What’s your archery personality type? When you’re trying to improve your archery skills but find yourself wondering how to make this happen, it may be time to consider alternative methods. You just might be surprised to learn how much your personality can directly affect your archery success. While personality type and archery success are directly related, not every archer recognizes the significance of this connection.

Once you recognize how your personality affects your success with archery, you’re on your way to becoming the best shooter you can be. First, you must understand the four different personality types, identify which one(s) you are, and then take the additional steps necessary to neutralize any bad tendencies you may have.

Using unconventional methods to achieve your archery goals can be just as beneficial as using conventional methods!

The 4 General Personality Types

These four general personality types were produced by famed psychologists many years ago as a way to better understand one’s personality when it came to people socially interacting with each other. While most people will easily fall under one type, understand that every personality may fall under more than one personality type. This means you’ll need to understand your dominant personality type, as well as a second or even a third type to better understand your unique personality.

For example, you could be 50% Type A, 30% Type B, and 20% Type C. When learning about these personality types, don’t take any weaknesses to heart, as some are inherited and some are learned. Either way, you have the power to improve upon any personality weaknesses you may possess.

Learning the details of each personality type lets you get an accurate understanding of your individual personality. Details on each of the four different personality types are shown below. Remember, you must figure out which archery personality types you fall under so you can begin to identify and adjust them as necessary.

Type A Personality

Type A personalities tend to be passionate, spontaneous, distrustful, ambitious, anxious, commanding, decisive, hard workers, and always in a rush to get where they’re going. They are more likely to experience pressure and stress, in turn leading to worry and apprehension.

Type B Personality

Type B personalities tend to be highly focused, efficient, serene, tolerant, trustful, intentional and composed. They are relationship-oriented, enthusiastic, and outgoing, making them focused socializers.

Type C Personality

Type C personalities tend to be very expressive, intuitive, think logically, and be natural promoters. They are always prepared and detail-oriented, making them thinkers.

Type D Personality

Type D personalities tend to be cautious, secure, and task-oriented. If you’re a Type D personality you’re likely to be a great friend and overall supporter.

How Your Archery Personality Type Affects Archery Success

Every archer performs the same steps when shooting. So why is it that so many top archers are of a certain personality type? It appears that certain personality traits offer archers a definite benefit when participating in particular events, including tournament archery. Again, know that ‘bad’ personality traits can be turned into ‘good’ personality traits, so have an open mind when learning about your particular traits.

See the below information on archery personality types and their associated tendencies to learn more about how your personality can potentially affect your ability to succeed with archery.

Type A Tendencies

How do Type A personalities approach archery? They tend to be control freaks. They’re very intense when on the field and are often impatient when waiting to take their shots. They always feel the need to be in charge and they often don’t trust others so prefer to do everything themselves. While all archers are susceptible to target panic, Type A personalities are more likely to because of their tendency to control everything.

The level of success for Type A is lower due to the following personality weaknesses – controlling, domineering, insensitive, impatient, stubborn, ill-tempered.

Type B Tendencies

How do Type B personalities approach archery? They tend to be extremely attentive. They have a very relaxed and even-tempered disposition and have no problem waiting to take their turn. They’re very deliberate in their actions, as well as very trusting of others. They’re very agreeable and tend to be very supportive of their peers.

The level of success for Type B is high! Type B positive strengths are much more predominant when compared to Type B weaknesses – impulsive, self-indulgent, sometimes unrealistic, whimsical.

Type C Tendencies

How do Type C personalities approach archery? They tend to be risk-takers. They enjoy being innovative, unconstrained, emotional, and more often than not have no problem taking big chances. They’re very instinctive and are the first to congratulate archery winners. Type C is also prone to target panic because they may force a release at the “perfect time”…this is a gamble and doesn’t play out well.

The level of success for Type C is moderate due to the following weaknesses – skeptical, disengaged, likes to do things their way.

