By Babs S. Harrison
More than a hobby or competitive sport, archery is a practice that builds patience, improves concentration, and teaches calmness under pressure. Complete mental clarity is essential to hit the gold, or bull’s eye, a 3-inch circumference in the center of the target from distances of up to 77 yards. You might think strong arms would determine the best archers, but actually it’s a strong mind that hits the target every time. That’s because archery is primarily a mental game.
Form and technique need to be on point, and physical conditioning, such as yoga, adds strength and endurance. These are the basics. What separates beginners from elite archers, however, is the ability to focus deeply in the moment.
The mental game of archery can teach you how to achieve goals amidst ongoing distractions, remain calm in stressful situations, and act when the moment is right. Relax, breathe, focus, and follow through. The more relaxed the mind and body can be, the more likely you are to stay focused, avoid distractions, and hit your target. The lessons that work for archery also work for life.
Maintaining focus on what is important in our lives can be challenging with ever-increasing demands for our time and attention. In order to reach desired goals, aim for the priorities and values as if they were the target.
Five Ways to Train Your Mind
Here are five ways elite archers train their minds to hit the bull’s eye in life and on the range:
- Mental Focus: The more focused you are on the target, the easier it is to clear your mind. Focus on nothing but the goal, shutting everything else out of your mind, and aim at the target you want.
- Mindset: The mind controls the body, and the mind is what shoots the arrow. Any doubt or nervousness will cause you to lose focus and lose control. The moment you begin to draw the bow, even a split second of distraction will cause you to miss the target.
- Relaxed Alertness: A state of relaxed alertness means there is a complete focus and awareness throughout the body. The more you concentrate on your breathing, the more the distraction of external noise will fade away.
- Visualization: With all your senses, visualize the arrow hitting the target. See, smell, hear and feel it. You have to feel the shot.
- Goal Setting: It’s not just about hitting the target, but setting goals to improve every day. Analyze and learn from previous shots and adjust for accuracy. Patience and practice will make your shots more consistent over time as you develop more confidence. No matter what you shot previously, the focus is always on the present shot.
A relaxed, alert archer in the flow, smoothly and consistently hitting the target, transforms archery into a beautiful art form.
The genius of archery is that just about anyone can learn to do it. There’s no ideal physique or age or uniform for the sport. You can enjoy a solitary practice or shoot with a group, or compete against others in tournaments. Equipment is minimal…a bow and a quiver of arrows.
Guided Archery
Castle Hot Springs is a great place to try it out if you are new to the sport. The target range in the canyon is suitable for all skill levels and they have the equipment you need. Experiment with different bows, shooting a modern compound or a traditional recurve bow. The former is a technological design with pulleys and cables which allows the archer to hold a heavy draw with less effort; the recurve is one of the oldest bow designs. The coach will instruct you in proper technique and shooting form and set up a friendly competition with other guests.
By the end of the 45-minute class in the canyon, you’ll either be hooked on archery, hooked on nature, or both. So, grab a bow and get in the flow!
