Shooting in the wind

[bigfella]

I read in your bio, James (although I can't find the thread now) that you are an acknowledged shooter in windy conditions and that you have taught others how to deal with windy conditions.

With our westerly season now on us I thought it would be really good if you went through your process for all of us who struggle in the wind and would like to shoot better in it than we do.

How about it, James?

[James Park]

As per the request: (talking compound here when discussing equipment, otherwise the same for recurve)
- First, I recognise that most of the time we do need to shoot in the wind. While we all like shooting beaut scores on dead still days, those types of days are pretty rare.
- Second, I try to optimise my gear for least drift. This means a high energy bow (I have found that single cams fill that role well, without having to be continually tuned), with not-to-great a brace height (bearing in mind that a bow with a low brace height is difficult to shoot, we need to make a compromise here, so I aim at about 7 3/4" or thereabouts, 7" would be too low for my liking, and over 8" would be too great). Then I very definitely want heavy, small diameter arrows with heavy points - X10's are the best. I use my bow at the maximum permitted draw weight (60 pounds), and keep my D-loop short to maximise the power-stroke.
- Third, I accept that my scores will be lower on windy days, and that I will from time-to-time have shots when I am blown off just as I shoot and get the occassional horrible score. The real trick is making sure that while your own scores go down, they need to go down less than the opposition. That is, remember that it is all comparative rather than absolute scores that matter. Also, remember that on some days I will be unlucky enough to get all the gusts while others don't and that I need to accept that on those days I will probably not win, and to just accept the fact. Basically, I need to remember that while I may have a nasty score, so will most others. Similarly, I need to remember that even though I might have a nasty end and get behind, I must not give up because chances are that the others will some time as well - I have seen archers miss the target in the last end and let others win.
- Fourth, I try to use the conditions in the best way. For example, generally you can listen to the trees upwind and get a very good idea of when the wind is either going to come or go, and then to pick the best times to try to take the shot. Sometimes, of course, we do not have a choice of when to shoot, for example if we are running out of time - for this reason I would generally try to get a couple of shots off early in the end, even if it is a bit windier, so that I have a bit more freedom to pick the best time to shoot the rest without running out of time. I know that for sure I can shoot two shots in 30 seconds if I really need to. Once I get down to one arrow left I will frequently wait for the 30 second light or for a good still patch.
- Fifth, I try to optimise my technique for the wind. For example, I pull firmly into the wall (and here I want a bow with a hard wall and no vertical nock travel), and get my bowarm shoulder in close to the arrow. It is important to be able to shoot the shot reasonably quickly (without punching, of course), so that you can take advantage of a still period, or get the shot away before the wind you can hear just down the ground gets to you. I also turn my feet in a little more in gusty conditions because your lower body is then a little more stable. In raelly windy conditions for field shooting (not for target), it is sometimes better to kneel or sit on the ground - gets you a little more out of the wind and stops gusts blowing you about so much (but you need to practice it). I watch where each arrow hits the target. I then aim off or cant to allow for it. While doing that, I also listen for changes in the wind while I am at full draw. I accept that I will not be able to aim as well in wind, and try to ensure that even though I might not always be aimed in the 10, I want to operate the release as smoothly as I can, and that a smoothly executed shot will probably in the long run get me a higher score than waiting for my aim to be perfect and perhaps forcing it off.
- Sixth, I try to do some practice in the wind (at long distances).
- Seventh, and most importantly, I let it be known that I like shooting in the wind and that I think it gives me an advantage if it is windy (which are both true). Perhaps if that is known to my opposition they will then be in a frame of mind where they expect me to do well and will let me have an (otherwise unearned) advantage.

[2Dogs]

In order to do well in the wind Bigfella, you must have an arrow in your bow when you fire. :wink:

Plus everything Jim just said!

[Marcus]

I read this advise before from Jim and can say it works a treat. In tthe last 6 months I have tried to do all of these and it has paid off in a major way.
1. Was close to packing in the otherday on a horrible day, was talked into it. Figured if I can get some good shots off it may not be so bad.

2. Recently improved my gear so I was able to shoot very very heavy arrows at decent speed. I was able to hit what I aimed at without the need of canting on Sunday.

3. While I was hoping for much higher scores, I didn't panic when things didn't work. I shot a 2 at 90m, and a couple of 5's. By keeping myself positive I kept most of the rest close to the middle.

4. Always done this, the other guys on my target also did so. Works well.

5. By doing this I could aim just long enough for the release to go off. Figured if I ws near the middle on release it should land there.

6. Shot the day before in rough conditions also. I think this was why I had a good day, already felt good about the wind.

7. This also was a huge thing for me. I walked in and knew I could compete with anyone on the day in those conditions. While I knew my score would suffer, I was confident it would suffer less than others.

8. Luck. ;)

[bigfella]

Thanks James, there are some great hints here that extend beyond the simple "pull hard into the back wall" answer. Your comments will be a great help to anyone trying to do better in blowy conditions. :D

[grantwomack]

- Third, I accept that my scores will be lower on windy days, and that I will from time-to-time have shots when I am blown off just as I shoot and get the occassional horrible score.
I think this is possibly the most difficult of these to do. When your happen to shoot two 1's in an end *AHEM*, it doesn't mean that the day is over, even if it feels like it.

One thing you forgot to mention as well, Jim... One of the rules of archery. The wind will always be lightest when you are collecting arrows and will be strongest when you step to the shooting line.

[James Park]

One of the rules of archery. The wind will always be lightest when you are collecting arrows and will be strongest when you step to the shooting line.
Yes, agree with that one. Its companion rule is that when you have "A's" and "B's" alternating shooting (as we do for our State Short Range Championships), if you are an "A", you will always get more wind than when the "B's" are shooting, and vice versa.