Focus on the target? Or not! Recurve Bow Shooting Tips 

I am a self-taught archer, and for me aiming is more like relaxing. My back tightens, my fingers find my anchor point, the arrow point drifts above the target. I focus on a smooth release, and the arrow strikes the target consistently. I don't forget my target, but I would definitely say that I focus more on form. Excellent video, I wish all archery videos were this useful and concise!

Setting up the bow for success. This is a good reminder. As a gap shooter predominantly I can't emphasize enough how important the "experience" is when shooting. Sound - listen as the arrow slides over the riser Position - feel your hand brush your face and the tender caress of the perfect cheek position Feel - Elbow is everything as it slides into position gracefully and with intent Focus - tempo tempo tempo Release - maintaining that bow arm stability as the arrow leaves the string, striking the dead center of your focus point. The zen of archery is beauty.

I just picked up a sharp stick thrower this week after a 25 year hiatus from archery. These videos are really helpful for a guy who forgot everything I knew.

Clay Hayes shooting some wisdom "What im focusing on is myself, not the target" "for me it doesnt make sense to focus on something that i have no control over, what i do have control over is myself..."

I found this channel a few weeks ago. Very informative. I recently picked up archery because I want to hunt deer. I love your natural ability to teach and I laughed when you said "poyfect", I say that sometimes. Thank you for these amazing videos.

Clay i love your channel )) In regards to “arrow control” I have been shooting traditional equipment for 30+ years, and I know most shooters use some kind of aiming protocol to guide the arrow to the target but I can shoot lights out just looking at the target and nothing else, this includes unknown distances out to 100 yards. I compare it to throwing a baseball like a pitcher or an outfielder to within inches of the target with no thought of aiming. Of course it takes practice but more than that it takes a “no thought mind” which can be hard to achieve but when it’s working it’s like magic.

Thank you for putting these videos out. I watched one of your aiming videos yesterday and it tightened my group up quite a bit.

I love your videos. I’m getting back into traditional archery and hunting. I wish I could study and have a first hand hunt with you

Mr Hayes, really appreciate your videos and teachings. As a self taught archer (by that I mean what I have learned has been from people online such as yourself as opposed to formal training) I have gleaned and improved so much from the way you have explained certain techniques etc. Thanks so much for your contribution. I may never get to experience what it is like to bow hunt but at least I get to enjoy some level of archery which I can pass my limited knowledge on to my kids. All the best to you and your family.

This video is right on track. Traditional archery is an individual art form. This video is great delivery because allows the archer to understand the mechanic, need for focus, and perfect execution. Today I shot a Bear Kodiak hunter, purchased with money from delivery papers in 1972 and perfectly robin hooded the second arrow I shot today. Why because as you stated, perfect form and execution is what makes a great shot. Shooting into a target is not the same as stocking a animal for thirty minutes, then controlling your heart rate and delivering a perfectly executed shot. One thing I have learned is my ability to shoot in the woods increased when I practiced, shooting a mix of targets and ranges instead of shooting at a fixed distance, target and shooting 12 arrows.

Out of all the archery videos out there, Clay is definitely the top one. In my opinion. I'm self taught aswell and the amount of info I've learned from him alone is alot. I like that hes to the point and his videos are about making you understand rather than ego bash other archers. Keep up awesome work

really excited to have more shooting form videos coming up! I'm switching my style up from instinctive to more like your style. I feel as though I've kind of topped out on how tight/consistent my groups can be shooting instinctive, so I'm looking forward to a new challenge and learning new things.

Thanks for the insight. I have not tried that method, but I will now. Great tips

As a beginner it's very difficult to know where to start, yes the top shooters are focused on the spot but all the aspects of their shot sequence is also being addressed. Developing your sequence and Form to a point where you can focus on the spot and still run the sequence is the real secret. Beginners think aiming is the most complex part of the shot and if they get that part right everything else will fall into place but it's the over aiming that holds the Archer back from progressing past basic level, I tell the people I teach, by the time they have mastered their Form and shot sequence their aim should have naturally been dialed in. Top shooters spend a lot of time blank bale, just grooving their shot sequence and Form, they know this part starts to fail then everything else will start to break down

I've been working on instinctive shooting and not aiming. It seem like when you start focusing on your form, you lose focus on the target and miss your mark. It feels like the form needs to become second nature and focusing on your target your priority to hit that bullseye. But I can see in aiming how if you have your target locked with the aiming, making sure the form is on point is a great way to make sure your execution is perfect

