Thinking of getting into archery.

Soldato
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Does anyone on here do much archery? I have always been into it since I had ago a few years back. However, I have no idea about whether or not I'm allowed to use them in my garden and if I can what I would need to get started.

I don't have a massive garden but it's maybe 20 yards which should be enough to play around in to start, then I know a farmer that owns land I have shooting permission on so could probably get permission to play around on there.

I'd rather not go to clubs and stuff as I don't want to take it to serious, just something to do when I'm bored and need something to do.

Thanks, Antony.

P.S. Not relevant but this mechanical keyboard is amazing, if you don't own one already you best buy one.
 
I have done archery a few times, enjoyed it. Can't offer much more then that I'm afraid, my friend does it though he often drives around with a bow and arrows in his car.

Archery is cool when it's in films or on television, as it looks so badass :cool:

PS, I know! I have a mechanical keyboard on my PC and it's brilliant :)
 
I'd rather not go to clubs and stuff as I don't want to take it to serious, just something to do when I'm bored and need something to do.

A half decent bow and arrows, and with the other things you need, you'd be looking at £150. That's a lot of money for a mess around when you're bored! I'd say go to a club, you could probably rent a bow and they don't take it that seriously.
 
A half decent bow and arrows, and with the other things you need, you'd be looking at £150. That's a lot of money for a mess around when you're bored! I'd say go to a club, you could probably rent a bow and they don't take it that seriously.

I'm willing to pay that price. Better then spending £150 on my PC and sitting in my room all night doing nothing but attempt to play DayZ.

EDIT: I cannot drive atm as I have still got a while left before I do my test to travel is an issue. This is another reason I'd like to keep it simple for the moment.
 
I remember some time ago seeing (on TV) a chap enter an archery competition with his home-made flat bow. Ultimately his performance was pants against modern bows but the judges decided to award him a prize, I think it was via a flat bow category for which I think he would have been the only entrant. That was pretty cool.
 
3 weeks through a 4 week introductory course and I'm really enjoying it. Started off just with the very basics at 10 yards, bare bow, then progressed to sights and 20 yards. Think the last week moves outside to longer distances.

Some of the kit that the club members have, with stabilisers and carbon arrows looks very cool :)

I'd say join a club, as they will show you the proper way to shoot so be more consistent with your grouping.
 
Make sure it's a Longbow.

One of these :confused:

images


:D

Anthony101 you might find this useful

http://www.archerygb.org/support/clubs/club_finder.php#
 
Ive been wanting to get back into it too, did it during my 2nd year of uni and i loved it.

Just found out there is a club near my grandparents, which must be next door to the golf club. Win!
 
There's a lot more technique to archery than you think, I suspect if you try to teach yourself you'll just end up with a rather bruised arm! It'll be much easier if you can get to a club or find someone who knows what they're doing.

As for doing it in your back garden, you'll probably need more kit and space than you'd think. Target butts arent cheap, and ideally you'd need a back cloth (sides too if its narrow) to stop wayward arrows ending up in next doors kids. They will go through the average pannel fence with ease, and hitting thick wood / brick walls will soon ruin them. Not to mention the extra space you'd ideally leave behind for safety if something goes really wrong and it goes over the top.

I'm not trying to put you off, archery is a really fun sport and I'd love to do more of it if I had the time/opertunity, but unless you're using a cheap set with suckers on the end you really do have to play it safe!
 
You need to go to an archery shop and get properly measured for a bow and the arrows. Your draw strength and draw length will be unique and so any equipment you buy should fit you. This is assuming you want to get a proper bow and arrows. Then, ideally, you need to be shown how to shoot.

Anywhere you shoot needs to have enough downrange and the land owners permission (which you say you have). Bear in mind that bow hunting in this country is illegal so you'd need targets to shoot at.

I've been shooting olympic recurve for around 5 years now and love it. A good archery shop will have a small range and let you try all bow types (recurve, longbow, shortbow, compound) to find one that suits you and then get you measured up for one of your own. There are a few mail order places you could buy from but if this is the route you want to go down then you'll be limited to the traditional (wooden) stuff as there's more leeway in measurements.

It's a great hobby and I love it..good luck and enjoy yourself whatever you decide to buy :D
 
Does anyone on here do much archery? I have always been into it since I had ago a few years back. However, I have no idea about whether or not I'm allowed to use them in my garden and if I can what I would need to get started.

I don't have a massive garden but it's maybe 20 yards which should be enough to play around in to start, then I know a farmer that owns land I have shooting permission on so could probably get permission to play around on there.

Technically to comply with GNAS shooting rules to shoot at 20 yards you would need a garden at least 110 yards in length. :D Shooting in a 20 yard garden would see a half decent bow easy put an arrow through a fence. Even worse if you get a compound bow!

I'd rather not go to clubs and stuff as I don't want to take it to serious, just something to do when I'm bored and need something to do.

Thanks, Antony.

P.S. Not relevant but this mechanical keyboard is amazing, if you don't own one already you best buy one.

I'd really join a club, you can find plenty that are fine for casual, fun archers. I have been a member of our club for four years and the closest I have come to a competition is the fun Christmas club shoot.
 
Join a club, I occasionally go to the one at university and its good fun.

Joining a club is the best way to learn, not just technique but also what bow you will want to buy. It also gives you a chance to try out different styles of shooting too, most people at our club shoot recurve but there are also compound, barebow and longbow users.
 
I'm waiting for a place on an introdutory course at my local club. You have to have the certificate before they'll let you shoot at the club.

I've done some archery before and really enjoyed it. Now I mainly want to get back in to it to learn proper technique and learn to shoot a traditional longbow.
 
When i did my course i only wanted to use a longbow. My coach was quite amazed that i could shoot it rather accurately (technique aside). He asked how i aimed, and i just replied "by instinct really, i just gauge it how i see it", which surprised him. My plan worked until i attempted 80yds then i was all over the place.
I decided to try recurve, which was pretty cool, then the compound which although awesome, allowed me to hit gold 3 out of 4 times at 40yds, with a single glass sight mounted in the bowstring. I felt like it deskilled the art somewhat, especially with all the sights/balances etc available.
I went back to the longbow as i believed it required the most skill/strength/instinct(?) out of the 3.
My technique lacked somewhat and i did keep hitting my left forearm (could never really figure out why).

Bottom line....go on a course first, then decide.
 
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