RECURVES: TIGHTENING UP GROUPS... WITH A COMPOUND?
BOW SAYS: It’s easier to adjust your group on the target face when you are shooting consistent groups in the first place, of course. Earlier this year, Crystal Gauvin argued strongly that compound shooting improves your recurve shooting, and that practising with a compound is an excellent way to get your recurve shooting back on track. Many of the famous ‘elite’ recurve names shoot compound here and there – although they don’t always like to be photographed with a different bow, for sponsorship reasons.
There are several reasons why (see issue 150 for more details) but one of the most obvious ways shooting compound can help a recurve archer is in expectations. Compound archers generally shoot tighter groups, even as a beginner, than a recurve archer. This mentally imprints on your brain that you can shoot tighter groups and you begin to expect to do so. When picking up a recurve, you have now raised your expectations and are less willing to
‘settle’ for bigger group sizes or flyers.
Similarly, scores are generally much tighter across compound divisions then recurve. There may be five archers within a two-point difference, making every single arrow count, and a single less-than-perfect shot could be the difference between making the podium or not. You cannot get lazy and let one get away from you. Instilling the mentality that you need to shoot every arrow like it counts can only serve to benefit you.