My grandfather started me with a recurve around 5 or 6yrs old. I want to say I recall him helping me develop some basic form when I was very young but other than that I don't think we ever practiced anything but instinctive shooting (except the one time I saw him playing a quiver of arrows with three figures under on the practice range at a 3D shoot.) He's been STRICTLY a traditional archer and a consistently successful longbow. If I asked him for advice about technique, he'd tell me shoot another round of arrows and then change while we kept shooting. I wanted to impress him so much I built my own 3D target course and shoot a 100 arrows everyday after school religiously. We didn't win many shoots unless the attendance was poor, but now at 32 years old I can pull my bow out, shoot a quiver of arrows, and be ready to hunt next day. If I had to give one piece of advice to someone serious about hunting with a traditional bow it'd be: shoot your traditional bow a lot and set yourself up for 5 to 20 yard shots on game. 90% of the animals my grandfather and I kill are 10-15 yards. So if you can only hit the vitals deer every time at 15yrds, figure out how you're going to get within 10yrds of your deer. If it's the kill you need, guns still do exist and there's no shame in taking the easy way out and trying again next season! FAIR WARNING: This may be bad advice and lead to some kind of bad habits. I just know that after flinging hundreds of thousands of arrows, I can hit what I'm shooting at without thinking about it whenever I want....

Makes sense, I'll line up my shot similarly but I line up both tip and nock with the target to make sure I'm not accidentally tilting my shot. That is the easy part; stance, draw, and consistency is key. Shooting an arrow the exact same way everytime so you can expect the shot to hit the same spot everytime... let's just say it's not as easy as it sounds lol. Good points made on the video, cheers!

Brand new to archery. Got a Black Hunter recurve for my first bow this week. Seems good so far. Your videos have been helping with techniques and ideas that work for me.

as someone who's been shooting rounds of 4 arrows every day/every other day for about 3 weeks now as i get into instinctive archery. i really grasp what you're saying. i hit the tennis ball on my backyard target when i tend to relax, still look at where i want the arrow to go. but my back, my release, etc. that all seems to come into better... awareness. well said thoughts.

Well stated, I’ve done basically the same thing for years. But instead of sticking with it I’ve tried others ways and that’s been a mistake. So I always come back to what you do here, or similar. When I raise my bow up , and before I start the draw, I find the tip of my arrow is set on where it has to be when I get to full draw, all done by feel or instinct, as I draw back I find that spot , in my secondary vision and settle in before letting go. not sure if that’s what your saying here but seems to be what I took from it, anyway great vid 👍

I'm fairly new to the world of archery and I shoot a recurve. So far at least I have found that my instincts get me closer to the Target then purely focusing on it. Of course form is of the utmost importance but I find I got more accuracy when I trust myself. At the end of the day I think continuously gaining confidence has pushed me further than anything

Great video brother!! I got back into archery recently after a few years off. I’ve been shooting every day for the past week and one thing I noticed was that whenever I TRY to aim, my groups are around a 7 inch circle. But whenever I just focus on getting my release as smooth as possible, I’ll often hit other arrows. I was often left scratching my head, “How the hell am I better when I’m not trying to aim??”

I like this guy. I can't shoot his style but I like his love of archery. And it's a super pretty bow in the video!

Like some of the other comments, I'm self taught and my focus is on form then putting my riser and tip about where I wanna hit but my eye is focused on where I want to hit I don't really aim I'm at anchor for about 4 seconds just to kind of double check the shot feels on point then I just let go. This seems to work well up to 20 yards keeping groups within 2 inches beyond that my groups open up to about 6 inches with the occasional stray for me it's a poor release I can tell. This focus video and others really helped me zone my shot cycle

I did not have the recurve out for deer in about 10 years due to a series of eye operations. I am used to it now and want to go out again this year. I always used the "One finger over" draw. I used various length arrows (Give or take an inch) with no problem. The longest deer kill I made I was leaning forward and shooting under a bush and using no anchor point. The finger over the arrow "Knows" what your hands are doing. You are absolutely right about bowhunting deer, if somebody has a natural way to shoot, don't try to correct them. My Father and I were at my Uncle's place one day and the kid was out back shooting. He was on a league (Before compounds) and thought he was pretty hot. Anyway, my Dad bet he could hit a dog dish way past the target. He had not picked up a bow in years. Broke the dish first shot. For some reason he shot left handed, but was right handed. Just natural.

