T-7 Days : Joining Instructions

Last night the email containing the final joining instructions for the course arrived.  From the distribution list it appears there will be six students and all three of the club's instructors - a very healthy ratio.  I have met all of the instructors and know that they are patient, knowledgeable and encouraging.

Rather than just a quick reminder of date and time, M* also included a load more information designed to help us get off to a quick start. First was a description of good and bad types of clothing, and what to do about any dangling body piercings; both can get caught in the bow string! Although this course is running indoors, there will be no heating and the average temperature today was around zero degrees C, so I think I will be wearing plenty of thin layers including a thermal base layer.  Open-toed sandals are a definite no-no, but I don't think anyone is likely to be wearing any!

The email then went on to describe what to expect during the first lesson.,  We will be assessed for handedness (left/right) and which is our dominant eye.  Strangely it may be better to shoot left-handed if you are normally right-handed but have a dominant left eye (and vice versa).  As an aside, my wife is right-handed with a dominant right eye, but she cannot close one eye without closing the other - not good if you need to see!  The solution was to take a pair of cheap sunglasses, pop out the right lens and cover the left lens with tape.  This allows her to sight with her right eye whilst keeping the left covered.  The alternative to this is to wear an eye patch, but this made her look like an very unconvincing pirate.

The next task is assess our strength and allocate a bow of correct draw weight, followed by selecting arrows of the correct length (we'll find out why next week).  The equipment keeps on coming with the allocation of a tab (finger protector), an arm guard and and elastic stretch band - all three are included in the course fee, so are ours to keep.  I am imagining the stretch band will be used to practice drawing technique at home.

Safety is next up.  Having been on the range with my wife and son and seen what an arrow can do to a target, I know how important this is.  Practical instruction begins with an explanation of technique and demonstrations, and then it will be our turn!  We are promised a tea break mid-way, which I think will be very welcome if the temperature does not rise before next week.



*Note: I am keeping names anonymous for now in case anyone objects.

T-11 Days

In less than two weeks I begin the process of becoming an archer by starting a beginners course run by my local club.  I am a complete beginner, having only had a couple of have-a-go sessions, but I do have the benefit of two other family members who started archery last spring.  My son, being under 18, needs parental supervision and I often join him and my wife at the club so that she can shoot without distraction, or if she is not shooting at all.  I may not be able to handle a bow yet, but I do know how to score!

So why the blog?

I am hoping that by documenting my progress as much as possible, those little nuggets of information passed on by the coaches will not get lost in my increasingly-flaky memory.  By making the blog public perhaps some of those nuggets may benefit others who are to tread the same path.  There will be times when I find something difficult or simply do not 'get it', and maybe a reader can offer words of advice or encouragement.
As I (hopefully) improve I will post about the types of round I shoot and my scores - good or bad.  When the time comes to get my own equipment I will tell you about that, too.  My posts are likely to be fairly short but I hope to keep them regular.