Geeky stuff about archery
I imagine that lots of engineers would like archery. It's all about repeatable processes, getting that perfect draw and release that's exactly the same each time and gets your arrows in just the right place. I'm still at the stage though were it isn't automatic at all yet, and I'm still running that mental check list in my head, "left hand, shoulder, draw back, anchor point ... damn, my peep sight has twisted... start again... "
If you can get your arrows grouped together on the target that's more important in some ways (as a first step) than hitting the bulls-eye; it shows that you're shooting in a repeatable way. Then all you really have to do is tune your sight so that you're aiming at the right point. The highlight of my session on Sunday was once getting three arrows in an area the size of a 50 cent coin at 30 metres. Very minor compared with some people in the club (the top ones shoot over 90 metres), but exciting for me!
Yesterday I also learned about grading my arrows. I numbered six arrows and then shot them in the same order each time for a few rounds, then wrote down the score and also where in the target it hit. After a few rounds I found one arrow (now my favourite) that always hit true and scored well, a couple that were consistently drifting left, and one that was always really bad. Keep the good ones, number the next lot, and repeat. If you do this for a while you end up with a quiver of straight, well-balanced and well fletched arrows that will always shoot better than your other ones. Process! I love it.
I also love the whole Zen vibe of calm, concentration, and physical self-discipline. Serenity is out there somewhere.
If you can get your arrows grouped together on the target that's more important in some ways (as a first step) than hitting the bulls-eye; it shows that you're shooting in a repeatable way. Then all you really have to do is tune your sight so that you're aiming at the right point. The highlight of my session on Sunday was once getting three arrows in an area the size of a 50 cent coin at 30 metres. Very minor compared with some people in the club (the top ones shoot over 90 metres), but exciting for me!
Yesterday I also learned about grading my arrows. I numbered six arrows and then shot them in the same order each time for a few rounds, then wrote down the score and also where in the target it hit. After a few rounds I found one arrow (now my favourite) that always hit true and scored well, a couple that were consistently drifting left, and one that was always really bad. Keep the good ones, number the next lot, and repeat. If you do this for a while you end up with a quiver of straight, well-balanced and well fletched arrows that will always shoot better than your other ones. Process! I love it.
I also love the whole Zen vibe of calm, concentration, and physical self-discipline. Serenity is out there somewhere.