I've found that people that shoot a lot start developing techniques that work best for them. I know you said you shot instinctual and then went to gap for better accuracy. Personally I shoot instinctual out to about thirty and then use the Howard Hill split vision or as he called it "indirect aiming" and it kind of just happened on its own. My mind is keeping everything I have to do somewhere in the shot process but I have to fucus on the target more than anything, obviously more when going purely instinctual. I find it works best for me, but everyone has their own personal flavor when it comes to shooting. I started shooting like I started tennis. Very close range, hitting a ball on a wall and practicing form and then slowly walking back. It is a crash course for someone learning how to hit a tennis ball correctly. It works very well for instinctual archery as well. Start point blank and slowly back up focusing on form. I know you already know this, just throwing it out there for anyone else interested in how other people shoot. Thanks for posting.

The horse and rider at the end... epic.

I am a "snap shooter." "Become the arrow." I look at where the arrow will hit and just let the arrow fly. After 58 years of slinging arrows I have tried multiple styles of archery. I cannot really define my style ither than calling it snap shooting. Great video Clay. Peace.

Just found your site. Thank goodness! Excellent instruction and teaching. Other sites I’ve visited on this topic seem vague. Just ordered your book on making bows and can’t wait. Thanks for the generosity.

Thanks papi you made really good points ..

Clay is my bow making and archery teacher

Clay I have a question for you I got a Southwest Archery Spyder XL 64 in 55lb recurve bow I put the string on and let it set over the weekend so the string could stretch I checked the brace height and it was 6 and 5/8 inches and according to the book but I got with the bowl the minimum brace height is 8 to 8and 3/4 so I would have to add about a 1and 3/8 of a inch to get the minimum brace height does that sound normal to you

If I may ad to the necessary focus, it’s cuing your brain to your string fingers. In much the same way a musical band will count down to allow all instruments to start playing at precisely the same time, if you count down to release, it helps eliminate any delay for ones brain signal to execute the release. My personal trick is to murmur “Focus, grip, three, four”. And on four, the string is dropped. Of all things that I have tried in an attempt to tighten groups, this method is still the top of the heap.

I agree very good video on the subject matter.

Self teaching myself with my long how I made (45 lbs) and shooting like I shoot a hockey puck or a basketball and it works for me really well so far even when I air for specific spots, I’ve gone down to rabbit sized boxes and been able to pin a vital from 20 feet

Awesome info bro thank you!

Currently learning and joined the local club. This is so coold

I really love traditional archery and I like recurves especially like the fact that you can draw 34 inches or so, and get off multiple shots and under a second and hit targetsout to 140 yards and the fact that you can draw and shoot almost instantly, and still hit the target even not using any kind of anchor point

Hey Clay man (the ADHD King), I love it when you shoot your bow. These tips are so informative and can't wait until you chase some critters around. Thanks for pumping out the content dude!

I started archery about 7-8 months ago, I use a takedown recurve bow, I think my form is ok I do need to work on release definitely but I'm so inconsistent, one end I'll hit 3 gold's 3 reds at 20, yards then next end I'll hit 1 black 2 blue 1 gold 2 red does it just come with time

This is interesting. Most of what I've read and experienced sort of comes in the back door of what you're saying here. If you practice perfect form so much that it's automatic, you can focus your full attention on the spot you want to hit, and the arrow will go there. On the other hand, if you practice aiming so much that it's easy/automatic, you can focus your full attention on perfect form, and the arrow will still go there. Our brains are made to really only focus on one thing at a time.

I find, in my decade long experience with hunting using a traditional recurve, that my focus is very similar to the same focus I use when throwing a football, which I've had about two decades worth of experience in. I focus on the target more than form, as often, when I am shooting at something I cannot get into a completely proper form. If I did a push up for everytime I missed, and a sit up for every time I hit, I'd be pretty ripped lol.

Good morning Mr. Hayes. I want to tell you that I completely agree with you. Stay focus on what you're doing, your shoot cycle. But also, in my own opinion, focusing on the target (specially moving target) is part of the focus too. Then I want to ask you a question. Now, I'm curious on how can you maintain the same exact bow tilt every shot? How it's work for you? What the bio-mechanism behind it? For your information, I'm horsebow shooter, thumb drawer, I'm not tilting my bow. It is easier (in my own understanding) not to tilt my bow when I shoot because it's more consistent (at least for me). Thank you.

Very well said.

Love your videos man… what brand bow and specs on it do you use? Thanks brother

Moreover, when the broadhead touches the knuckle, that produces a perfectly precise as no part of the arrow is pushed outside of brace, so it is led the entire way for a perfect shot

You are awesome. The ultimate trad dude

I may be doing it all wrong, or perhaps there's certain techniques that work best for some, but my entire focus is on the target - I think about nothing else, and even, unlike some, my draw hand never leaves it's anchor until the arrow hits the target, and once it hits I do no follow through, but instead immediately go for another arrow. I also use three-fingers-under, with no load on the finger above the arrow, so not sighting down the arrow. I think that focusing on the target while the arrow tip is obviously in peripheral vision allows the mind to record the shot and make any required corrections in future shots. I do no competing or hunting anymore but just shoot 70+ arrows twice/day for the fun of it. BTW - I really like that snakeskin on your bow.

