Great video. Been shooting archery for 54 years. TOP FIVE: NUMBER ONE- Your equipment must be matched; arrow spine and length, correct point weight, and poundage. If this is not done first, it will not matter whatever else you do right. NUMBER TWO- Don't overbow yourself. NUMBER THREE- Establish consistent anchor. (Howard Hill anchored at his incisor tooth). NUMBER FOUR- Lightly grip the bow and push it as far away from your body as possible when drawing the bow... then push it farther. NUMBER FIVE- Practice shooting close with one arrow. (It makes you concentrate more on making a good shot).
@@higherdimensionalsoul42 there are several causes for this. Most longbows, and some recurves have a short brace height so that when we release, the bow string travels farther forward, and strikes, your forearm. You can try shooting a bow with a taller brace height or you can take the string off one end of your bow, and twist it a dozen or so times to increase your brace height. Sometimes just a half inch change in string length can make a big difference in the brace height and the string not striking your arm. Another thing you can try it is to not flat palm grip the bow. Raise your wrist so that the bow is resting against the crook between your pointer finger and your thumb and the handle is not touching your palm. This shifts your forearm away from the string path.
I caved and bought one today. The Diamond Infinite 305. It felt really good in my hands. Looking to hit up a range next weekend to fire an arrow for the first time
Do it man. I bought a cheap one for $150 on Amazon. Then spent twice that much on top tier arrows, string, broadheads, fletching, leather, targets... 😅 If it's anything like musical instruments, the best value is buying a cheap foundation and filling it with expensive parts as you learn.
Kramer this is an awesome video! I'm an archery instructor of 10 years, and I always ask new students to view your video before they even touch a bow. You covered a lot of important material while sustaining our interest with a little humor. Students love your enthusiasm and masterful way of keeping the audience engaged. I also like your foreword for those judgemental haters who have nothing better to do than fault-find. 👍🏽❤️
my man! my love of archery came upon watching Robin Hood w/ my kill niece and nephew, we went out and started making our own goofy bows and arrows 🏹, 2yrs later in making killer bows! This video taught me a lot. Thank you brother!
I just did my first 2 hours of a local beginner's course and I absolutely loved it, I can't wait to start archery. This video is very helpful thank you so much
Shooter.... Youjust DID start archery and now you are here, welcome to a sublime art. If you want to harvest meat the sacred ancient way, then I wish you all the best and success. Give thankksnfor the hunt, the craft, the challenge, the stalk, one I can't say enough... GO HUNTING WITH OTHERS. EXPERIENCE IS PRICELESS, LEARN FROM EVERY ONE KEEP AN OPENMIND. try a new technique, if it make you better keep it, discard thak technique with doesn't improve you, find what works for you. Keep your string waxed ND YOUR PECKER HARD MY DUDE!! 😎❤
Kiwi matthews z7 shooter here. Love your wisdom. Going to a costal hill block of cold temperat rainforest to hunt feral sheep on sunday. Souhern tip of new zealand. A prayer for the comming hunt. Getting ready now the world is burning, and you've inspired me to build fletch and shoota stick bow. When it goes mad max my compounds only good while ive got carbon shafts, and havend worn out/broken me z7. Gratitude , i look forwards to you teaching me to harest red deer, wapitie deer, fallow deer, the fabled mystical moose rumored a to live still in fiordland, some dude released a few early 1900s, hymalayan tahr, descended from some gifted to nz by an austrian emporer in 1916.... theres bison, yack, highland coo (scotts cow) swamp buffalo. Even a handful ad assorted african antelope in a couple ofwildlife park / zoo setups here. The apocalypse will be deliscious. pigs hare pigeon, sheep, rabbits chamois, goat's walabies trout, salmon perch swan, canada goose, mallard and paradise ducks. The odd black swan over from auussie,.. feral cats, and any zombies which may eventuate. Keep your string waxed and your pecker hard my dudes dude❤
Greatest tutorial. Thank you. Beginner here. Getting my first lesson next week. I’m stating late in life , but better late than never, right? Thanks again!
Did archery as a kid around 6 till I was like 8/9, then picked it up again when I was about 18/19 and have been doing it ever since (26 now). Watching this made me realise how little I actually know! I just chucked arrows in field archery around 20-25, maybe 30 yards and just improved by developing muscle memory and habbits. Really nice to hear all this and open the doors to more of my favourite hobby (my happy place)! Can't wait to go round my club's grounds this weekend!
Thank you for making this video. I really appreciated the explanation of why feathers are used preferably over vanes on a traditional bow. I shoot compound myself, but I am thinking about traditional archery. I was always told by traditional archers you just use feathers because that’s the tradition . I like your explanation much better.
I used to shoot bows a lot when I was a kid and for some reason I stopped. I'm 24 now and I'm thinking I'm going to get back into it. I found my father's old bows that I grew up shooting so it should be fun. Thanks for all the info.
Loved the video!! I’ve been shooting a compound bow for 40 years. I knew most of what you were talking about but I did learn a lot near the end. Especially about how to release a traditional bow.
I am recumending your Video to all who want to know what archery is about. All the information you need to know, Well presented in half an hour. Your expierience as an instructor shows.
Dear Kramer Ammons, you make this learning absolutely FUN!!! In addition, visiting and purchasing from your store is the very best experience and products that are superb! Thank you, your brother and the entire team at Shatterproof Archery!
I absolutely loved this video. I was thinking about getting into recurve bow target shooting. Thank you, you taught me in a way that made me excited to learn.
Excellent video - I started archery about 6-7 months ago with compound bow and it has been fun and now got in to traditional bows, still learning a ton every time. Thank you so much for such great content.
Great video. Thank you! I'm looking at getting into archery at 42yrs old and getting my kids involved. Very informative and I'll watch your other videos as well.
Great video! I'm 70 yrs old and just required my old 55# Ben Pearson recurve bow that I received as a 9th grade Christmas gift in 1968! I haven't shot it since joining the Navy in 1972! Still had the original cat-gut string which I'm in the process of replacing. Can't wait to pick this hobby back up! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for sharing this video! I'm thinking of starting archery as a sport and what I think makes this video great, is that you are not only clear and straight forward, but you also make it look fun and "easy". Thanks again and keep up the good work. Greetings from Barcelona!
