C'mon Hollywood! I got high hopes for you!
How do you feel about Hollywood archery? Let me know!
Below I've attached some of the best worst Hollywood archers.
WARNING
It may cause discomfort.
>>-->Dara
shoot on
Nothing grinds my gears quite like archery in Hollywood. The very thought of it makes me cringe and want to cry for that poor, misused bow. It's not fair. Even movies that are surrounded by archery (Hunger Games I'm talking about you) are completely inaccurate. In the real world, you'd be dead Katniss. Sorry to burst your bubble. It's even worse when you tell someone you're an archer and they compare you to those on screen. I take that as a insult and I start to think "Am I really that bad?" "Maybe the problem isn't my form maybe it's me" "I'm sorry bow it's not you it's me". I know that for some movies they hire professional shooters to teach the actors. They do train hard, but that doesn't show on screen. All I see is too many or not enough fingers on the string and an impossible shot because that form is AWFUL. Archery is so much more than pulling back and letting go. It's an art and it's beautiful. I can't stand seeing it done incorrectly by hollywood because if they have the money to make a 3 million dollar movie, they can make the archery accurate. Now I also understand that in the heat of the scene it's difficult to remember form when you're trying to stay in character. It's lots of pressure, but it's feasible!
C'mon Hollywood! I got high hopes for you! How do you feel about Hollywood archery? Let me know! Below I've attached some of the best worst Hollywood archers. WARNING It may cause discomfort. >>-->Dara shoot on
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When getting ready to compete, we all have our own ways about it. It’s all down to personal preference. Whether you’re an easy Joe and just enjoy the walk, shooting till the comp and proceeding as normal, or if you have a whole routine that you do before the competition comes and you know you can go and kill it either way.
But here’s a few hints and tips for what you can or could think about before you compete and the prep you might want to put into place. (This is what works for me, and what I know works for others as well, so if it doesn’t work for you it’s all cool). -> A mixture of blank and target, at both long and short range. It’s easy to just go out and shoot a tonne at a target and get it down, and it does work for people, but what I have found is that having that mixture of the both helps me to not only practice my distance and know I’m grouping fairly okay and that everything is rolling okay, but to go back to short distance blank bail and feel the shot and focus on what I am doing more and knowing that my shot is right, everything about it is okay I’m not doing any dodgey out there movements and that I am consistent, helps my mental game too. Its mind blowingly boring yes, but it works. -> Gym work before the comp, making sure your stamina is up and keeping up and that your body isn’t going to turn into a little tired puddle half way through the shoot. Working out will help this, running is a common one. -> Don’t shoot the day before. Again this is something I do a lot and if you want to shoot you can, but I find that not shooting the day before I shoot at a competition helps both my body and me, this being that I know everything is okay and I’m not stressing out and that I’m not tired as well. Overall, just decide what you want to do and what feels good for you. I know this one was short but I am a newbie and will hopefully be writing more soon! - P. ERIAC's Just this past weekend, Saturday, April 25, to Sunday, April 26, Columbia University hosted the 2015 Eastern Regional Intercollegiate Archery Championships (ERIAC), for the first time under Coach Derek Davis.
This year, Davis held the event at Bloomfield Archers, in Bloomfield, NJ. Although worries about the competition being successful were voiced, the tournament went off without a hitch. Fortunately, I was able to attend, help set up, and watch the tournament first hand. As the set up crew finished up, one by one, vans of college students began to unload at the field. Schools from all over the Eastern region, like Columbia, UCONN, James Madison, and Penn State, were in attendance. While watching, I was even able to talk to some of the coaches, in particular Derek Davis and David Avery of the University of Connecticut. Avery, when asked about how his team was doing, stated that the team as a whole was doing well, but one of his male recurve archers was standing out, due to him making it to the finals in his event. Davis was pleased as well, considering that a good number of the archers on his all girls team placed in their categories. Columbia's Tiffany Kim took the Gold in Women's Recurve, and Judy Zhou finished with the Bronze in Compound. Also, Columbia's Recurve and Compound teams took the Gold and Silver respectively in the final event of the competition. Unfortunately, a compiled list of the final results has yet to be released, so we are unsure of the other standings. An updated list will be posted when the results are released. Well with Regionals down, we can only wait to hear about the results of the USA College National Championships that will be taking place on Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24. This year they will be host by James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is definitely going to be interesting to see who will take the Gold(s) this year. My bet is Emily Bee, of Michigan State University, for Women's Compound. Who is your bet on? Tell us in the comments below! By Amber The Great Outdoors. Nothing is better that the feeling the Sun on your skin, fresh air in your lungs, and grass in between your toes. So if this is the case, then why practice your favorite sport in a stuffy indoor range? Get outdoors! If you have never shot outdoors before, then now is the time to try it, and here is why.