Hi @Clay Hayes and thanks for another great video! A question I have is, do you close your left eye when you pre aim and aim? I'm trying to figure out what works best for me, but I'm relatively new to traditional archery. Thank you

You can also use the fletching on the tip of ur noise but your way is great to

At what distance do you practice most? I’ve noticed in most vids your shooting at about 15 yards

I understand everything you're saying and agree. Execution of a good shot is doing everything the same way every time, and you sure cant argue with results. But I never consciously look at the arrow. I draw the bow differently, shorten the draw by a different posture. I'd have to change techniques an awful lot. I've been shooting traditional bows for 40 years in the way that I was first taught and I'm too old a dog to learn new tricks. Id say it takes both. You've got to pull and release the same way every time but concentration on that target is all important.

Hi there. Really enjoy your content! Can you tell me if it's possible to hunt with a Gonexo 25" handle and Core Black Prelude limbs at 40#? I am not sure whether or not that's simply an olympic bow. I don't see the difference.

Hi Clay, love your excellent video's. But what does the string do to your shot?? I mean, the way a string is winded.... can it have any effect on your shot ? Like you I'm righthanded but some strings are winded clockwise and I think that might have its effect on which way the artow is going. Can you explain please. Perhaps in one of your video's ??

Can you go over cross eye dominance. Which I have. Do you still keep both eyes open?

Sights, no sights.longbow, recurve, compound depends on you and your objective.All shooting sports are a discipline and practice can make perfection or practice can make permanent Grab a bow, pistol or longarm and enjoy the relaxation of testing yourself against your self

I dig the snakeskin bow dec.

Sensei!!! I think this is a brilliant concept, to focus on what you have control of first. That made me better at martial arts and massage therapy. Hey this may be a dumb question but I’m learning lol. Why do you lean a little sideways with your bow?

At my age I’m lucky I can focus on the end of my arrow😆😆😆. Cheers from Canada👍😎🏹🇨🇦

I really enjoy your shooting videos, thanks for your tutoring on these subjects. I've discovered over the years that focus/accuracy is in fact dependent on the operator.

I ll have to try that

Hello Clay, I recently purchased a Samic Sage 45# takedown bow a week ago. Base height is 7 1/2" My draw is 28". I have been shooting 60 arrows every other day so, my muscles recover in the back shoulder area. Am I shooting too many to start off with?

I know absolutely nothing about traditional archery, that’s why I’m here lol. We have a special season in my state for traditional equipment only , happens in January. I’m thinking of participating this year. How do you align the feathers, and do you need a rest or not? What about setting a nock point? Is that the same process as with compounds? I have been a compound shooter for over 30 years. Thanks

hey i am a beginner in Archery , i keep shooting too high even when i'm focus on the ground, i'll take a knee and it's a lot better but its the wrong form. also i keep bruising my arm with the bow's string, my instructor says i'm doing everything right but i still miss and the string bites. Any advice would be extremely helpful thank you ( i use all traditional bows 45 pound, 60 pound and 15 pound bow typically shoot at 15 to 20 yards)

I'm about to shoot my new bow for the first time ever! I'v had a go once before in my life but I'm a bench rest rifle shooter. I'm so excited and this video helped loads, thanks so much 🙏

Hey clay I sure enjoy your videos. I've been shooting instinctive about 2yrs now and had quite a bit of luck deer hunting but I want to be more accurate. I just for some reason can't seem to get the aiming methods down. Don't know how to look down the arrow or the tip almost like I'm not anchoring correctly or something. Very frustrating. Anyways... keep up the good work and I appreciate the help.

Nice looking Buck at 9:20.

He say "poyfect" after taking the shot... 🤣. He's as "in tune" with his bow, as much as he is with his children. God bless this guy.

When he says he puts one edge of the broadhead on the target, are u suppose have one eye open only? Bc for me when i do that i will see two broadheads because i have both eyes open

Good thought process there. I’ll give that a go... I noticed on your shot, that arrow came out DIRTY. Flipped around like a cats tail chasing a mouse lol! I’ve been practicing between 15-40 yards (because why not?) and I’m doing decent and hit the target 90% of the time and out of nowhere I’ll get a random flyer and it throws my aim off for the rest of the shoots so I hang it up. I need to focus more on my technique so I can identify what’s happening. But, at the same time, when I do that I miss. When I just point like you’re saying, draw back and once I touch my anchor and let it fly, I hit. Without thinking or aiming. Just slinging em. It’s driving me nuts!