Fantastic video. I went to try archery for the first time today. I should have watched this first but I still enjoyed it very much. I would love to see a slow motion closeup of the release in a future video. Thanks for the tips.
fantastic info! my 1st attempt snapped but I got all excited when string arrived and rushed but also didnt tiller enough. oh well, I THOROUGHLY enjoy the long bow making process you teach. Gitchi miigwech (git-chi mee-gwaych.. great thanks)!!!
thanks so much for covering that surprise release, i was always set on training myself to release when i wanted not just letting it happen naturally which always resulted in not being as accurate.
thank you so much! I knew by the end of the first minute that this was exactly what I needed. Clear, simple without being condescending, and charming! Amazing video!!!
im new I just bought my first bow and arrows yesterday waiting for them to be delivered i find this interesting and very helpful cant wait until can put this information into practice
Wow. I know nothing about archery and I was curious I don't even know why 😂. This video is just amazing. A lot of information. I will probably buy a bow at some point but I will definitely follow this channel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
An interesting video. As you say... hard to put all the needed information in a short video. A couple of things I'd like to mention. I was an archery instructor (mumblety) years ago. A recurve bow shoots more smoothly than a longbow. A longbow has nothing to absorb the recoil, so all of that goes to the arm... and can be painful. It can even affect the shoulder of the bow arm. A recurve absorbs the recoil in the recurved limb and is a much smoother shoot. (Holding the bow more losely also helps. I do like your thumb / index finger grip method. It's a good one). One can buy recurves in 66, 68 or even longer lengths, so as you state, there is a lot of variety when choosing a bow. But in general, a recurve will be much more comfortable for beginning archers. VERY important: New archers (and old archers) don't want to draw a bow ten times before shooting (which the video states to do). That is a good way to tear muscles and tendons. As with all sports, one should stretch and loosen up muscles before putting strain on them. You can shoot a bow once or twice and probably do fine, but if an archer is going to shoot a round of 60 arrows, they need to warm up first with stretching exercises (about 2-3 minutes of stretching should do). Alternately, an archer can "slow draw" a bow a few times (don't hold it-- just slow draw and then relax), resting 30 seconds between each draw. That will have similar effect. Pausing between shots: In professional competitions one will find archers shooting an arrow, then standing there for 30 to 45 seconds before taking their next shot, giving the trapezius muscles time to relax. Failing to take these precautions can cause serious and permanent muscle / tendon / ligament damage... especially with higher-poundage bows. Regarding the release: you present one release and if that works for you, that's fine. But the release that I've seen most archers use, and that works especially well for beginners, is to take your anchor point and when ready to shoot, simply relax your fingers. Don't jerk the string, don't alter the anchor point at all, just relax your hand quickly and fully. Another method is what someone described as "flicking a boogar". Pretend there's a boogar on your draw hand and intentionally open your hand quickly as if flicking the boogar off your finger. Both methods work well for beginners and advanced archers alike. The idea is to get your fingers away from the string as quickly and consistently as possible. Myself, I prefer the relax method. If you relax the draw fingers quickly and fully, the shot will be identical every time. I do appreciate a major point you made: compare with yourself, and shoot for fun. If one's goal is to become a pro shooter then that of course requires a different path (as with any sport), but for the average archer: enjoy yourself. Hitting the bullseye will come with practice. The initial goal is to just enjoy shooting the bow. If you're a beginner and hit anywhere on the target, you're doing fine. Precision will come later. The initial goal is to just have fun learning the sport. I appreciate your time in making this video. As many years as I've been shooting I still enjoyed watching it. : )
Absolute beginner here that's never used archery yet: This was a great tutorial. The thing that got me getting really icky was the canting the bow, when the camera guy walked in front of the bow you were holding with the arrow resting in the shelf. It made me cringe a couple of times. Those distances got me all confused on step#25 String Walking - the increments on those numbers has me scratching my head, it'll get figured out eventually. Ok after rewinding and listening and watching I think I got it: This slightly changes the angle of the intended shot by pivoting the arrow; thus, in doing so move my hand down a bit being careful of my target distance. Did that make sense. The application used here for instance is a grouse on the ground.
Excellent beginners guide to Archery very well explained. The very best practice Butt I ever made was a wool bail filled with Dacron insulation off cuts. I approached an air conditioning company that made A/C ducting they were glad to give me their off cuts off Dacron insulation. Evan a small amount in a hessian sack has incredible stopping power and extremely easy to pull arrows. Better than any commercial target butt.
About 10 years ago I finally started a hobby I'd been pining over. Love it! Don't know why I ever put it off! Always wanted to learn archery, and I'm getting that itch to pursue another long-dreamed hobby so here I am! I'm looking forward to more of your stuff. This was a great start for me! (Watched 2x now, maybe gonna go for 3 to solidify understanding. It's a lot to wrap my head around in such a condensed set.)
Thank you so much for not bs’ing us and just speaking facts and great tips I am now going to make a list of everything I need and train my arms and shoulders until I am ready for a bow!🙏 definitely will be back for more videos!
This video is great. Many moons ago (lets say 20 years) I used an old 75lb (@27" draw) long bow (possibly made in the 60's or 70's). Its been sitting in storage and I've been tempted to get it out again. Unfortunately I know there's no chance of me pulling it back. I had a 48lb take down long bow but it felt way to small. I've only ever used longbows or recurve. This video reminded me of so many things I'd forgotten. Cheers for rekindling the knowledge.
I just shot for the first time last night. My cousin has 2 bows and has just been messing around for 2 years on and off but he's never taken a course or anything so he wasn't actually able to teach me anything but i surprised myself how well I did. Did about 20 or 25 shots on a 35lb recurve and only missed the target once. We were pretty close tho, maybe 15 yards away. I plan on taking an intro class now but this was a really cool video. I learned a lot.