It's outdoors! Why not try it? Shooting outside is one of the best way to do it. Wind in your hair, sun in your face, and all around a good time. A challenge. There is nothing quite like pushing yourself to learn how to accommodate your shot to the elements, like wind and rain. While shooting on a beautiful day is awesome, shooting when Mother Nature is acting up brings out the competitor in you. The feeling of hitting the 10 ring in wind and rain is one of the most rewarding feelings you can get in this sport. To add the the challenge aspect, there are also new, further distances to master. Have you ever shot an arrow 50 meters? 70? 90? It's exhilarating. Hearing the arrow whistle through the air, and actually getting to watch it fly as it hurtles towards your target is extremely satisfying. Don't cheat yourself by not being able to experience something as great as shooting outdoors! Trust us it's something you won't regret. By Amber So I was expecting nationals to be so much worse than they actually were. I was certain I would prove myself to be a complete dope and screw up. I was sooooo wrong. Nationals were the most fun I have ever had at an archery competitions. Never have I ever met so many inspiring people who all had the same dream. Not one bad vibe or overly competitive attitude was given off. In fact, all my bale mates were EXTREMELY nice and I connected with them all quite well. This is why I love this sport because it truly is about sportsmanship.
Now let me tell you about my experience. So after a long and tiring 12 hour drive to Kentucky, we arrived at the hotel friday morning. We checked in and dropped our stuff off. Then off to the convention center for the Practice with the Pros and the Pro-Am shoots. Best part of Practice with the Pros? I got to meet all of the awesome pros and gave them all my card. A lot of them asked about our blog and about my experiences. I love archery celebrities because they are 10x more relaxed than the Hollywood ones. Oh and did I mention I met Erika Jones and took a selfie with her? Yeah that was insane. The Pro-Am shoot (I failed to realize) was an actual competition for money. I was having too much fun shooting and joking with my Pro, Steve Scott. An accomplished 3D shooter and Mississippi native, this dude was awesome. He had me laughing and smiling all throughout the shoot. The night did have to end because I was shooting the 7am line on Saturday (oh joy getting up at 5am) I don't mind shooting in the morning. To be honest I've found that I actually shoot better in the early hours than I do in the afternoon. But that philosophy proved me wrong. Day 1 was a stressful day. Of all times to have an equipment failure it had to be during nationals. My sight decided not to cooperate. I was shooting a good group to the left and I kept moving my sight. Nothing changed. I moved it 32 clicks to the left and the thing didn't move a millimeter. Knowing I had another day to redeem myself, I calmed down, compensated, and enjoyed the rest of the shoot. Day 2 was so much better. I had brought a backup bow and sight just incase this event happened.(because with my equipment, catastrophe is 99% possible) I shot so much better and made up over 30 points. I ended the day with a 274 and 20 Xs. I was pretty bummed I didn't break 280, but I was proud I kept my cool. I had so much fun and I encourage you all to go to nationals one day. You don't need to be extremely good or have the best equipment. It's all about the learning experience. I like to consider myself a casual competitive archer. I practice 3-4 times a week and shoot in a league with all of the HNL Staff. Every weekend when I am practicing at the range, I get questioned by the people taking lessons (thanks Hunger Games) as to why my arrows are so thick. “Doesn’t that make them go slower?” “Is it harder to shoot?” “Is that why your bow is so big?” “Isn’t that cheating…?” “WHY???!!??” As an indoor only shooter, I love my Easton Full Bore shafts, they may be pricey, but they are some of the truest arrows I have ever shot. With a straightness of ± .003 and a weight tolerance ± 2.0 grains. These arrows are slow but they are accurate, my score increased almost 9 points within the first week of sighting these “scud missiles” in. So to the hard questions mentioned above; Doesn’t that make them go slower? Short answer, Yes. They are thick arrows so they will not fly as fast as a thin shafted arrow, but once they are sighted in, arrow speed is not important. I do not have to worry about an ethical kill when I am shooting a foam block, slow is fine so long as it’s a bullseye. Is it harder to shoot? No, I did have to purchase a new fork for my arrow rest to accomidate these bad