Type D Tendencies

How do Type D personalities approach archery? They tend to be overthinkers. This personality type is one that’s very analytical, causing them to closely scrutinize everything. They’re also open to experimenting as they want to explore all possibilities.

The level of success for Type D is moderate due to the following weaknesses – easily led and overly sensitive.

Personality Traits Of The Successful Archer

As you can see, Type B archers show greater levels of success. The traits associated with Type B personalities easily support this personality group’s ability to instinctively duplicate every shot utilizing the detailed accuracy of many top archers.

Type B Traits That Affect Archery Success:

• Trusting
• Attentive
• Friendly
• Relaxed
• Calm
• Composed
• Patient
• Pleasant
• Flexible
• Intentional
• Enthusiastic
• Accommodating

As Type B’s are very trusting, if you’re a Type B, you’re going to naturally trust the shot process. You don’t try to change the system or shot sequence and instead trust that the system will work for you. Since your conscious mind trusts your thought process, your subconscious mind easily and swiftly absorbs any necessary information. If you have the shot process down and are well practiced, trusting yourself to make a good shot is what works.

An attentive and engaged mind is capable of ignoring any distractions, another top reason why Type B personalities are so successful. They’re always fully focused on the present, meaning they trust their release. The only thing on their mind while taking their shot is aiming, the shot process takes care of itself.

Archery Personality Type And Your Equipment

So how do you go about choosing equipment based on your personality type? Your archery personality type doesn’t only affect the way you shoot, it also affects the way you use archery accessories. If there’s a certain piece of archery equipment or accessory you want to use, you should first find out if it’s compatible with your type, or traits.

For example, if you’re a Type A personality, you like to have full control. This means you’re more likely to gravitate towards accessories that provide a higher degree of control. Cutting edge compound bows, magnified scopes, and a trigger release are just a few things that may attract you. Ironically, too much control will have the opposite effect and may lead to horrible target panic. So, while there’s nothing wrong with these equipment choices, you must be aware of your personal tendencies while using them.

Let’s say you’re dominantly Type A with Type C tendencies. This means you desire a lot of control, but willing to take chances. In this scenario, it might be best to shoot pins with a hinge release so you allow yourself less control. Another option is to remove the pins and release altogether and shoot traditional archery! It really comes down to your ability to overcome bad tendencies, which we’ll dive into next.

How To Overcome Bad Tendencies

It’s perfectly normal to have a few bad tendencies when it comes to archery. You can still succeed in high-level archery tournaments, just know you’ll need to put in the necessary work to overcome them. The degree to which you suffer from these tendencies is equal to the degree of work you’ll need to put in. So how do you overcome bad habits? You must understand your archery personality type so you can neutralize any bad tendencies you may have.

For example, if your main personality is Type A, you may want to remove elements of finite control and work on trusting the shooting process over controlling it. If you’re a Type C personality, you may want to stop yourself from taking a gamble on the shot…let down and approach the shot again with clean form. If you’re a Type D personality, it’s best to let go of your mental chatter and focus on the present.

The first step to improving is awareness. Before you work on changing anything, simply call attention to yourself and what you’re doing. Once you become aware of your tendencies, you can begin to overcome them.

Mental drills are available to improve your concentration and focus. Performing mental drills created for your personality type will help keep you focused, as organized thinking is key to your success. For example, if you feel your mind wandering and overthinking during the shot process, you can try simply repeating the phrase, “find the center, find the center, find the center”.

Conclusion

Does your archery personality type support your ability to shoot consistently accurate? In archery, certain personality traits make it easier for you to remain calm, cool and collected while competing. If your archery personality type is anything other than Type B, you can still find success. You’ll just need to put in more effort to get to where you want to be.

Understanding your archery personality type gives you the insight you need to decide whether you’re a natural when it comes to shooting in high-level competitions. Keep in mind that while your personality plays a large role in your success, so does your work ethic, demeanor, dedication, physical fitness, discipline, concentration, and preparation.