Great tips, my first bow i bought a 65 pound recurve 😂 beautiful baw but wayy overkill for a newbie Now i got myself a 25 pound, much better for just having fun
If you don't want to ram your bowtip into the ground for stringing your bow you could try put the arm of the bow into the joint of your foot. so at the front of your ankle (?). You hold the upper arm with your hand. You then push your hip out to bend the bow (with me it's usually somewhere where the handle ist anyway). This method has been used for centuries and I wouldn't call it bad. It can only be executed badly. But you're right the string method is the better option for beginners.
I got into archery for hunting years ago. 1st bow was a Ben Pearson offset wheel 50# @29". Then, I graduated to modern compound Hoyt growler 60# @29". A few years into it, I wanted to try traditional. Started with a 50# recurve takedown. Which, as you stated.. It's just a bit too heavy. So, I got another but at 40#. My problem.. not knowing How to properly aim or draw. I have watched many archers videos.. but this one made it very easy to understand. And now I also know why my arrows aren't flying correctly... they're weighted for a compound.
Learning lots, bro. When I was younger. My friend had a bone arrow kit. I was a natural at it loved the feeling being g connect with the bow. I crave that feeling.
Thank you so much, you have made it really clear, also thanks for your Bow building videos, you make archery accessible to all, great to watch you, yes Archery people are awesome.!!
Wow. amazing content and spot on in all regards. I would like to comment on instinctive shooting. I have been at it for over 50 years. I have been building my own bows for about 40 years as well, my arrows for a few more years. There are some key issues to shooting instinctively well. Consistent grip. anchor and release are essential. So it tuning. I weigh and spline test all of my shafts before I build. I also paper test. Realistic expectations are important. Unless your name is Howard, it is highly unlikely that you will shoot higher scores on paper than your friends who shoot gap. I very consistently do better on small game and birds than my gap shooting pals but at silhouette shoots, particularly at known distance, I am in the middle of the pack on a good day. The only real advantage of instinct shooting for me is the ability to get an acceptably accurate shot off quickly. I hunt in very dense cover for the most part and a fast delivery is pretty crucial. Please don't shoot at running deer, that is not the point. The best way to learn is to get a good bow that is much lighter than you will hunt. You need to shoot a lot to develop consistency. You need tuned arrows. I shoot some pretty heavy bows but my training bows are about 25lbs at my draw length. We use paper plates as targets because they are similar in size to the heart/lung area of deer. Start close to the target and when you can consistently keep six arrows on that plate. move back. Repeat. Eventually you will get to a point where you have a maximum range. Cut that range in half and that should be your maximum hunting range. I have managed to attain that accuracy out to 80 yards in the past, but I have never taken a shot at a game animal beyond 20 yards or so. If you really want to polish your game, go roving. Shooting at unknown ranges will train your eye and help you establish where your limitations lie. I hope you don't mind my little diatribe. Just some observations accumulated over a few decades that I think might be useful for someone considering instinctive shooting. Liked and subbed. Great content here. Cheers!
Thanks, helpful at different levels. Dry shooting give too many stress on the bow/string (the arrow play as a harder resistance and take the hit) Your leg way is wrong: we use the both legs and never touch anything else than you (floor included). The hand moved down for aiming.. cool; will try. God bless you.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:55 🏹 Choose a comfortable bow poundage. 04:03 🏹 Understand different traditional bows. 11:04 🏹 String your bow safely with a bow stringer. 15:44 🏹 Use feather fletchings for straight arrow flight. 20:41 🏹 Start shooting close to build confidence. 22:00 🖐️ Find a consistent anchor point on your face. 23:33 🏹 Cant the bow slightly to prevent arrow falling. 26:42 🤙 Grip the bow loosely for better control. 27:41 🎯 Create a surprise release for improved accuracy. Made with HARPA AI
Great video. I didnt know what Dry Firing is or is it a bad thing to do. But gladly I instinctively think its a bad thing to do. Just got my bow a few days ago & still figuring out my anchor point.
Great video, it's fun to see the beginner advice even for an experienced archer. I learned to shoot Hunting Tackle which is wooden arrows off a recurve, Mediterranean draw (split), single anchor point (for me under chin). I do shoot carbon composite arrows now so I don't need to loft them so high at 80yd but am stuck with the draw my muscles are used to. It does make aiming more "interesting". Keep up the good work.
Awesome video - thanks for all the info. When you are showing the "floor" method of stringing the bow, you mention placing the tip on the ground. I have always done it in a similar manner but the tip never touches the ground. The bow is braced against one leg (tip is down and close to the ground but never touches it) and pried/bent around the other leg so that the bow can be strung. It seems to work without danger of damaging the bow. I have never used a bow stringer but I think I will give it a try - looks like a better method.
Dear Kramer, what a fantastic video! You gave so many (yes, 27 is pretty much!) very good tips here in such a nice and friendly way. I learned so much from that. You have a golden heart. Thank you so much and best wishes from germany.
REALLY! thanks! it was my first day today and i watched ur video after my first training!did 5 sets of 3 and i missed only once but could have learned a lot if i watched ur vid first! thanks! keep going
When it comes to a long/recurve bow, I've found going to a little bit above comfortable works better for teaching newbies they have more strength than they realize. They're really happy at 25lbs and START struggling at 30lbs and 40lbs is their max, they seem to grow faster as an archer starting where they just start struggling.
Hey Kramer….Thank you so much brother! Excellent, excellent vid….Archery has been a lifetime goal to learn!….and I’m now starting my journey, I begin your vid totally green; just seeking knowledge….All I knew were the words bow, arrow, target, glove and the name Hawkeye….lol but wow, I’ve learn so much…you’re an awesome teacher and instructor.
Im new to archery, just got a recurve bow 40lb from Amazon, it was only £50 and i loved doing sling shot and used to play making bows with my brother when we was kids, any type of none fire arms interests me, including throwing knifes although haven't done that in year's. So got my bow yesterday and was very surprised that its not what i thought it would be, and learned the hard way to put my arm gard on lol, because owch it hurts. So this was a huge learning curve for me. Thankyou.