boys, but after that they are just like shooting any arrow, the thickness does not effect the draw or shot whatsoever. Is that why your bow is so big? No, My bow is big because I am big! I’m 6’1” 260lbs and enjoy a long ATA with a 36” stabilizer and 24” side bars. My arrows have nothing to do with the size of bow. Isn’t that cheating…? No, thick arrows are an advantage but are well within the regulations set by NFAA: "11. Maximum arrow shaft diameter allowed will be 0.422 inches, with a point diameter not to exceed 0.425 inches. The shaft diameter will include any wrap placed on the arrow and will include the size of the nock and the nock insert." My Full Bores are 0.421875 so they are 0.000125 of an inch within the guidelines of NFAA. Just because you shoot a thin shaft doesn’t mean I have to. Why? That one is easy for any competitive archer to tell you. The thicker the arrow, the better the odds of breaking the line to the next point. “Line Breaker” arrows give you a little bit of extra area on the target face, and allow for shots close to the lines to fall in to the higher score. I can not tell you how many shots I have made that would have been an 8 on a thin shaft arrow that I have been scored 9 on simply because of the them I will keep shootings my Full Bores. By Brian Offin Brian is an Easton sponsored archer with the assistance of Rob at Targeteers Archery in Sadlebrook NJ. Getting to the range can sometimes be difficult. I completely understand. We archers have lives outside of the range (which is totally not as fun as range life), but when competition season is in full swing, every second of practice is precious time. I have two ranges I utilize that are relatively near my house. It's good to establish yourself at a public range so you can meet fellow archers, but what about on those days when you can't? Especially with this BITTER winter, it can be hard to get practice time in. I was having this same problem. I was constantly busy with school and work that I never had time to practice. In all honesty, practicing was all I wanted to do. Target Panic. It's one of those thing that almost every archer has experienced at least once in their life. The worst part about target panic is that it has nothing to do with your equipment, it's all mental. This makes it even harder for some people to correct. If you want to fix this problem, it requires patience, practice, and a whole lot of hard work. One of the first things you should do when dealing with target panic, is temporarily eliminating the root of the problem. In this case, that root is the target face and the sight. That's right, we want you to get rid of your sight and your target; just bear with us. After these things are gone, it is time to start blank-baling at close range. This is where you have to be patient, because you may be tempted to move farther back or add either your sight or target back on, but trust us it's a bad idea. The point of this exercise is so you can differentiate between what is a good shot, and what is a bad shot. You just want to close your eyes and just practice your form. By the time you are done with this step, your shot sequence should be ingrained into your brain (aka muscle memory). Once you have completed this first step, it's time to put your sight back on, and your target on the bale, although, that bale isn't going anywhere. Leave your bale at 5 yards and start shooting. This is where you start to score yourself. Right now you're all probably thinking, "why would I score up close, there's no point." Well, that's where you're wrong. The point of scoring yourself at close range is to teach your mind what it's like to constantly shoot a good score. You are building up confidence in yourself and in your technique. The goal is for your mind to say to itself, "I can shoot 10's, so I will shoot 10's." After a week or so of just scoring at 5 yards, you can make the decision to move your bale back to 10 yards, if you are comfortable, and repeat the process. Once you are comfortable at each distance you can move to the next. Although, if you regress at any point, it is time to go back to blind blank-baling at the beginning again. A reason for regressing in the first place, is likely going through the steps too quickly. Remember that this takes time. If you follow all of these steps, in a few weeks you should be over your target panic. Some of the key things to remember are that it will take time, it won't be easy, and it will take dedication. Also remember that if at any time something doesn't feel right, you should start from the beginning again. We all hope that this helps tons, because this is how we learned. HNL Staff By Amber Arbegast Go below for videos on target panic!