The eye focuses on the target. The mind focuses on the process. I've never understood why a rifle shooter focuses his/her eye on the front sight while an archer focuses on the target. But it works. As I'm sure you already know, focusing the mind on what we actually can control is a solution to many difficult things in life.

i miss your archery videos. i hope you make more. maybe some on 3d shooting? just a suggestion.

Can I make a suggestion? Try getting Back about 20 yards and grew back to your chest. Don't hold just remember to aim with left hand. Just try it.

good 👍👍

Focusing on focus

How do i find jole Turner's stuff? u didn't give any links

I was wondering if you could tell me where or what's the name of your quiver, I would like to get one.

People do things in different ways. Try different things, till you figure out what is best for you. There is no set way of doing things. If there is, its consistency in what you do. Once you find out your best results, stick with it and be consistent.

Are those guineas that I hear in the background?

Basically Clay in a nutshell with Joel is to separate the Aim. Failure to separate the Aim leads to the subconscious taking over the shot which brings on TP!

Damn. It's the exact opposite for me. The moment I pay attention to anything other than the spot I want to hit is the moment I mess up the shot. But then I have ADHD and no dominant eye, so making sure I'm looking through the right eye into the right spot the entire release is enough of a challenge. The rest has to be muscle memory.

Doesn’t that make it hard to practice with field points? Since they’d be a different length than your broadhead, and you wouldn’t have the broadhead touch your knuckle? You’re basically forced to only shoot broadheads?

thanks for your knowledge Clay, did you meat a bear while hunt?))

Your method might work for you. How long have you been shooting? Performing the mechanics of the "shot" is entirely Muscle Memory. Suggesting that focusing on form indicates that you need more meditation which is what practice accomplishes. I am a snap shooter. My focus is on where there is going to strike. Not where it is supposed to strike. I have been practicing for 60+ years. My form is consistant since adopting a meditative approach multiple hours per week for 50+ years. Archery is my Zen.

It is funny. I shoot better when I’m not aiming than when I do aim. I’ll start with the bow down, raise it snd shoot almost in one fluid movement. It’ll be a bullseye. Yet if I hold the bow, look down the arrow, aim, I won’t even be close half the time lol

Personally i am shooting trad and instinctive as I wanted to go away from aiming. If I wanted to hold full draw for several seconds and aim I would have continued shooting a compound. Too mechanical and too forced for my liking. I shoot the best when I don’t think, don’t aim just let my body do what it’s been trained to do. If I can’t hit what I am aiming at that way... I move closer.

As of now, I'm an instinct shooter.... I need to dial it in and I hope I get soooo much better

Curious about the bow specs you're shooting in this video?

I really do make a conscious effort to try to support American made products and to my surprise the majority of these wooden bows being sold on Landcaster Archery or Amazon are all bows made in Asia. The only true reputable American brand I know is made by Fred bear and generally a wooden Recurve bow from them starts around $400 price point. Makes me wonder if there’s a genuine craftsmanship and quality difference from the cheap Amazon $200 Asian bows to something like a Fred bear recurve bow ? This is all stuff I need to do research on. What’s your thoughts on the subject is there a difference in quality and craftsmanship ??

Do you change anything about the process when shooting at moving targets?

Read a book by Justin Ma that is very helpful. Really improved my skill.

👍

Well I hope that works for you

Hey Clay, i love what you are doing, i have been following you for a while , now...and this is the first time i do not fully agree with you. Focus on oneself is reached through training. I do not even see my hand or arrow tip. My full concentration is aimed at where i want my arrow to hit. The rest is automatic. And i do not have a real dynamic release, though. Thank you anyway. And keep on doing those fantastic videos.

Super Video Daumen hoch von mir 👍

👍🏹

Clay, you are a gap shooter, focus is not on the top of your list, for purely instinctive archers it is, its the same as playing darts, dart players do not aim, but through repetative practice over years they focus on the board and the number that they want to hit, the same as instinctive archers.

Once i have the ability to trust myself, or am self -confident i can focus on the spot or target, if i am focusing on my form, release, anchor, draw, or aim, i am not ready to kill my target. The question is how do i get there, very simple ( live with your bow ), then you do not realize you shot your bow, you just killed on instinct..............

I'm partially blind, so I choose small targets and instinctively. I can shoot 30 yards 12 arrows grouped at 6 inches apart. My quick draw is even bettet

Which makes you hit the spot more accurately and consistently... perfect aiming or perfect execution???? I ll take perfect execution everytime.