I got taught to string the bow between my legs putting the string first on the lower curve, the lower curve in front och my right lower leg and the the handle behind my left knee and then bend the top curve and string it. Really simple and the bow doesnt touch the ground.
I received my RD Bones bow a few days ago. I'm really enjoying it. I thought the handle would be a little thicker, but it works. Once I pick it up, I can't put it down. The fit and finish is very nice, comparable to the few custom bows that I own which cost about a thousand dollars more than the Bones. If you're thinking about a new bow, the RD Bones won't disappoint you. You get a lot of value for the price and you get it fairly quickly, compared to a lot of bowers out there.
Awesome video Kramer. I wish I would have watched this a year ago when I first started with my old York Archery longbow, it truly would have helped me advance much faster.
Wow... Awesome video! I've been itching to get into archery but a little intimidated about the "getting started". So much good info here. Much appreciated!!
Just want to warn people about walking the string. It is banded in Australia ABA as you are getting the nock closer to your eye. Also anchoring so that the nock is next to your eye is also not allowed. Nocks explode and can take out your eye. Be careful.
My friend asked me if a takedown bow could be made but in the form of a double bow. I actually had no words to say. There's no way I could know if this is even possible I do not believe that it is. I remembered your channel and thought that if anyone could do such a thing or answer such a question that would be you. I suppose the recurve would be a double bow any day of the week
This was great and much appreciated. I'm getting back into archery with my recurve bow. The problem I have is with arrow length. I have very long arms and need 36-37" long arrows. I used to make them from Port Orford cedar (back in the mists of time). I don't want to have to go back to making my own. Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted.
Buy yumi bamboo 38 inch arrows ..Asian Thumbdraw has a longer draw so look in the horsebow shops ..Hope it helps ..Alibow and Sarmat archery have long arrows ..
Interesting comment from Kurtdog63..It showcases the main difference between Asian Archery and Western archery ,particularly U.S .The Western approach is to focus more on outside elements whereas with Eastern Thumbdraw it is more about internal..They focus on the archer and keep the equipment simple.The U.S approach is more like a sniper to get a few great shots..The Asian approach allows higher rate of fire and because it is on the right side of the bow .I do both with a lot of different bows ..The Asian way is more fun unless you like to tinker constantly with your compound ..I hated Olympic style shooting because it is so rigid ..Lars Andersen tunes nothing and puts 7 in a row through a keyhole ..By having a perfect setup with your equipment it means you are dependent on it being perfect ..If you strip it down and just work on yourself it is much more flexible and does not need perfect conditions because you become more perfect ..For sniper shots ypu might as well go all the way and buy a rifle ..As a tool for self development Asian archery comes with the philosophy ..Both approaches are valid ,just depends on whether you value only the goal or maybe more the journey..
Starting to get back into archery after dropping it for a few years. Wish I knew about the vanes vs feathers thing as a kid. I would just buy whatever arrows my local hunting store had and use them with my longbow. Probably destroyed half a dozen arrows by ripping off the vanes.
My lord I wish this video existed 6 months ago when I bought my first bow (take down longbow) and arrows (carbon vaned :( ) I feel like I can go back to the drawing board, order some appropriate arrows, and begin again, this time with the right information and right mind-set. One thing I think you missed for beginners is nocking with the odd coloured fletching facing you. I shot about 50 arrows like an idiot before I figured that one out....
Thanks for this! I’ve always wanted a bow and arrow. One day I was asked to house sit for dogs at a house and was informed a stranger had made their way in the night before. I asked for a bow and arrow…he gave me ginormous crossbow and thank goodness I was wearing a ring on my thumb…..it was no bow and arrow…as I tried to steady it, I couldn’t steady it I put my thumb over the string…,ring went up in the air..,sliced my thumb down to the bone!
I have to go rather low budget with my archery, so I use vaned arrows for my traditional bow with no additional arrow rest. It works fine for me, and I've learned to deal with the change of flight pretty well (though feathered arrows would be a dream)
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Great video. Been shooting archery for 54 years. TOP FIVE: NUMBER ONE- Your equipment must be matched; arrow spine and length, correct point weight, and poundage. If this is not done first, it will not matter whatever else you do right. NUMBER TWO- Don't overbow yourself. NUMBER THREE- Establish consistent anchor. (Howard Hill anchored at his incisor tooth). NUMBER FOUR- Lightly grip the bow and push it as far away from your body as possible when drawing the bow... then push it farther. NUMBER FIVE- Practice shooting close with one arrow. (It makes you concentrate more on making a good shot).
Thank you
Thankyou, very good advice for a bigginer like myself.
Mad gratitude old timer ;) no disrespect mind you. ❤will try this when I shoot stick for the beginning. Much success in your hunt. ❤
What is someone doing wrong if the string keeps painfully hitting the forearm upon release? Wrong size bow? Bad form?
@@higherdimensionalsoul42 there are several causes for this. Most longbows, and some recurves have a short brace height so that when we release, the bow string travels farther forward, and strikes, your forearm. You can try shooting a bow with a taller brace height or you can take the string off one end of your bow, and twist it a dozen or so times to increase your brace height. Sometimes just a half inch change in string length can make a big difference in the brace height and the string not striking your arm. Another thing you can try it is to not flat palm grip the bow. Raise your wrist so that the bow is resting against the crook between your pointer finger and your thumb and the handle is not touching your palm. This shifts your forearm away from the string path.
" Your own Goals"
thats such a golden reminder ,right there!
Something for everyone there 👌
Am I the only one here that has no access to a bow and arrow but gets giddy every time I think about archery? Hope not. Feel my pain ya'll.
quite literally on that same boat. really considering getting one cause I couldn't stop thinking about it
I caved and bought one today. The Diamond Infinite 305. It felt really good in my hands. Looking to hit up a range next weekend to fire an arrow for the first time
Facts
Do it man. I bought a cheap one for $150 on Amazon. Then spent twice that much on top tier arrows, string, broadheads, fletching, leather, targets... 😅 If it's anything like musical instruments, the best value is buying a cheap foundation and filling it with expensive parts as you learn.
