Archery Top Tips

Author: Clive Lewis   Date Posted:6 August 2015 

  • NEVER DRY FIRE YOUR BOW (THIS IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT RULE WHEN SHOOTING BOWS)

This will instantly VOID warranty, and may cause injury

(A ‘DRY FIRE’ MEANS: DRAWING BACK THE BOW AND RELEASEING THE STRING WITHOUT AN ARROW IN PLACE)

  • APEX RECOMMENDS THAT A RELEASE AID SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED TO FIRE COMPOUND BOWS!

FINGER SHOOTING IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE FOR STRING DERAILMENTS
(COMPOUND BOWS DO NOT “EXPLODE”, THIS IS A STRING DERAILMENT CAUSED BY POOR FORM WHEN FINGER SHOOTING)

  • WHEN FIRING A COMPOUND BOW, NEVER GRIP THE RISER TOO TIGHLTY OR TORQUE THE RISER.

GRIPPING THE RISER VERY TIGHTLY, OF A COMPOUND BOW, CAN LEAD TO TORQUE BEING TRANSFERED TO THE BOW, TWISTING IT OUT OF STRAIGHT ALIGNMENT. EVEN WHEN USING A RELASE AID, EXCESSIVE TORQUE ON THE BOW CAN CAUSE A STRING DERAILMENT.
(COMPOUND BOWS DO NOT “EXPLODE”, THIS IS A STRING DERAILMENT CAUSED BY POOR FORM)

  • NEVER AIM, OR DRAW YOUR BOW BACK , WHILST POINTING IT ANY PERSON. ONLY DRAW YOUR BOW WHILST AIMING AT A SUITABLE ARCHERY TARGET WITH A BACKSTOP.
  • ALWAYS INSPECT YOUR ARROWS AFTER EVERY SHOT, CHECK FOR CRACKS, SPLITS AND SPLINTERS. NEVER FIRE A DAMAGED ARROW.

  • APEX HUNTING RECOMMENDS THE USE OF APPROPRIATE SAFETY WEAR WHEN SHOOTING YOU BOW.

RECURVE AND LONGBOW SHOOTERS SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR A FOREARM PROTECTOR AND USE EITHER AN ARCHERY GLOVE OR FINGER TAB TO PROTECT THE FINGERS WHEN DRAWING THE STRING.
NEW COMPOUND BOW SHOOTERS SHOULD WEAR A FOREARM GUARDS TILL THEIR TECHNIQUE IMPROVE AND SHOULD USE A RELEASE AID TO DRAW BACK THEIR BOW.
MOST ARCHERY CLUBS AND RANGES WILL REQUIRE SHOOTERS TO WEAR FULLY ENCLOSED FOOTWEAR.

  • NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO COLLECT ARROWS FROM THE TARGET UNTIL ALL THE ARROWS HAVE BEEN SHOT, OR THE ARCHER HAS FINISHED SHOOTING AND PUT THE BOW DOWN SAFELY.
  • ALWAYS STAND BEHIND AN ARCHER WHEN THEY ARE FIRING. NEVER STAND BETWEEN THE ARCHER AND THE TARGET, WHILST ARROWS ARE BEING FIRED.
  • ALWAYS USE AN APPROPRIATE BACKSTOP, TO STOP THE ARROWS IN CASE YOU MISS, OR SHOOT THROUGH YOUR TARGET.
  • NEVER USE FIBREGLASS ARROWS WITH BOWS OVER 29lbs DRAW WEIGHT!
  • ALWAYS USE ARROWS THAT HAVE THE CORRECT SPINE RATING FOR YOUR BOW’S DRAW WEIGHT.
  • BROADHEADS FLY DIFFERENTLY TO FIELD TIPS! 

(AN ARROW WITH A BROADHEAD WILL FLY DIFFERENTLY TO AN ARROW WITH A FIELD TIP. THE BOW MUST BE BROADHEAD TUNED TO ENSURE STRAIGHT AND SAFE ARROW FLIGHT). YOU CANNOT SWAP BETWEEN BORADHEADS AND FILED TIPS AND BACK AGAIN, WITHOUT ADJUSTING THE SIGHTING ON THE BOW EACH TIME.