I decided to try an out door match, Ace Archers in Foxboro Ma holds an event every year called The Ourdoor Archers Cup.i signed up. it was a 1440 single distance event over 2 days.
I had a GREAT time, and 10 of my JOAD kids shot as well, our head coaches were there for support.
I am pretty new to recurve and I must say 70m was eye opening, my form is still sorting its self out and 72 arrows a day is more than I have ever shot. the shooters on my bale were very kind and patient with me and supportive on my first day. I started out ok and representative of my experience level.
There was supposed to be open practice from 8-8:45, this didnt happen and we got 2 official ends.
What was NOT expecting was to find my string alignment had settled down and gained some consistency, honestly up to this point it was all over the place and had my aperture way out.this started about half way through the first 6 ends.
This settling in to a rhythm started having my string/nose/chin become way more consistent. unfortunately with the sight so far out i started hitting to the right..way right. I gave it some clicks and was still way out. so I started aiming off and brought them in. so between ends i moved my sight. here's the funny bit.....i moved it to where i was holding off so yup? more out. so naturally i was still to the right....so i moved it more....dirt.dirt,dirt. then i realized what i had done. it was a rushed brain fart, nothing more, the damage was done, so i moved it back and things were good.
this is about the time I got tired, it was very humid and it dragged me out, I started making weak shots and hitting low right, a few more in the dirt, with just a few ends to go i aimed at the edge of the bale at about 10 o clock and hit closer to the center. long day lessons learned. a good experience, I was happy all things considered.
day 2. we got the half hr or so of practice, sight was moved WAYYYYY in. didn't miss a scoring ring until ends 5-6 where I still hit the face but was just out of the 1. shot was feeling good, hit some 10's and a few yellows. I was 43 points higher than the first 6 on Saturday.
second 36 arrows were not quite as good, it was a long weekend, and I had a couple weak shots, then I concentrated on only making a strong back tension release and I didn't have to aim off at all. the second half was about 55 higher than my dismal second on Saturday.
I can see what recurve is gaining popularity , it is immensely challenging, thoroughly frustrating , highly rewarding , brutally unforgiving and FUN.
as always I was shooting My trusty PSE X appeal with Xpression limbs, and Easton Carbon ones, thanks to Morses Sporting Goods in Hillsborough NH and Jon Brown and PSE for making the dream possible.i have also strated using AAE 's excellent line of recurve accessories check em out!