I broke down and bought a bow today
Thanks for a great video! I'm a Brit in France and at 74 am just getting interested in Archery, so this has helped a lot.
Do you live in Agincourt
😂
Kramer this is an awesome video! I'm an archery instructor of 10 years, and I always ask new students to view your video before they even touch a bow. You covered a lot of important material while sustaining our interest with a little humor. Students love your enthusiasm and masterful way of keeping the audience engaged. I also like your foreword for those judgemental haters who have nothing better to do than fault-find. 👍🏽❤️
Been shooting since I was in short pants: all good advice here and worth watching again. The basics are basic for a reason.
I'm 71 years old. Just shot my first arrow a few weeks ago. I acquired a recurve built in 66.
Your video helped me very much. Thanks.
Been at it 6 years now but still feel like a beginner and always learn alot from videos like this. Thanks so much,cheers 🏹
my man! my love of archery came upon watching Robin Hood w/ my kill niece and nephew, we went out and started making our own goofy bows and arrows 🏹, 2yrs later in making killer bows! This video taught me a lot. Thank you brother!
I just did my first 2 hours of a local beginner's course and I absolutely loved it, I can't wait to start archery. This video is very helpful thank you so much
Shooter.... Youjust DID start archery and now you are here, welcome to a sublime art. If you want to harvest meat the sacred ancient way, then I wish you all the best and success. Give thankksnfor the hunt, the craft, the challenge, the stalk, one I can't say enough... GO HUNTING WITH OTHERS. EXPERIENCE IS PRICELESS, LEARN FROM EVERY ONE KEEP AN OPENMIND. try a new technique, if it make you better keep it, discard thak technique with doesn't improve you, find what works for you. Keep your string waxed ND YOUR PECKER HARD MY DUDE!! 😎❤
marry me-
I recently got a traditional longbow and your videos have helped me so much. I can't wait to get better at archery! thank you so much!
Stay focused on the FUN of it! while tracking progress and imagination helps a lot also ! xd enjoy it ! Archery is so cool.
Kiwi matthews z7 shooter here. Love your wisdom. Going to a costal hill block of cold temperat rainforest to hunt feral sheep on sunday. Souhern tip of new zealand. A prayer for the comming hunt. Getting ready now the world is burning, and you've inspired me to build fletch and shoota stick bow. When it goes mad max my compounds only good while ive got carbon shafts, and havend worn out/broken me z7. Gratitude , i look forwards to you teaching me to harest red deer, wapitie deer, fallow deer, the fabled mystical moose rumored a to live still in fiordland, some dude released a few early 1900s, hymalayan tahr, descended from some gifted to nz by an austrian emporer in 1916.... theres bison, yack, highland coo (scotts cow) swamp buffalo. Even a handful ad assorted african antelope in a couple ofwildlife park / zoo setups here. The apocalypse will be deliscious. pigs hare pigeon, sheep, rabbits chamois, goat's walabies trout, salmon perch swan, canada goose, mallard and paradise ducks. The odd black swan over from auussie,.. feral cats, and any zombies which may eventuate. Keep your string waxed and your pecker hard my dudes dude❤
Greatest tutorial. Thank you. Beginner here. Getting my first lesson next week. I’m stating late in life , but better late than never, right? Thanks again!
Did archery as a kid around 6 till I was like 8/9, then picked it up again when I was about 18/19 and have been doing it ever since (26 now). Watching this made me realise how little I actually know! I just chucked arrows in field archery around 20-25, maybe 30 yards and just improved by developing muscle memory and habbits.
Really nice to hear all this and open the doors to more of my favourite hobby (my happy place)!
Can't wait to go round my club's grounds this weekend!
Thank you for making this video. I really appreciated the explanation of why feathers are used preferably over vanes on a traditional bow. I shoot compound myself, but I am thinking about traditional archery. I was always told by traditional archers you just use feathers because that’s the tradition . I like your explanation much better.
I used to shoot bows a lot when I was a kid and for some reason I stopped. I'm 24 now and I'm thinking I'm going to get back into it. I found my father's old bows that I grew up shooting so it should be fun. Thanks for all the info.
Loved the video!! I’ve been shooting a compound bow for 40 years. I knew most of what you were talking about but I did learn a lot near the end. Especially about how to release a traditional bow.
Thank you! I started beginners class archery 2 months ago. It's so much fun!
I am recumending your Video to all who want to know what archery is about. All the information you need to know, Well presented in half an hour. Your expierience as an instructor shows.
Dear Kramer Ammons, you make this learning absolutely FUN!!!
In addition, visiting and purchasing from your store is the very best experience and products that are superb! Thank you, your brother and the entire team at Shatterproof Archery!
One of the best archery channels I have come upon! Thank you so much!
I absolutely loved this video. I was thinking about getting into recurve bow target shooting. Thank you, you taught me in a way that made me excited to learn.
Excellent video - I started archery about 6-7 months ago with compound bow and it has been fun and now got in to traditional bows, still learning a ton every time. Thank you so much for such great content.
Great video. Thank you! I'm looking at getting into archery at 42yrs old and getting my kids involved. Very informative and I'll watch your other videos as well.
I'm 14mins in, I've leant so much already, this is fenomenal!
Great video! I'm 70 yrs old and just required my old 55# Ben Pearson recurve bow that I received as a 9th grade Christmas gift in 1968! I haven't shot it since joining the Navy in 1972!
Still had the original cat-gut string which I'm in the process of replacing.
Can't wait to pick this hobby back up!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for sharing this video! I'm thinking of starting archery as a sport and what I think makes this video great, is that you are not only clear and straight forward, but you also make it look fun and "easy". Thanks again and keep up the good work. Greetings from Barcelona!
Did you ever start? How did it go!
