Telescopes for target archery

[James Park]

There are some who use telescopes and some who do not.
I think it is very important to use one, and my reasoning is as follows:
- To win a tournament I definitely need to average more than 9 for a FITA. In fact, I probably need to average about 9.5 per arrow (or more).
That is: at least half of my shots must be in the 10 ring. Perhaps if I was shooting recurve I would only need to average a little more than 9.
- Small changes in wind drift from end to end very definitely move arrows around on the target, and can certainly move them from the 10 to the 9 (or worse for a recurve). In fact, these changes can happen from arrow to arrow in the one end.
- If I do not pick up a small change in my group location until I get to the target to score, I may have lost quite a lot of points for that end.
- If that happens a few times I will find it enormously difficult to maintain the required average, and will almost certainly not win.
- I cannot think of any good reasons to not use a telescope. (Unless I was using a longbow in which case just hearing the arrow hit the target would possibly be sufficient).

What do you think?

[Marcus]

I agree 100%. I was shooting some old 400 Triples today at 70m as the light was fading. I shot a 58 on one end with a very nice group. Next end I fired the 6 shots and they felt as good as the last end (aimed well, executed well) and appeared to be landing in the middle. They were grouped well in the high 8.
Imagine if it counted and I lost a shoot because I wasn't adjusting.

[The One]

I used to always shoot with a scope, but found that I was getting to anxious about the score for certain arrows and for the entire end. Haivng got rid of the scope, and using binoculars for the odd shot when i'm not sure where it went, I have found two things:

1) It's a lot easier to keep rhythm, and not get distracted by the score (as a result, I was shooting better groups)
2) You can be susceptible to moving groups

It really depends which is more important to you. i'm considering trying the scope out again - Ideally I should be able to use the scope and not get worried about the score.

[Clare Barnes]

(Unless I was using a longbow in which case just hearing the arrow hit the target would possibly be sufficient).

In which case I can cite reasons for each target giving out a different sound to its neighbouring targets when hit! :oops:

[Flame]

Maybe a light on the top of the target that goes on when the target is hit :D

[Archangel]

My scope's sitting unused at home at the moment. It's too hard to get it places - the best part of 20kg of bowcase + clothes puts me well over the airline baggage limits, I don't want to have to worry about another couple of kg of scope.
And I'm not particularly convinced that my scores improved as a result of having one. I have pretty good eyesight, so on a nice morning (and a range aligned the right way) I can see my arrows fairly accurately even from 90. Those who are over the hill (or over several hills in some cases) would probably need artificial assistance :D

[Oldtimer]

Those who are over the hill (or over several hills in some cases) would probably need artificial assistance

If you're lucky, your day will also come ! :lol: :lol: :o

[New Tricks]

Binos are enough to see where your groups are and even then I will not look at the shot unless it was a good one. Too many punks use them as a scoring device not for wind information.

[James Park]

I disagree, binoculars are not sufficient (I have tried). This is especially the case when you get archers using similarly coloured arrows.
If archers are using telescopes/binoculars just to score then I agree, it the wrong reason and they should not have them.
However, what we are trying to do is to maximise our scores, and for that it matters a great deal if our group is centered on the 10 or centered on the 9-10 line - remember that we are trying to average well over 9 per arrow (for either recurve or compound) if we are to have a chance of winning a significant event. I think this level of accuracy is unlikely to be achieved if we do not spot our arrows (even with good eyesight).
I certainly find that wind shifts during an end can move the arrows sufficiently to mean that I might aim in a number of different places during the one end, and without knowing where my arrows are landing I think I would not be able to do this sufficiently well.

[Patchy]

I find Binos are plenty good but i am looking into this http://www.binocular.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=164&ProductID=2078&cid=864 nice and cheap :D the 90 X should be good for 90m :D