I am ALWAYS cold. I don't care if it makes me sound like a wimp. I'm cold and I hate being cold. It makes me absolutely miserable. I love hunting with every being in my body, but jeez do I hate the cold. Being up in a treestand, sitting still for hours upon end, whatever body heat you had left is sucked right out of you. I don't think this type of hunter safety gets addressed enough. I went hunting with my uncle in mid January and I was sure I was well prepared. I was wearing 6 layers of shirts and 4 layers of pants (plus two layers of socks) I had some of those little heat packs on my back and my thighs and in my shoes since those are the spots where I get cold easily. I was fine for the first hour and a half, but man did I forget my hands get cold quickly. I don't like using more than one layer of gloves in fear of hitting my trigger by accident.
By the time I had gotten out of my treestand 3 hours later, I had no feeling in my fingers and could barely carry my equipment. When I took my gloves off, my fingers were ghost white and one of them was actually going grey! (Gross I know) Even with a few heat packs in my gloves, it still gets cold. I have yet to purchase heated clothing, but that is next on my list. So here is some food for thought How well do heated clothes work for those who have used them? Outdoor shooters! Do you guys have to be this prepared? What are some extra precautions you take to prevent freezing? I would love to know what you guys think, I want to be able to fully enjoy the hunt and not worry about whether my fingers will fall off or not. ->>-->dara We all know how difficult it can be to be a youth or young adult shooter trying to get a sponsorship. Archery isn't a huge sport as it is, but the number of shooters out there outnumber the amount of available sponsorships out there by the masses. This makes it incredibly hard for even the best of us to get a sponsor, because of the so little knowledge that the general public has on the subject. Well, after countless hours of research, advice from pros, and talking to those who are sponsored themselves, I have a plan of action for you.
The key part in this process is really just to be very good... As much as us average joes wish we could get onto a pro staff, it won't happen unless we work for it and earn it. So if you really want to take this seriously, practice, prActiCe, PRACTICE. The next step you will want to take after you have accumulated the skills you will need, is to get out there and show of your skills. You need to get yourself out there, and break out of your comfort zone. Enter States. Enter Regionals. Enter Nationals. Go and win yourself some competitions, because that works with the next step. That next jump is to make yourself a résumé the same way you would as if you were applying for a job, because this IS essentially a job. If you don't know how to make a résumé, it is as simple as opening up a template on Microsoft Word. Although, you do not want to stick to the template, jazz it up because the whole goal is to get noticed. Add pictures, add anecdotes (short stories that apply to the topic), and most importantly add why this sponsorship would mean so much to you. Pull on the heart strings as much as possible. After you are done with your résumé, send it out to different companies that can be potential sponsors. While doing this make sure that the companies you reach out to are ones that you are knowledgable on, and you would not mind endorsing. Also, when addressing your letters, never, I repeat, NEVER, address them to "To Whom It May Concern", doing that is not personable and very generic. It shows dedication and knowledge when you address the letter to the actual person in charge of the pro staff team and sponsorships. After you send out your résumé, all you can do from there is wait, but there is one last step that is also the most important. You need to have complete confidence in yourself and you can't be afraid to be said no to. This ideal was best said to us by Olympic hopeful, Brandon Tenner. "Sponsorship is all about being confident in yourself and your abilities. Create an archery résumé of all of the competitions you have done, accomplishments you have made, etc. Contact the company you are interested asking if they sponsor shooters and what the requirements are for consideration. Pick a company you use and are familiar with, one you truly believe in and would support. Don't be afraid of rejection, every company out there gets flooded by