Archery for a 6yo - advice - help

[masraum]

Up until now, I'd been focusing on Dex standing right, and getting a good draw on the bow, and hopefully, hitting the box. He'd gotten pretty good at a consistent draw and release, so I added "anchoring". It's not quite as precise as some, but I told him that he needs to draw the string back and have his thumb touch his face/cheek at the same place every time. I explained how that would help him hit the same place all of the time, and eventually try to shoot a real target with a bullseye.

I try to get him out for ~15-20 mins in the mornings and then again in the evenings, and he's always better in the mornings. I assume it's a combination of being more tired in the evenings and the evenings being much hotter.

Anyway, he's not ready for any competitions, but he's missing the boxes much less, and even beginning to get a "group." It won't be long before the bow and arrows are holding him back. The plastic vanes on the arrows definitely throw them off. They fishtail pretty bad (probably notice the arrows are usually in the box at a similar angle). Maybe it's just the better draw, but he's started getting some shots that don't fishtail. I haven't been able to figure out what he's doing differently.

[masraum]

The old "target" and arrows as they came from Bear.

The new "target" and new arrows, plus the Bear arrows upgraded with feather fletching. You can see the improvement in the arrows since the fletching upgrade. In the first photo the arrows are at a pretty steep angle to the target because the plastic vanes caused fishtailing. In the updated photo, the arrows are mostly perpendicular to the target.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Hoyt makes come cool bow and arrow combo's. I got mine at a pawn shop with a case and arrows, a string releasing device and a quiver, $45 clams out the door. And that sucker is accruate to the tee.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Hoyt makes come cool bow and arrow combo's. I got mine at a pawn shop with a case and arrows, a string releasing device and a quiver, $45 clams out the door. And that sucker is accruate to the tee.

Hoyt is a good brand, and that sounds like a screamin' deal!

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by masraum

Hoyt is a good brand, and that sounds like a screamin' deal!

Yeup, I was surprised, I called up and the store owner said they had a few in the back that didnt sell for a good 5 years. The case need a wash, and the bow needed to be adjusted for my arm length and that was is. He had 5 others at that same price range. I was blessed that day!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

The old "target" and arrows as they came from Bear.

The new "target" and new arrows, plus the Bear arrows upgraded with feather fletching. You can see the improvement in the arrows since the fletching upgrade. In the first photo the arrows are at a pretty steep angle to the target because the plastic vanes caused fishtailing. In the updated photo, the arrows are mostly perpendicular to the target.

Kinda interesting. Those arrows in the top appear to have blazer vanes or something similar. They're normally better than the longer vanes in my experience. One thing I notice is the arrows "tailing". To me that indicates he was torquing the bow or didn't have the arrow knocked properly. Glad you've got him shooting better. Keep up the good work!

BTW, Hoyt, Bowtech/Diamond, Mathews, Parker, Bear, all makes good stuff. It's really what you like and what feels good in your hand. I shoot a Bowtech General, which by today's standards is slow and old, but it feels good shooting it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by masraum

The old "target" and arrows as they came from Bear.

The new "target" and new arrows, plus the Bear arrows upgraded with feather fletching. You can see the improvement in the arrows since the fletching upgrade. In the first photo the arrows are at a pretty steep angle to the target because the plastic vanes caused fishtailing. In the updated photo, the arrows are mostly perpendicular to the target.

That's awesome Steve! He might just be posing for the pic, and I'm no expert, but was always a pretty good shot naturally. Of course it's all about having fun at his age, but one suggestion....

Have him try holding the string nearer the tips of his fingers, not back at the joints.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Kinda interesting. Those arrows in the top appear to have blazer vanes or something similar. They're normally better than the longer vanes in my experience. One thing I notice is the arrows "tailing". To me that indicates he was torquing the bow or didn't have the arrow knocked properly. Glad you've got him shooting better. Keep up the good work!

Stiff rubber vanes shooting off of the shelf with a note that isn't cut to center, the vanes were hitting the shelf and tailing. It was the main complaint about this bow and arrow set. That's why I swapped the vanes or for feathers.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

That's awesome Steve! He might just be posing for the pic, and I'm no expert, but was always a pretty good shot naturally. Of course it's all about having fun at his age, but one suggestion....

Have him try holding the string nearer the tips of his fingers, not back at the joints.

I'll see if he can manage it. He struggles a little strength-wise with the bow.

[KFC911]

Then save that for later .... it should all be about having fun ... and he is !

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

that was the 1st thing that came to mind with me. we could make one of those in woodshop class in high school after buying the kit and the wood from Mr. Kagle, the shop teacher. my mom signed the permission slip unaware and 4 months later when I brough it home my pops promptly took it from me and all the arrows Mr. Kagle's kit included....

hated him for it then, but he knew WTF was up. gave it back to me the day I moved out, for the last time... 3rd time over all and he'd had enough. of me. and storing Kagle's kit..

[cabmandone]

Something else you might look into is shorter arrows for his draw length. An arrow closer to his overall draw length will improve speed and accuracy, or at least it should. The problem with shorter arrows comes as he grows. I probably had four sets of arrows for my son when he finally quit shooting his bow.

[masraum]

We got a new bow for the grandson. This is much better and nicer. Now we need to get him out to try it out. We're thinking that we'll get him out in the holidays.

48" long w/10# pull @ 22". I think the grandson pulls to 18-19" so he'll not be pulling 10#, but on his old bow he was only pulling about 8#, so that's not a problem. I can't wait for him to shoot it.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by masraum

All shots are on paper!! that's great for a first timer.!!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

All shots are on paper!! that's great for a first timer.!!

He had a great time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by masraum

We got a new bow for the grandson. This is much better and nicer. Now we need to get him out to try it out. We're thinking that we'll get him out in the holidays.

48" long w/10# pull @ 22". I think the grandson pulls to 18-19" so he'll not be pulling 10#, but on his old bow he was only pulling about 8#, so that's not a problem. I can't wait for him to shoot it.

He was out at our place for 5 days before Thanksgiving and it rained for the first three days, but eventually stopped raining and dried up enough so he could get out and use his new bow. He loved it. He was still shooting pretty well. It took a little adjustment, more because it had been 3-4 months since the last time he shot than anything else. He really loved the bow too.

I've got a much larger version of the same bow coming for myself. I'm sure he'll find that exciting, that our bows will look the same.

I'm looking forward to having a bow as well.

[flatbutt]

FB III is getting this Yute bow for Christmas. Da DIL isn't entirely unhappy.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

FB III is getting this Yute bow for Christmas. Da DIL isn't entirely unhappy.

Yep, that's probably made by the same people in the same factory as the one that I bought for the grandson and myself. They are all made in China, and multiple vendors have them made and put their name on them. It's a very nice little bow, and reasonably priced.

[masraum]

Dex is still loving the archery. Although he's a bit out of practice compared to this summer when he spent a few weeks here, he enjoys it. I got a matching bow to his (but much larger) for Christmas. He gets a kick out of us both having the same bow and doing archery together, although we can't really do it together just yet. I shoot from about 12 yards and he shoots from about 5-6.

I still need lots of practice to be consistent, but I'm having a good time. I've got about 150 arrows down range now.

Not aiming at anything, just trying to hit the target and be consistent.


Trying to hit the peak of the mountain.


I don't have sights, I'm just using "the force."

[flatbutt]

I'm not letting FB III use a sight yet. He's learning the old fashioned way.