Fantastic video. I went to try archery for the first time today. I should have watched this first but I still enjoyed it very much. I would love to see a slow motion closeup of the release in a future video. Thanks for the tips.
fantastic info!
my 1st attempt snapped but I got all excited when string arrived and rushed but also didnt tiller enough. oh well, I THOROUGHLY enjoy the long bow making process you teach. Gitchi miigwech (git-chi mee-gwaych.. great thanks)!!!
thanks so much for covering that surprise release, i was always set on training myself to release when i wanted not just letting it happen naturally which always resulted in not being as accurate.
thank you so much! I knew by the end of the first minute that this was exactly what I needed. Clear, simple without being condescending, and charming! Amazing video!!!
im new I just bought my first bow and arrows yesterday waiting for them to be delivered i find this interesting and very helpful cant wait until can put this information into practice
Wow. I know nothing about archery and I was curious I don't even know why 😂. This video is just amazing. A lot of information. I will probably buy a bow at some point but I will definitely follow this channel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
An interesting video. As you say... hard to put all the needed information in a short video. A couple of things I'd like to mention. I was an archery instructor (mumblety) years ago. A recurve bow shoots more smoothly than a longbow. A longbow has nothing to absorb the recoil, so all of that goes to the arm... and can be painful. It can even affect the shoulder of the bow arm. A recurve absorbs the recoil in the recurved limb and is a much smoother shoot. (Holding the bow more losely also helps. I do like your thumb / index finger grip method. It's a good one). One can buy recurves in 66, 68 or even longer lengths, so as you state, there is a lot of variety when choosing a bow. But in general, a recurve will be much more comfortable for beginning archers.
VERY important: New archers (and old archers) don't want to draw a bow ten times before shooting (which the video states to do). That is a good way to tear muscles and tendons. As with all sports, one should stretch and loosen up muscles before putting strain on them. You can shoot a bow once or twice and probably do fine, but if an archer is going to shoot a round of 60 arrows, they need to warm up first with stretching exercises (about 2-3 minutes of stretching should do). Alternately, an archer can "slow draw" a bow a few times (don't hold it-- just slow draw and then relax), resting 30 seconds between each draw. That will have similar effect.
Pausing between shots: In professional competitions one will find archers shooting an arrow, then standing there for 30 to 45 seconds before taking their next shot, giving the trapezius muscles time to relax. Failing to take these precautions can cause serious and permanent muscle / tendon / ligament damage... especially with higher-poundage bows.
Regarding the release: you present one release and if that works for you, that's fine. But the release that I've seen most archers use, and that works especially well for beginners, is to take your anchor point and when ready to shoot, simply relax your fingers. Don't jerk the string, don't alter the anchor point at all, just relax your hand quickly and fully. Another method is what someone described as "flicking a boogar". Pretend there's a boogar on your draw hand and intentionally open your hand quickly as if flicking the boogar off your finger. Both methods work well for beginners and advanced archers alike. The idea is to get your fingers away from the string as quickly and consistently as possible. Myself, I prefer the relax method. If you relax the draw fingers quickly and fully, the shot will be identical every time.
I do appreciate a major point you made: compare with yourself, and shoot for fun. If one's goal is to become a pro shooter then that of course requires a different path (as with any sport), but for the average archer: enjoy yourself. Hitting the bullseye will come with practice. The initial goal is to just enjoy shooting the bow. If you're a beginner and hit anywhere on the target, you're doing fine. Precision will come later. The initial goal is to just have fun learning the sport.
I appreciate your time in making this video. As many years as I've been shooting I still enjoyed watching it. : )
Absolute beginner here that's never used archery yet:
This was a great tutorial. The thing that got me getting really icky was the canting the bow, when the camera guy walked in front of the bow you were holding with the arrow resting in the shelf. It made me cringe a couple of times.
Those distances got me all confused on step#25 String Walking - the increments on those numbers has me scratching my head, it'll get figured out eventually.
Ok after rewinding and listening and watching I think I got it: This slightly changes the angle of the intended shot by pivoting the arrow; thus, in doing so move my hand down a bit being careful of my target distance. Did that make sense. The application used here for instance is a grouse on the ground.
Excellent beginners guide to Archery very well explained. The very best practice Butt I ever made was a wool bail filled with Dacron insulation off cuts. I approached an air conditioning company that made A/C ducting they were glad to give me their off cuts off Dacron insulation. Evan a small amount in a hessian sack has incredible stopping power and extremely easy to pull arrows. Better than any commercial target butt.
About 10 years ago I finally started a hobby I'd been pining over. Love it! Don't know why I ever put it off! Always wanted to learn archery, and I'm getting that itch to pursue another long-dreamed hobby so here I am! I'm looking forward to more of your stuff. This was a great start for me! (Watched 2x now, maybe gonna go for 3 to solidify understanding. It's a lot to wrap my head around in such a condensed set.)
Thank you so much for not bs’ing us and just speaking facts and great tips I am now going to make a list of everything I need and train my arms and shoulders until I am ready for a bow!🙏 definitely will be back for more videos!
This video is great. Many moons ago (lets say 20 years) I used an old 75lb (@27" draw) long bow (possibly made in the 60's or 70's). Its been sitting in storage and I've been tempted to get it out again. Unfortunately I know there's no chance of me pulling it back. I had a 48lb take down long bow but it felt way to small. I've only ever used longbows or recurve.
This video reminded me of so many things I'd forgotten. Cheers for rekindling the knowledge.
I just shot for the first time last night. My cousin has 2 bows and has just been messing around for 2 years on and off but he's never taken a course or anything so he wasn't actually able to teach me anything but i surprised myself how well I did. Did about 20 or 25 shots on a 35lb recurve and only missed the target once. We were pretty close tho, maybe 15 yards away. I plan on taking an intro class now but this was a really cool video. I learned a lot.
Great tips, my first bow i bought a 65 pound recurve 😂 beautiful baw but wayy overkill for a newbie
Now i got myself a 25 pound, much better for just having fun
If you don't want to ram your bowtip into the ground for stringing your bow you could try put the arm of the bow into the joint of your foot. so at the front of your ankle (?). You hold the upper arm with your hand. You then push your hip out to bend the bow (with me it's usually somewhere where the handle ist anyway). This method has been used for centuries and I wouldn't call it bad. It can only be executed badly. But you're right the string method is the better option for beginners.
