Why Is Follow Through Important In Archery?

Why Is Follow-Through Important In Archery?

If you shoot a compound bow then you will have likely been told about the importance of follow-through. Sadly, a lot of archers don’t put enough focus on this and do not realise that this may be having an effect on their overall performance.

In this article, we are going to be looking at why follow-through is important and how you can make sure that you always use it.

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What Is Follow Through?

One of the most common mistakes made by new archers, and sometimes, even those who have been practising for many years is that they believe that the shot is over once the arrow has been released.

There are ten main steps to an archery shot, and follow-through is the last of these, and it occurs after the arrow has been released. If the follow-through is not executed correctly, you will likely notice that your shot has much less power and your accuracy may be affected.

As you draw your bow, a lot of energy and tension builds up in both the arm and the bow; this needs to be allowed to naturally expand after the shot has been fired. Unlike some of the other positions that you might have practised in archery, the follow-through is not a static pose but more of a flowing action.

If the entire shot is done correctly, you will notice how the release and the follow-through form one movement.

How To Do An Archery Follow-Through

Each step of the archery shot is just as important as the one that preceded it and the one that will come after.

The tenth and final step, the follow-through is much more crucial than a lot fo newbie archers first suspect; they might even feel that it requires learning something that doesn’t really matter.

But that is not the case. With that in mind, let’s now take a look at the essential components that make up a successful follow-through.

• Before you release the arrow, you must be prepared to complete the release and follow-through in one smooth motion, so give yourself a moment to check your stance.
• Keep your fingers on the drawing hand nice and relaxed. Make sure that you keep your back muscles engaged as this is an important part of your drawing stance. The shoulder blades will move in towards the spine as your drawing arm will move back.
• The hand on your drawing arm should be located near to the face, just at the back of the ear.
• Even after the arrow has been fired, you will need to remain in the same position, keeping the bow held up by the bow arm.
• Keep applying back tension until such time that the arrow reaches the target. You can now lower your bow arm and your drawing arm.

Mistakes That Are Made During Follow Through

Much like any other step in releasing a bow, it is important that you practice your follow-through and learn from your mistakes. But if nobody ever tells you where you are going wrong, how are you supposed to know?

It may surprise you to learn that many archers find the follow-through one of the most complex things to learn. Oftentimes, this will be the last thing that they get right, so looking at your errors is even more crucial if you want consistency and accuracy.

To help you, we have put together a list of some of the most common follow-through mistakes and how you can rectify them.

Peaking

If you have only just begun to use a bow, you have probably done what is known as peaking, and you won’t be alone. A lot of beginners find that they do this, but once you are aware of it, it can be much easier to stop.

Peaking happens when you release the arrow and tilt your head, and the bow, to one side to look at where your arrow has gone.

Try to resist this urge to take a look and wait until the follow-through is complete; you will likely notice vast improvements in your consistency.

Lowering The Bow Too Soon

The other common mistake that new archers make is that they lower their bow too quickly after firing the arrow. The reason that this can cause a problem is simple when you think about it.

If the arrow has not fully cleared the bow, drawing it down prematurely could affect the course of the arrow, putting it off-target. This doesn’t mean that the bow even has to touch the arrow, but the mere energy of the nerdy movement could be enough to throw the arrow off-course.

The best way to avoid problems here is to keep your bow in position until you are sure that the arrow has hit its target.

Conclusion

Archery is a very intricate sport and requires a lot of dedication from people who wish to practice it to a high standard.

Releasing the arrow is not the end of the shot, and the follow-through is also an important aspect. This fluid movement between releasing the arrow and lowering your bow should not be taken lightly and is something that, when done correctly, will massively improve your accuracy and your consistency.