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A Basic Illustrated Guide to Using a Bow
Lie the bow flat, and nock the arrow across the top. The arrow should be
perpendicular (at right angles) to the string. Most arrows have three flights
(feathers) in a "Y" pattern; the stem of the "Y" should point outwards (upwards)
away from the bow. Usually, one of the flights (the cockfeather) is a different
colour, to indicate that it points away from the bow.
Grasp the string with the fingertips of the first two or three fingers on your
string-hand. Pinch the arrow between the first and second fingers. Do not use
your thumb!
Keeping your bow-arm (not the one holding the sting) straight, raise the bow
while pulling back on the string. Don't grip the bow too tightly, as this makes
your arm shake when you release the string.
Raise your elbow as you pull back on the string. This allows you to pull with
your shoulder rather than your elbow. Try to concentrate on pulling from the shoulder.
You might find this hard the first time. Don't worry, the muscles will strengthen
with excercise - even a small adult should be able to draw a bow rated 30-40
pounds at 28 inches with practice (and even a large adult may find this difficult
at first). A bow rated 20-25 pounds at 28 inches is good for beginners (the draw
weight is often marked on the bow near the grip).
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