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Archery Lessons & Tips (The club does NOT offer lessons)
Kids Archery Tip
Kids' Tip--Let 'Em Rip
By Troy Fowler
Back before I became all old, stodgy, and set in my ways, I shot any arrow that was close. Spine differences of 20 pounds and five different broadheads in my quiver were normal. FOC be darned; I just wanted to shoot. Interestingly, many critters succumbed to this strategy.
Then someone introduced me to "real arrow tuning," including matching points, arrow weight matching, and so forth. It's really cool. Suddenly I could shoot a bare shaft accurately.
Time passed and two boys arrived under my roof by the standard means. Quickly gaining bipedal status, they started shooting the department-store-issued plastic bows. (Why on Earth are most plastic bows yellow?) Anyway, the plastic bows doubled as baseball bats and pry bars, reducing their life expectancy. In time I replaced the plastic toys with light-poundage bows built by Great Northern. Immediate discussions ensued about pry bars and baseballs. My boys love these bows, and the bows love the boys. It has been seven years and both bows live on. The abuse they have taken, including rain and days left on the ground, is amazing.
Here's the point of this scribble: Let the young guys rip with whatever arrows you have on hand, especially when they start out; just let them shoot. Horrible arrow flight, you bet, but kids don't care. If they hit the target from 7 feet, to them it might as well be 50 yards. The day will come to match things up. They have plenty of time to become old, stodgy, and set in their ways. For starters, archery should just be fun.
Teach your Kid's Archery from www.Bowshooter.com
Arm Strength Enhancers
By Deed Cimperman
During the off season, or when shooting your bow isn't an option, you can strengthen your archery muscles using a simple tool that works for me. This arm strength enhancer is easy and economical to build, and fun to use.
All you need is a 4" piece of fairly hefty PVC pipe, an 8" x 3" piece of leather, and something to provide strength resistance. I used slingshot natural latex rubber tubing on one, and a piece of Thera-band® on the other.
Thera-band® is a shortened form of physical therapy band. The bands come in various colors, based on the relative strength of the band, and you can buy any length you like. Mine is about 5 1/2" wide and is very thin. I got it at a Physical Therapy Clinic, and they are probably available in many other places. It costs about $1.00 per foot and will last for a very long time. The knot makes a comfortable handle.
You can search the web for "latex rubber tubing" or call your local pharmacy. I make lots of slingshots so I adapted that idea for one of my devices. The resistance should be about the same as the draw weight of your bow to do the most good. I used leather for a handle on this one.
A Thera-band® is a terrific piece of equipment that you can use to exercise many muscle groups, not just archery muscles. You can strengthen your "swing" muscles for tennis, golf or baseball. It can be attached to a tree, railing, doorknob, or just about anything handy. You are limited only by your own ingenuity.
Shoot Straight from Bowshooter.com
Archery Outpost 10714 Reagan St., Suite B, Los Alamitos, CA 90720, 562-598-3444
Orange County Archery Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Hi Tech Archery - Fullerton - Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays.
Pasadena Roving Archers - Saturday 9 - 11
Randho Park Archery Range 2459 Motor Ave. Los Angeles, CA. 310-839-1516 JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) Program. Free Public Safety Course and Instruction 11am Saturdays - Equipment is provided. LAX 10 Archery can give you more information - John Stevens 310-869-5415 or 323-292-3634.