, zombies and even historical Knights and Vikings! Targets will often be set out at varied distances and behind obstacles making you think creatively about your technique. Field archery is open to beginners and membership will give you insurance with a governing body such as the National Field Archery Society. Like Olympic target clubs, field archery clubs can be found across the country and will require you to join a beginner course if you are new to the sport. They often offer coaching and may be able to loan you equipment until you are able to purchase your own. Like target clubs, you are allowed to shoot most styles of archery but again it is worth checking what limitations a club has in place.
You can find your nearest Field Archery club via the NFAS Website
Back to basics with Traditional Archery
Traditional clubs are a little more niche and it may well pay to have already joined and gained some experience from one of the previously mentioned options first. If your heart is truly with the basic bare bow style of archery, whether that is the English Longbow, Middle Eastern Horse Bows, the Japanese Yumi or American Flat Bows to name a few, then you might want to do some digging around the internet to see where you can learn or shoot. The good news is that there are some fairly accessible organisations that offer fairly regular shooting, sometimes lessons and low cost membership
The International Longbow Archers Association is certainly a good starting place as they hold monthly shoots mostly around the South of England. They give a wonderful opportunity to shoot at some stunning locations such as castles and stately homes while taking part in Roving Mark, Clout and Wand competitions.
There are smaller interest clubs dotted around the country and often talking to other members at either Archery GB of NFAS clubs will give you contacts for traditional clubs near you.
If you are in the London area then Archery Fit based in Greenwich is an excellent facility which we have worked directly with and along side in the past. They are primarily an Archery GB focused venue however many of their club members are traditional archers. They offer storage for your equipment and their coaches are knowledgeable about most styles of archery. Make sure to tell them that Now Strike sent you!
If you are not sure if traditional archery is for you or not, we offer the exclusive chance to try different English Longbows on either the Longbow Taster or Master Class experience. You can see if shooting a simple stick with a string is for you, spoilers: We are sure it will be!