Like any other skill, the best way to learn archery is from a teacher or mentor. However, taking your first archery lesson may be a little intimidating to some, especially if they have never been around the sport before. Knowing what to expect during your first archery lesson will help you relax and have a fun learning experience!

Archery Safety

The first thing that an archery lesson will cover is safety. Safety is always first, and is the most important aspect of learning archery. Instructors will go over basic safety rules that are always abided by, such as:

Never aim a bow in the direction of people or objects other than the target. Be sure of your target and what is around you while shooting.

Never “dry fire” a bow, which is firing a bow without an arrow. This can not only damage the bow but can cause serious injury to you and those around you.

Be aware of the archery shooting line and where people shoot. Do not cross it until it is safe to do so when all archers are done shooting. This is usually called with a “clear” signal.

Use caution when pulling arrows out of a target. Do not stand behind the arrow, and ensure no one is behind you when pulling it out.

Instructors may also cover the different verbal commands for the range, where to wait and stand, and any other safety measures that are put in place to ensure a great experience.

Archery Equipment

After a safety briefing, you can also expect an overview of the archery equipment that you will be using. This will highlight the different parts of the bow and arrow. It will cover what each part does and how to properly use all of the different parts and equipment.

There are many different types of bows, arrows, and shooting styles. Within the world of archery, there are thousands of different gear and equipment items choose from. Luckily this part will only go over the very basics and what you need to know to get started. This ensures nobody gets overwhelmed but they at least have the basic knowledge needed to get started.

This part of the lesson should also go over where and how to properly store archery equipment when it is not in use. If there are bow hangers or bow racks, a quick demonstration could also follow!

The Shooting Process

An overview and demonstration of the shooting process will usually follow the safety and equipment briefings. This is where you will learn all of the steps needed to shoot a bow. An instructor may provide a demonstration of this process. This could include detailed notes and tips to help you do it yourself when the time comes.

The shooting process has many steps in it, but it is overall very easy once you get the hang of it. These steps include:

1. Stance

A good stance is necessary for consistency. Stand at a right angle to the target and with your feet shoulder width apart. Your stance should feel well balanced and comfortable. Slightly bend your knees for added stability. Beginner archers have a tendency to spread their feet wide for more stability, but this makes it much harder to shoot. Keep a balanced, relaxed stance that feels natural to you.

2. Nock

Nock an arrow onto the bowstring. There should be a visible nocking point on the bowstring to let you know where it goes. You should hear an audible “click” to let you know the arrow is fully connected to the string. An arrow that is improperly nocked could result in a dry fire. This means running the risk of damaging the bow or injuring yourself. Take extra care to ensure the arrow is firmly nocked on the string.

3. Hook and Grip

This refers to your grip on the bow handle and your connection with the bowstring. The hand gripping the handle should be relaxed and have the palm facing forward. If you are using your fingers or a finger tab to shoot with, firmly place them on the bowstring. If using a mechanical release aid, connect it to the bowstring.

4. Posture and Alignment

Keep your back as flat as possible, and try to relax your entire body. You should be standing perpendicular to your target. Your chest and torso should all be facing forward. Turn your head to face the target.

5. Raise the Bow

Slowly raise the bow out in front of you to shoulder height. Turn the elbow of your bow arm away from the string, placing a slight bend in the arm. Maintain your proper stance and posture to ensure everything is aligned and ready to shoot.

6. Draw Down

Draw the bowstring with your bow arm, utilizing the muscles in your back. Keep both of your shoulders as low as possible and avoid raising the bow in the air. Think about moving your shoulder blades toward each other and holding the bow as still as possible. This can help maintain a clean and consistent draw.

7. Anchor

Once at full draw, move to your anchor points. These can vary from person to person. In general, however, the string should touch somewhere in the middle of your chin. Your index finger should be somewhere under the chin, and your mouth should be closed. The string may or may not also be touching your nose.

8. Transfer to Hold

Once at full draw and with anchor points in place, keep your back muscles under tension. You should be able to draw a straight line through your bow hand, elbow, and draw hand thanks to their alignment. After ensuring your grip, posture, stance, and anchor points are set, you are now ready to start aiming.

9. Aim

Aim with your dominant eye (which should be found prior to shooting and during instruction). Shut your other eye. If using a bow with sights, place the sight on the spot of the target that you want to hit. If shooting a bow instinctively without sights, keep the target in your sights and move the bow to where it feels right.

10. Release/Follow Through

Keep tension in your back and on your shoulder blades as you slowly relax your fingers. The bowstring will eventually slide off your fingers, firing the bow. If you are using a mechanical release aid, slowly apply pressure to the trigger until it fires. Your draw hand should be relaxed and stay near your ear after the shot. Continue aiming and holding your position until the arrow hits the target. After impact, you can drop your bow arm down and evaluate your shot.

11. Feedback

Feedback is the final part of the shooting process where you evaluate the shot and make adjustments based on the results. Most beginners might not have the experience that is needed to self correct their shooting, so an archery coach or instructor can be a great benefit to help guide and instruct in order to become a better shooter. They can help you become more proficient more quickly.

Shooting Games and Activities

Once the students taking an archery lesson have all proven that they know the basics of shooting, some instructors may implement some shooting games or activities during the final part of the lesson. This can involve things like shooting balloons or playing games like tic tac toe with targets downrange. Every archery lesson is different. Instructors have different games and activities that they may incorporate to make the lesson more engaging and fun.

Finishing Up

As the lesson comes to an end, all of the equipment will be gathered up and accounted for. Any damaged or missing archery equipment issues can be addressed during this time. You may also need to help clean up any mess made by the shooting games (like pieces of popped balloons).

Bows are properly stored and the archery range is checked for any problems. After everything is put away, the instructor may provide a brief summary of the class. They may go over the progress that was made during the lesson and what to look forward to in the next one. After that, your first archery lesson has officially come to an end!

Final Thoughts

The very first archery lesson that you take can be quite intimidating to think about. But if you know what to expect before going in, you can be sure to relax and enjoy the experience more. The lesson should not only be insightful and full of learning, but fun and exciting as well.