I got into archery for hunting years ago.
1st bow was a Ben Pearson offset wheel 50# @29". Then, I graduated to modern compound Hoyt growler 60# @29".
A few years into it, I wanted to try traditional. Started with a 50# recurve takedown. Which, as you stated.. It's just a bit too heavy. So, I got another but at 40#.
My problem.. not knowing How to properly aim or draw.
I have watched many archers videos.. but this one made it very easy to understand.
And now I also know why my arrows aren't flying correctly... they're weighted for a compound.
Learning lots, bro. When I was younger. My friend had a bone arrow kit. I was a natural at it loved the feeling being g connect with the bow. I crave that feeling.
Thank you so much, you have made it really clear, also thanks for your Bow building videos, you make archery accessible to all, great to watch you, yes Archery people are awesome.!!
Wow. amazing content and spot on in all regards.
I would like to comment on instinctive shooting. I have been at it for over 50 years.
I have been building my own bows for about 40 years as well, my arrows for a few more years.
There are some key issues to shooting instinctively well.
Consistent grip. anchor and release are essential.
So it tuning. I weigh and spline test all of my shafts before I build. I also paper test.
Realistic expectations are important. Unless your name is Howard, it is highly unlikely that you will shoot higher scores on paper than your friends who shoot gap.
I very consistently do better on small game and birds than my gap shooting pals but at silhouette shoots, particularly at known distance, I am in the middle of the pack on a good day.
The only real advantage of instinct shooting for me is the ability to get an acceptably accurate shot off quickly. I hunt in very dense cover for the most part and a fast delivery is pretty crucial.
Please don't shoot at running deer, that is not the point.
The best way to learn is to get a good bow that is much lighter than you will hunt. You need to shoot a lot to develop consistency. You need tuned arrows. I shoot some pretty heavy bows but my training bows are about 25lbs at my draw length.
We use paper plates as targets because they are similar in size to the heart/lung area of deer.
Start close to the target and when you can consistently keep six arrows on that plate. move back. Repeat.
Eventually you will get to a point where you have a maximum range. Cut that range in half and that should be your maximum hunting range.
I have managed to attain that accuracy out to 80 yards in the past, but I have never taken a shot at a game animal beyond 20 yards or so.
If you really want to polish your game, go roving. Shooting at unknown ranges will train your eye and help you establish where your limitations lie.
I hope you don't mind my little diatribe. Just some observations accumulated over a few decades that I think might be useful for someone considering instinctive shooting.
Liked and subbed.
Great content here.
Cheers!
You should make a video. Your writing is concise and informative! I’ve been shooting bow for about 30 years and still learn from older guys.
@clintonm2357 Thanks for kind words Clinton but I think this guy Kramer has a pretty tight leash on it.
Cheers
Thanks, helpful at different levels.
Dry shooting give too many stress on the bow/string (the arrow play as a harder resistance and take the hit)
Your leg way is wrong: we use the both legs and never touch anything else than you (floor included).
The hand moved down for aiming.. cool; will try.
God bless you.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:55 🏹 Choose a comfortable bow poundage.
04:03 🏹 Understand different traditional bows.
11:04 🏹 String your bow safely with a bow stringer.
15:44 🏹 Use feather fletchings for straight arrow flight.
20:41 🏹 Start shooting close to build confidence.
22:00 🖐️ Find a consistent anchor point on your face.
23:33 🏹 Cant the bow slightly to prevent arrow falling.
26:42 🤙 Grip the bow loosely for better control.
27:41 🎯 Create a surprise release for improved accuracy.
Made with HARPA AI
Thanks
Great video. I didnt know what Dry Firing is or is it a bad thing to do. But gladly I instinctively think its a bad thing to do.
Just got my bow a few days ago & still figuring out my anchor point.
I used to do archery when I was a kid. Thank you for your videos, I cannot wait to get back into such a bad ass sport!
Great video, it's fun to see the beginner advice even for an experienced archer.
I learned to shoot Hunting Tackle which is wooden arrows off a recurve, Mediterranean draw (split), single anchor point (for me under chin). I do shoot carbon composite arrows now so I don't need to loft them so high at 80yd but am stuck with the draw my muscles are used to. It does make aiming more "interesting".
Keep up the good work.
Awesome video - thanks for all the info. When you are showing the "floor" method of stringing the bow, you mention placing the tip on the ground. I have always done it in a similar manner but the tip never touches the ground. The bow is braced against one leg (tip is down and close to the ground but never touches it) and pried/bent around the other leg so that the bow can be strung. It seems to work without danger of damaging the bow. I have never used a bow stringer but I think I will give it a try - looks like a better method.
Perfect!
Starting with longbow archery in a close to historical way and this is very helpful!
No
Dear Kramer, what a fantastic video! You gave so many (yes, 27 is pretty much!) very good tips here in such a nice and friendly way. I learned so much from that. You have a golden heart. Thank you so much and best wishes from germany.
REALLY! thanks! it was my first day today and i watched ur video after my first training!did 5 sets of 3 and i missed only once but could have learned a lot if i watched ur vid first! thanks! keep going
I really, really enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Kramer. This is a fanatic starting point for any newbie out there!
When it comes to a long/recurve bow, I've found going to a little bit above comfortable works better for teaching newbies they have more strength than they realize. They're really happy at 25lbs and START struggling at 30lbs and 40lbs is their max, they seem to grow faster as an archer starting where they just start struggling.
Hey Kramer….Thank you so much brother! Excellent, excellent vid….Archery has been a lifetime goal to learn!….and I’m now starting my journey, I begin your vid totally green; just seeking knowledge….All I knew were the words bow, arrow, target, glove and the name Hawkeye….lol but wow, I’ve learn so much…you’re an awesome teacher and instructor.
Im new to archery, just got a recurve bow 40lb from Amazon, it was only £50 and i loved doing sling shot and used to play making bows with my brother when we was kids, any type of none fire arms interests me, including throwing knifes although haven't done that in year's. So got my bow yesterday and was very surprised that its not what i thought it would be, and learned the hard way to put my arm gard on lol, because owch it hurts. So this was a huge learning curve for me. Thankyou.
