With so many good bows on the market - selecting the right bow is difficult. This past June I got into archery or 'shooting bow' as we like to call it and I found out that you are never too old to get involved in a new activity. My boyfriend Brent would go to the range to shoot with the guys and one time he invited me to come along. Shortly after my first ‘watching experience’ all I could think about was how I wanted to shoot bow too.

Brent was very supportive in my decision to pursue shooting bow and he always commented on how it would be my decision. He would not tell me what I should do; rather he gave me options, telling me the pros and cons of each bow that I tried as well as those that I researched.

The key to selecting the right bow is that you have to be comfortable and able to shoot the bow accurately - the price of a bow will not determine that.

First, I tried a Fred Bear Bow, it was a youth model. Trying the bow out was helpful considering I did not know how much poundage I was capable of pulling. Next, I got my hands on a Parker Challenger. The grip felt just right, not too thick and not to small. Not only did the bow sit just right in my hand and feel comfortable but, the bow was also in my price range. The next step would be to see how accurate I could shoot.

It took me awhile to determine the draw length that I was most comfortable pulling. For the first two months I shot with a rather straight arm and later found that I was not able to hold the bow steady, my draw length was too long and I wasn’t finding a consistent position that felt natural to hold and support my bow before shooting.

Brent was able to determine that I was pulling too far past my natural "locking position". This position is different for everyone yet we all have this locking position that allows for the most steady and accurate hold of a bow. After drawing the bow back one will find a natural stopping or locking position where the elbow holds firm and doesn’t bend any further.

Adding to my lack of steadiness initially, I also developed a habit of pulling my head out to see how I shot. This eagerness to see my target shots caused me to canter my bow to the left and ruin the good form I was striving to find. I also learned that in order to be consistent, I needed to align my pins directly in the center of my peep sight. After accomplishing this step of the routine, I also worked on looking beyond my pins and focusing on the target in the distance. It was amazing to see how even the slightest movement or misalignment had such an effect on my shots.

The greatest lesson I learned about shooting my bow those first few months is that you have to be consistent. Every time you pull back to shoot, you have to sight in the same way every time finding a rhythm or routine to follow each time. What I found to work best was the three points of contact method; ear, kisser and nose. First, pull back your bow so that your draw hand, specifically your pointer finger knuckle, touches just behind your ear. This point in the notch behind your ear is the first anchor point. Next, align your kisser button into your lip or mouth. The best spot to align the kisser button would be the corner of your mouth. And third point of contact would be touching the tip of your nose to the bow string. If the bow is set up properly, the archer will find that beyond the three points of contact the view through the peep sight is centered, encompassing the pins with the view of the target in focus.

There are many factors in shooting your bow accurately. I have discussed how to find your natural "locking position", the three points of contact as well as the importance of finding a routine that allows for the best/accurate shot. But the best practice is to shoot your bow consistently, and to make that choice every time.