The Sherwood Forresters Longbow Archery Club Forum

Hi All

I had a conversation with David about using a band as a sight aid when I shoot target. He thought this was not allowed in main stream archery according to Robert Hardy.

As far as I am aware, GNAS and BLBS still sanction the use of a band for target and clout archery. BLBS tries to encourage not to use sighting aids including anchor tabs. Field archery is usually barebow.

With regard to using a band as an aid. Most experienced longbow archers come to realise the arrow is pointing at a certain place when shooting certain distances. Could be bottom of target stand, top of target stand, top of tree at 100 yards....top of passing cloud for clout? The bow limb is also an aid to what to point at. So all archers will use something to try and reference so they can 'aim'. People talk about instinctive shooting but all shooting must be based on experience and reaction to that experience....a process of thesis, antithesis and hopefully synthesis. The only time an archer will not use some sort of visual sighting for aiming will be blindold or if they are indeed a blind archer.

To be successful one must take into account where the string is in relation to the bow when you anchor your string prior to release. One must always draw to the same point and same length. I use an anchor tab, middle of nose and tab under chin to provide three anchor points. I have a mental picture of what the gap twixt string and bow limbs looks like when I am shooting well. My arrows for target are just long enough so that at full draw I am at the junction between point and shaft. If an archer cannot find consistancy they cannot find the target.

Peter

Just thought i would chuck in my inexperienced two-penneth worth aswell.
My thoughts are that you should hold off on a band for as long as possible. When i was on my begineers course i was starting to think about putting a band on but was told to wait, and i think that is the right call. It is natural to try and push forward as quick as possible but the longbow shot is about much more than 'line these 2 points up and you will get a gold everytime'.
If you think about it all a band can do is tell you that your eye, that bit of your bow and the target are in a line. There are so many other factors that can effect the shot more. The couple of times i have used a band i find that so much concentration goes on the aiming that the technique suffers (even if scores do seem to rise)
Basically to repeat what peter said is that you are already aiming with your entire body anyway, and accuracy will only come this way with practice. Once your 'natural' aiming is quite good a band or aiming aid can be used to fine tune for target events. If you do not have a strong base however you can become reliant on the 'sight' and wont understand why some shots go wayward when you have lined up the 'sights'.
Another way to think about it is that there are more things that can go wrong with your shot due to your drawing hand, but the sights only effect your bow hand.
Also for field and roving marks with the changing and unmarked distances the instinctive shooting is far more important.
Anyway those are my thoughts. At the end of the day it is what feels best for yourself.

Stuart

Hi Stuart

You must have had a wise and sagacious teacher Grasshopper

Peter

My friend Richard from Abbeydale has forwarded the current GNAS longbow rules to me, for which, many thanks....just need to dig out my BLBS book of rules!



Rule 206/c




206. Longbow

(a) Bow. The bow shall be the traditional longbow made from wood, either “self”, “backed”, or “laminated” with cambered (stacked) belly and horn nocks. With the exception of the “self” bow, each limb of the bow shall form a single simple curve from the handle to the nock when at full draw. The bow shall be not less than five feet in length for an arrow of less than 27 inches and; not less than five feet six inches in length for a 27” or longer arrow, this being measured along the back between the string nocks. At no point shall the depth of the bow, measured from back to belly, be less than 5/8 (five eighths) of the width of the bow at the same section. The bow may carry no support for the arrow. Bows of bamboo, constructed in conformity with the above, shall be permitted.

(b) String. Strings may be of either natural or man-made substance, and may, if desired, embody a “kisser” at any point as required to facilitate a consistent draw position, but for no other purpose.

(c) Sights and Points of Aim. Sights, as such, are not permitted but one of the following may be used:

(i) Marks on the bow limb.

(ii) Rubber bands of no more than 1/8” in depth and thickness.

(iii) Artificial points of aim on the ground, provided they do not exceed a height from

the ground of 6 inches or a diameter of 3 inches nor impede any other archer.

(d) Arrows. Arrows shall have wooden steles (shafts), shall be fitted with feather fletchings,

and may have either horn-reinforced, self or applied nocks. There is no limit to the maximum shaft diameter. Piles shall not exceed the diameter of the shaft at the point of fitment. Shouldered piles, whilst not disallowed, should be avoided because of excess damage to targets. Arrows shall be properly marked, so that there shall be no difficulty in claiming them.

(e) Hand Protection

(i) Finger protection in the form of finger stalls or tips, gloves, or shooting tab or tape

(plaster) to draw, hold back and release the string is permitted, provided that such

protection does not incorporate any device to hold, draw and release the string.

(ii) A separator between the fingers to prevent pinching the arrow and/or a platform

tab may be used. An extension so as to provide a greater angle, prior to release, other than that achieved by the use of a normal tab, glove or other form of finger protection, is not permitted.

(iii) On the bow hand an ordinary glove, mitten or similar item may be worn but shall not be attached to the grip.

The I.L.A.A. the International Longbow Archers Association does not allow any sight marks. It only seems to have one target tournament per annum.

Peter

I`m thinking of using a band as well, Take That and Westlife are very popular, do you think either of those would be OK?

Ifn you use a band and and shoot more consistently will you get a group or be a groupie?

If you want a 'gold' all the time, there is always Spandau Ballet.

Hello All

I was always told a "Band" played Musical Instruments
So that rules out Take That and Westlife
At least Spondon Bullet appeared to be hold Musical Instruments of some sort on their Video's
Looks like Michael will have to search elsewhere for that assistance to improve his Shooting
Never had him down as a Boy Band Fan tho
Well I'm off Twitby, so sharn't be around for a couple of weeks, will bring You all a stick of Rock
See some of You upon My return

Regards
JohnQ

hope you have fun. If you are dancing try not to look like a looter walking down the streets with a stick. If the government were listening to us in the pub on Sat you will be shot on sight! "Inciting violence with bells and brights colours"!
See you soon

Stuart

Hello Stuart
We don't do bright colours and are only wearing BLACK until they find something darker
Look up "Witchmen Pagan Morris" on Google
Regards from "The Daarkside"
JQ