Looking for an exciting hobby? Try shooting with a bow and arrow, if you haven't already. It is hugely entertaining and an activity that both adults and children can take part in. Like so many other sports, archery has developed rapidly in recent years.
The Olympic version of the sport, for example, has been thoroughly modernised and looks nothing like the caricature of archery you may have in your head. If you love modern sports that come in several versions and offer plenty of competitions and hours of fun, you should find a place where you can take up archery.
Where can you shoot with a bow and arrow?
There are plenty of good archery clubs, spread across most regions, so you can usually find somewhere to shoot with a bow and arrow wherever you live.
There is of course also archery for children. The vast majority of clubs offer it, so if your children are interested in the sport, just sign them up. You will naturally want to make sure that you and your children turn up with the right equipment. So it is a good idea to contact your local archery club to find out what kind of archery they shoot there – because there are differences.
Archery takes equipment
As an archer, there are several routes you can take with your equipment. You can, for example, choose a longbow, like those we know from old England, which were mainly used in wartime – though they have also been used for hunting in several cultures. As the name suggests, you get a long bow that takes a little practice to handle properly. Once you have mastered the longbow, however, you have an exceptionally powerful bow.
For official competitions, like those at the Olympics, the modern recurve bow is used instead. Through many years of development and modernisation, this bow has become one of the most popular types. It also lets you adjust your draw length, so you can become more precise with your shots.
Even though it may sound old-fashioned, you can also get a crossbow. Be aware, though, that shooting a crossbow and shooting a bow and arrow are worlds apart. Although the principle is really the same, these two ways of sending arrows on their way have very little in common. The crossbow takes a while to get to know, as it uses a special cocking technique you need to get used to. Like the longbow, the crossbow is known from old-fashioned warfare.
A popular type of bow is the clever compound bow. It is specifically designed to reduce the force you as an archer need to send your arrow off at high speed. Unsure which equipment to choose? You can always contact or visit your dealer for good advice and tips on which kind of bow suits you.
Remember the arrows
Shooting with a bow and arrow isn't easy without arrows. Here, too, there are a few things to look out for when you buy. For example, make sure the feathers at the end of the arrows are of good quality. The feathers sit at one end of the arrow to add an aerodynamic element that makes it fly cleanly through the air.
Then there is the material of the arrow itself. There are more options here than you might think. Competitions can have different rules on what the arrow may or must be made of. Typically it has to be wood or aluminium, but you can also get arrows made of carbon fibre or glass fibre. The material affects the arrow's durability and weight, but it also affects how sensitive the arrow is to wind. So it does matter which arrows you buy when you start shooting with a bow and arrow. Check these details with your dealer.
Shooting with a bow and arrow is for the whole family, so feel free to go looking for one of the many good archery clubs. Bow and arrow is for anyone who wants a fun outdoor hobby.