people that want free stuff. I truly believe you don't get what you don't ask for. Have faith and confidence in yourself and others will too." Well if that doesn't say it all I don't know what will... The staff here at HNL wishes you all luck in accomplishing your goals, and we hope that we have been of service in writing this article. Happy Shooting HNL Staff ->>---> Written by Amber A. The Lancaster Classic. Describe it in two words? Life changing. The 12th Annual Lancaster Classic has come and gone and has left a bounty of knowledge in its wake. During the Classic multiple seminars were held; they included anything from the future of target archery to a Q&A with Olympians like Jake Kaminski and Crispin Duenas. After going to these seminars myself, I am now here to give you my newfound knowledge. The first seminar I went to while in Lancaster was on shot execution and how to properly use a back tension release aid, which was given by George Ryals IV (AKA GRIV). One of the biggest tips that I took away from his talk was on back tension. One of the hardest things about switching over to a back tension release is that we never really learn how to use one properly in the first place. This causes problems down the road when you have trouble being consistent with your let off or with just getting the shot to go off all together. Well during the seminar, GRIV let us in on his top secret (well not so secret anymore) method on how to use a back tension. The secret to using one properly lies in the palm of your hand, literally. This is where it gets hard to explain so here is a video of GRIV explaining it himself. The next seminar that I went to was a Q&A with Jake Kaminski, Crispin Duenas, and Dan Schuller. To hear tips and tricks from Olympians was incredible, and a once in a life time chance. Two of the major things that they talked about were the importance of endorphins and static and dynamic warm ups. Who has ever heard of endorphins before? Well for those of you who don't know, they are any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. *takes breath* Wow that's a mouth full. What these endorphins do are impact your emotions, well-being, and physical performance. AKA something that will greatly affect your shot. To control these endorphins you need to watch things like your diet and your surroundings. Two of the most important endorphins are serotonin and dopamine, too much of one or the other and your whole body is out of whack. A good way to manage these levels are by maintaining a healthy diet and by exercising, as said by Jake Kaminski himself.
With that said, we go into static and dynamic warm ups. When a person from the audience asked Kaminski how long you should warm up, Kaminski answered by asking how long you would warm up for any sport. He then went on to ask the crowd how long they would see the pros warm up during major competitions. The answer to that was never. Kaminski's point was that in archery, even the pros rarely warm up. Although, archery is just like any other sport and requires around 30 minutes of warm up. The specific types of warm ups are dynamic and static. A dynamic warm up is one that involves a lot of motion, while a static warm ups include various stretches. According to Kaminski, the best order to do these warm ups in is to do dynamic warm ups before shooting to loosen up your muscles and to cleanse your system of the bad endorphins. Static exercises are to restretch your muscles after you are done shooting and to clear the lactic acid out of your muscles to help build up physique and to help speedy recovery. To shoot well, you must take care of your body like any other professional athlete would. All of these strategies that I have mentioned are not just gimmicks, they really do work, and I have implemented them myself in my archery routine. With you I have shared the secrets of the pros, and I hope these tips help you become the archer you want to be. Happy shooting. Written by Amber ->>----> I've done a lot of local competitions in which I've fared pretty well, but with my first more major one coming up in February, advice is always well needed. I am the type of person who tends to over think A LOT. Archery is 99% mental, so that's a huge disadvantage for me. I've been preparing myself so that I don't need to freak out or be nervous. Besides, competitions should be a chance for beginners to learn and have fun! Here are some good ways to prepare yourself if you have any competitions coming up soon!