Wow so cool Have a fantastic time shooting I love it! Ya for sure that arm sting is no joke of fun!
Great video! Was on the fence about getting into archery, now im excited to buy my first bow 👌
Might be the perfect video. Passion, Detail, Examples. thank you
I enjoyed the video a lot. Quite a performance! Well… and tons of information, of course 😊
Thank you very much!
Good intro
So far, very nice video. You come across as kind and empathetic. Good for you! But I want info on a true longbow?
I'm new and I found this very helpful. Thank you.
I got taught to string the bow between my legs putting the string first on the lower curve, the lower curve in front och my right lower leg and the the handle behind my left knee and then bend the top curve and string it. Really simple and the bow doesnt touch the ground.
Oh awesome! I just ordered something from Shatterproof- now I found you here! Very cool!
Great Vid here, the way you go into the details of choices is a Beauty , >> Thank You Kramer !!
Yeah, made me subscribe.
Love the archery community so far. Only good vibes from it.
You are a really good teacher!! Thanks
I received my RD Bones bow a few days ago. I'm really enjoying it. I thought the handle would be a little thicker, but it works. Once I pick it up, I can't put it down. The fit and finish is very nice, comparable to the few custom bows that I own which cost about a thousand dollars more than the Bones. If you're thinking about a new bow, the RD Bones won't disappoint you. You get a lot of value for the price and you get it fairly quickly, compared to a lot of bowers out there.
Awesome video Kramer. I wish I would have watched this a year ago when I first started with my old York Archery longbow, it truly would have helped me advance much faster.
Literally just had my first archery lesson and this was really intersting. Great video mate!
Wow... Awesome video! I've been itching to get into archery but a little intimidated about the "getting started". So much good info here. Much appreciated!!
Just want to warn people about walking the string. It is banded in Australia ABA as you are getting the nock closer to your eye. Also anchoring so that the nock is next to your eye is also not allowed. Nocks explode and can take out your eye. Be careful.
'BIG FUN TIME!!!!' Could be an 'Adventure Time' T-shirt :)
My friend asked me if a takedown bow could be made but in the form of a double bow. I actually had no words to say. There's no way I could know if this is even possible I do not believe that it is. I remembered your channel and thought that if anyone could do such a thing or answer such a question that would be you. I suppose the recurve would be a double bow any day of the week
Fantastic video. Great info, conveyed with great energy and enthusiasm. Liked and subscribed 👍
This was great and much appreciated. I'm getting back into archery with my recurve bow. The problem I have is with arrow length. I have very long arms and need 36-37" long arrows. I used to make them from Port Orford cedar (back in the mists of time). I don't want to have to go back to making my own. Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted.
Buy yumi bamboo 38 inch arrows ..Asian Thumbdraw has a longer draw so look in the horsebow shops ..Hope it helps ..Alibow and Sarmat archery have long arrows ..
Awesome video! Super informative.
Interesting comment from Kurtdog63..It showcases the main difference between Asian Archery and Western archery ,particularly U.S .The Western approach is to focus more on outside elements whereas with Eastern Thumbdraw it is more about internal..They focus on the archer and keep the equipment simple.The U.S approach is more like a sniper to get a few great shots..The Asian approach allows higher rate of fire and because it is on the right side of the bow .I do both with a lot of different bows ..The Asian way is more fun unless you like to tinker constantly with your compound ..I hated Olympic style shooting because it is so rigid ..Lars Andersen tunes nothing and puts 7 in a row through a keyhole ..By having a perfect setup with your equipment it means you are dependent on it being perfect ..If you strip it down and just work on yourself it is much more flexible and does not need perfect conditions because you become more perfect ..For sniper shots ypu might as well go all the way and buy a rifle ..As a tool for self development Asian archery comes with the philosophy ..Both approaches are valid ,just depends on whether you value only the goal or maybe more the journey..
Starting to get back into archery after dropping it for a few years. Wish I knew about the vanes vs feathers thing as a kid. I would just buy whatever arrows my local hunting store had and use them with my longbow. Probably destroyed half a dozen arrows by ripping off the vanes.
I was lucky. My mother bought me my bow when I was about 8 years old. I was left to freely learn all this by myself. Been shooting for 60 years.
Very good video especially for me just starting.
My lord I wish this video existed 6 months ago when I bought my first bow (take down longbow) and arrows (carbon vaned :( ) I feel like I can go back to the drawing board, order some appropriate arrows, and begin again, this time with the right information and right mind-set. One thing I think you missed for beginners is nocking with the odd coloured fletching facing you. I shot about 50 arrows like an idiot before I figured that one out....
Very good teacher! Thanks!!!
Dude wish I had this video two weeks ago it's a great video, very helpful
Nice insights. Thanks for sharing! It was neat watching you speed through (1.5x). 😅
I've used my bow a total of 5 sessions, and now I've learned how to not hurt my arm and knuckle "flex"
Some very good points to keep in mind. thank you
Well said. Agreed.
Very informative and helpful video,Good job👍
Thanks for this! I’ve always wanted a bow and arrow. One day I was asked to house sit for dogs at a house and was informed a stranger had made their way in the night before. I asked for a bow and arrow…he gave me ginormous crossbow and thank goodness I was wearing a ring on my thumb…..it was no bow and arrow…as I tried to steady it, I couldn’t steady it I put my thumb over the string…,ring went up in the air..,sliced my thumb down to the bone!
👍👍👍
Im here because i haven't shot in 30 years, and i just bought a fleetwood celtic. Im building a range in my back yard.
You have inspired me. Thank you
Fantastic info, thank you.
I have to go rather low budget with my archery, so I use vaned arrows for my traditional bow with no additional arrow rest. It works fine for me, and I've learned to deal with the change of flight pretty well (though feathered arrows would be a dream)
So glad I found his Strings .
Really helpful video. Thanks !
Great tips!!! I needed this!
Kickass video. Learned a lot.