Archery is a sport introduced in ancient times. Hunting animals and targeting an enemy during war is the true version of archery. Now, it is a game, using arrows and bows to aim at a particular target. In simple words, archery is the art of setting a target and using an arrow to shoot it.
The mechanism of archery is a bit different from other games because it involves both your mental and physical strength. It is more about focus, and skills rather than power. During this game, an archer stands at a distance and propels a bow to knock their aim down.
Archery is a complete set of techniques, abilities, and artistry to shoot at a target from an anchor point. Archery is a relaxed sport, and there is no aggression in it. Before we jump into archery anchor points, and how to find them, it is essential to understand them.
What is an Anchor point?
An anchor point is that place from where an archer shoots, or aims to release their arrow. In other words, it is the position of an archer that decides success and failure.
Archery Anchor points are the reference shooting positions. Archers rest their arms, and bows on anchor points, to find or aim their goal. They are the shooting positions, and help you examine your target.
Anchor points help archers to hit their prey with absolute consistency. They improve accuracy and shooting technique. In today’s article, we will share a wide range of anchor points for learning archery. Before going forward, understand that archery is an inborn talent, and different archers use different anchor points according to comfort, and technique.
What are the common Anchor points?
All the Archery Anchor Points are near your face, and archers adjust them according to their technique. It is a reference shooting position and is not the same for all archers.
Here is a list of common Anchor points used in archery
Cheekbone
It is one of the most simple anchor points for archers. When someone is confused, and not able to decide on a perfect anchor position, the cheekbone is the go-to reference position.
It is simple and easy because the cheekbone is more spacious. It is a stable position with more area. An archer gets the required space, and time to set their bow string when the cheekbone is used as a shooting point.
Cheekbone is a good anchor point because it helps archers stretch and hold bowstrings. Most shooters prefer it because it helps them in attaining consistency.
Finding a consistent place is a task in archery, but if someone uses the cheekbone as an anchor point, shooting becomes a piece of cake.
Drawback: The only snag of this anchor point is handling. If the draw length is long, it becomes hard for archers to shoot from the cheekbone. Cheekbone is a good anchoring source when the draw length is small.
Chin
Eighty percent of archers use the chin as a reference point. It is popular because of its stability, consistency, and comfortable handling. Chin is the most common anchor point because it has an adequate amount of fat and bone, unlike other anchor points. The adequate amount of fat and bone lets archers fix the bow string effortlessly.
When archers place their bowstrings in a way that touches the chin, the rest of the body parts get into place. The head stays still and helps archers focus on the target. Chin is a balanced anchor point because it assists archers get away from distractions. Therefore, a huge percentage of archers use the chin as their anchor point to maintain consistency and accuracy.
Drawback: The one disadvantage of this anchor point is jaw and neck strain. Holding a bow string against your nose on your chin puts a lot of pressure on the neck and jaw region. It is more concerning when the practice session and competition duration are long. The other drawbacks of this anchor position are long draw length and facial hair. When facial hair or the beard comes in the way, archery from the chin gets painful. Archers should keep their chin area clean if they prefer to use the chin as an anchor point in archery.
Eye
The eye is a less common anchor point, but it has its significance and profit. Archers use the eye as an anchor point to keep all their attention on the target. For this purpose, archers place their bowstrings on the dominant eye.
The eye is an ideal anchor point to maintain focus and accuracy. It helps archers forget everything in the background, and keep their focus only on the aim. People who keep accuracy their top priority, use their central eye as an anchor position in archery.
Drawback: The downside of using the eye as an anchor point is instability and risk of injury. The eye is a sensitive organ, and taking risks is not a cool thing to do. On the other hand, when the eye is used as a reference position, it becomes a challenge to keep everything else, especially the head in one position for long.
Collar bone
The collarbone is a rare shooting position but is stable in many ways. There is more space for handling, setting up a technique, and using an appropriate archery skill. The collarbone is a better option because archers look for balanced anchor points, and the collarbone covers all required areas.
When the nose tip and bow string touch the collar bone, the archer gets the opportunity to stretch the bowstring to the maximum. Collar bone acts as an equilibrium, and archers enjoy shooting from the collarbone.
Drawback: Some external and internal factors come in the way of shooting from the collarbone. The one internal factor that disturbs accuracy and consistency is chest size. A little bit above or below normal chest range makes it tough for archers to shoot from collar bone with uniformity. The other liability of this anchor point is external factors like clothing and stress from archery equipment.
Corner of the mouth
The corner of the mouth is a famous anchor point, and every second archer uses it. If you see archery pictures, most of the archers in them use the corner of the mouth as an anchor point. The reason behind its popularity is a clear vision, comfortable holding, and less strain.
When an archer puts a bowstring at the corner of the mouth, the front vision gets clear, and all the pressure from the neck and jaw neutralizes. The other best thing about this anchor position is the freedom to increase the draw length to full. The corner of the mouth is a safe shooting position because it takes off all the tension from the neck and jaw muscles.
Drawback: The corner of the mouth is a comfortable shooting source, but it gets interfered with by facial hair, dryness, and other skin issues. Dry lips and facial hair disturbs archery, and makes it painful for archers in some conditions. The other drawback is unstable head position because some archers find it demanding to keep their head still while shooting from the corner of the mouth.
Conclusion
Archery is a wonderful art of aiming your target. It is an innate talent, and it gets polished with practice. It was used for killing enemies in ancient times, and now is a medal-winning international game. There is a wide range of archery anchor points, and archers use them to get more skillful.