1. Use Your Time Wisely It's common for people to be busy once in awhile and not have the time to practice, but time is precious! Any extra time you have use to your advantage! Spending as much time with your bow as possible before competitions is key. Do some upgrades, sight in so you are flawlessly on target at various distances, become one with your bow. That new season on Netflix will be there for awhile, this competition won't be! 2. Build Up That Upper Body Strength I can already hear the groans through the computer screen. Building up your muscle will make it easier to last through a long competition day. You don't even need to go to the gym. Do some push ups, lift weights or my personal favorite, take your bow out and just hold it out for a minute then put it down. This way you can practice your stance and get used to holding your bow. 3. Get Familiar With Your Equipment Malfunctions are all to common to me. I cannot tell you how many times my sight has failed on me (I have a battery operated one since the light is brighter). Know that bow like the back of your hand. You should be able to sense something wrong before it starts taking a toll on your scores. Read manuals, online reviews, or ask a local pro-shop some questions. We here at Hard Nock Archery can answer any questions you have also! 4. Don't Freak Out About It! The absolute WORST thing you can do is flip tables over a competition. If you practice enough, you should feel more confident. Being calm and enjoying the experience is what really matters most. Breathe. Aim. Shoot. :) -Dara The lancaster Archery Classic As some of you may know, it's that time of year again... The Lancaster Classic is coming up! In less than a week hundreds of archers from around the country will flocking to the archery mecca that we know as Lancaster Archery Supply. Pros and amateurs alike will be competing there for awesome cash and merchandise prizes. Although, this year it will be done a bit differently. In the past average joes like you and me were able to compete along side our idols, but this year the amateurs and pros have been split up into different categories. For some people, that is a bit disappointing. Some argue that while there will still be a Pro-Am shoot, the separation of the "pros" and "ams" in the regular shoot is a little less than thrilling.
Who knows though? I am sure that the nay-sayers will still be just as satisfied at the end of the shoot as they would before the change. I am just excited to be going to the Lancaster Classic for my first time this year! Don't worry though, there will be plenty of pictures and updates to come in the near future! By Amber A. Tips for surviving the rain at a competition Rain. It's probably one of the worst weather conditions you can shoot in. Mud and water gets in your shoes, your hair sticks to your face, and water blinds you. It sucks, but we are here to help. The staff here at HNL has comprised a list of tips that will help you weather the storm.
TIPS: 1. Invest in a good raincoat or waterproof windbreaker and rain pants. There is nothing a shooter wants less than to be soaked and miserable during a competition. The reason you want to get good quality rain apparel is because cheaper quality clothing can have some fatal flaws. A cheap jacket has no guarantee that it'll keep you dry, or that it will keep you warm or cooled off. A good jacket and pants that are 100% water resistant, insulated, but still breathable are an archers best bet. 2. Get clothes that fit properly. This tip applies specifically to jackets and shirts, because anything that is too tight or too baggy can cause some serious problem when it comes to shot execution. Tightness impaires your ability to comfortably reach full draw, while bagginess can interfere with the path of the string, ultimately affecting your arrow's flight path. 3. Wear rain boots. They may not be your favorite form of footwear, but you won't regret wearing them. Just imagine wearing sneakers, the mud oozing between your toes as your feet begin to sink in, the water saturating your socks and squishing as you walk... If that doesn't give you the chills I don't know what will. 4. Wear a hat or visor. When it's raining there is a good chance that is is hitting you right in the face. A hat or visor will effectively protect your face from water dripping into your eyes, and altering your vision. What use is your bow going to be if you can't even see the target? 5. Be consistent. If you are shooting in the rain don't dry off your bow every few ends or so. You'll want to dry it off after every end or just let it be wet and sit in the rain until you are done completely. Archery is a sport of consistency, and every little change you make between shots can change the outcome. You'll be surprised what a big difference such a small detail can make. 6. Don't use regular lubricant on a stuck cable guard. Anyone that has shot in the rain before knows that if the cable guard slide on your bow gets water in it friction can cause it to stutter. When this happens, an enormous amount of energy is lost, which can cause all sorts of unwanted problems while shooting. Most people would just end up lubing the cable guard every other end or so in this situation. Well, we have a better solution for you... Use skin oil. Okay we can feel you judging, but please hold on and let us explain. Regular lubricant is messy, it gets everywhere, and even when you use it it doesn't last a very long time. If you use skin oil, specifically from your face (yes we know it sounds weird), it works for a longer time, it isn't messy, and best of all it's free! Now if you're wondering where we heard this "ridiculous" tip from, trust us it's from a reputable source; this little tidbit came to us from Derek Davis, coach of the Columbia University archery team. Believe us now? We hope that you found all of these tips helpful! 'Til next time... -HNL Staff By Amber |
AuthorArticles written by Amber, Dara, Brian, Phoebe, Jacob, and Quincy. Archives
August 2015
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