A Journey into Bow-Land (there are many…!)

For most people, casting the mind back to the first time we ever felt the power of a string under tension send an arrow (well, a stick from the garden more like) towards ‘the enemy’ or ‘venison’ awakens very early memories indeed. Some readers of this may even recall the BBC’s first Robin Hood TV series with Richard Greene playing the lead-role, wearing Lincoln green in Autumnal Sherwood Forest – on a black and white screen. As inspiring then, as characters like Katniss Everdeen, Legolas, Princess Merida or Hawkeye are now.

Characters and stories change but the basic principles of Archery remain largely the same as 20,000 years ago; changing culture and customs on every continent of the world – except Antarctica.

Before portable firearms became available, the bow was an unrivalled invention of scientific efficiency that massively affected the way humans fought, fed and played. Most bows are made with (almost) perfect symmetry between top and bottom limb, so that aligning the very back end of a straight projectile across the middle enables maximum force from the release, to send that projectile quietly on its way with an accuracy that requires only a little aiming compared to the allowances/adjustments needed for a bullet after its internal high temperature, rifled-for-stability, explosive exit – and the Noise/recoil/jolt!

 

 

 

Getting Started
That question “Where do I start?” in Archery has an army of answers – so let’s make it simple.

If you’re between 8 and 108 years of age– THE best first bow will be a Genesis®. These were designed and released for NASP® (National Archery in the Schools Program) in 2002 in Kentucky and they provide an outstanding platform to master technique, disciplines and comfort for every stature, every style.
They’re also affordable and built to last a generation or three. If you follow the minimal amount of care and maintenance they require, you’ll never break one.

ACA and UK NASP® start their training and all BAI Courses with both take-down recurves (the conventional, longer limbed bow type) and Genesis®. Working together, when carefully matched by length and draw-weight with the Archer, these bows and a properly qualified instructor will have you shooting tight, consistent groups within hours rather than weeks.

[Adrian Caddy is founder and proprietor of ACA and Exclusive Coordinator of UK NASP®.
In the next article, Adrian will review the best arrows and accessories for the next stage of the Archery Journey – ensuring you spend less than some shops advise…]