Here we will discuss four different methods of aiming a traditional bow with no sights. In target archery and Olympic archery it is called “barebow”, meaning a bow with no sights. In traditional archery we just call it shooting. Again, I believe in learning traditional archery first to developing a strong set of fundamental skills. With these skills, you can then easily transition to other disciplines of archery.

The purpose of aiming is to have a repeatable method of hitting your target, where you intend, every time. And by target, I mean your target, not the target. And by this, I mean the very smallest molecule you can focus on, where you want your arrow to hit, not the giant 30″ across bulls eye style target. Aim at the smallest thing you can see or even imagine you can see. On a standard 80cm target, in the center of the 10 ring there is a small X. The X is little bigger around than an arrow. The point at which the lines of the X intersect is about as big as the smallest dot you could make with a reasonably sharp pencil. At the center of that is a single molecule. Aim for the center of the molecule. I’m not kidding here. One of the differences between a good archer and a great archer is this ability. The old adage of “aim small, miss small” is very, very true.

Point On Distance

Three methods of aiming rely on knowing your “Point On Distance”. Sometimes called point on range or just point on. Point On Distance is the distance away from the target where your arrow hits exactly where it is pointing. This distance is specific to each archer and each bow they may shoot and any different arrows they may shoot. There are a lot a factors that can affect your point on distance. But for our purposes you only need to know what yours is with the set up you are currently shooting.

Practicing good form using the 11 step shot sequence, shoot at a specific spot low on your target, the smaller the better. Starting at 10 yards, shoot with the point of your arrow on the spot. If you hit high, back up a couple of yards and shoot again, aiming at the same spot. Continue this process until your arrow hits the target at the spot your point is on. Then shoot a few more times to confirm the distance. Then measure the distance. Now you know your Point On. This plays a major roll in Gap Shooting, Face Walking and String Walking. But first, Instinctive Shooting!

Instinctive Shooting Method

Instinctive shooting is a method of aiming, in which, the archer doesn’t actively aim. Confused? Try this, pick an object about 10 feet away. Quickly point your finger at it and hold it there. Now sight down your finger and you should find that it is very close to the object, if not spot on. This is the basis of instinctive shooting. The human brain is capable of making the calculations needed to accomplish this almost instantly if we don’t consciously try to affect the outcome.

Simply focus on the spot you want to hit, draw, anchor and release. Then do it again. And again. Within a few shots your subconscious brain will make the adjustments it takes to hit your spot. It is best to start close to the target and go through your shot sequence quick. If you slow the process down too much your conscious brain will start to take over. Some people just have a natural affinity for this method. For whatever reason their brain makes better use of the information their eyes send it and their muscles and reflexes respond more accurately. We all know someone like this. For the rest of us, this method is takes a lot of shooting to subconsciously adapt to different distances. And once you get it, you have to use it, to keep it fine tuned. I have seen some truly impressive and know many good Instinctive shooters. But many of us will only ever be just OK. You won’t win many trophies target shooting at long distances with this method, but for shorter distances and faster shots, like many hunting situations, it can be very effective and fun.

Gap Shooting Method

Gap Shooting is a method of aiming that uses your Point On Distance (POD) as a base line and all other distances are adjusted from that base line. Let’s say your POD is 30 yards. It only stands to reason that to shoot 20 yards, your arrow point would have to be placed lower than where you want your arrow to hit the target. And at 40 yards your arrow point would have to be higher than where you want your arrow to hit the target. So to adjust your aim, you simply adjust the “gap” between your arrow point and your target.

Start at a distance that is closer to the target than your POD, approximately 10 yards. Aim at the same spot on the target as you did to determine your POD. Shoot a few arrows. Once the range is clear, measure the distance between your arrow group and the spot on the target. This measurement is your “gap” for that distance. For example, with a 30 yard POD, you shoot 6 inches high at 20 yards. This gives you a 6 inch gap at 20 yards. Which means you have to aim 6 inches low when shooting from 20 yards to hit your intended target. If you shoot from 40 yards, your arrows will be lower than where you aimed and your gap adjustment will be higher than the intended target. If you know the distances you will be shooting you can figure your gap quite precisely.

Gap Shooting is becoming popular among traditional archers who participate in 3-D archery shoots. In an effort to maintain a semblance of tradition, many of these shoots do not allow String Walking or Face Walking. You must use the same anchor point every time and at least one finger must touch the arrow. Gap Shooting has become the aiming method of choice for many of these archers, who understand their personal limitations using the Instinctive Method.

String Walking Method

String Walking is when you nock your arrow normally, but grip the bow string in different locations depending on the distance you are shooting. Moving your hand down the string, is called crawling. Each distance you shoot will require a specific crawl to be accurate. You will still anchor your string hand to your face as normal. When sighting down the arrow, the point of your arrow will be placed where you want it to go on the target no matter the distance. If the distance you are shooting is less than your POD, moving your hand down the string effectively changes the angle of the arrow, thus changing the trajectory of the arrow.

For a shot at your POD, you would simply anchor, aim and shoot as normal. For a shot closer than your POD, you would nock your arrow at the normal nocking point, move your hand down the string from the nock to whatever location (crawl) you have determined for that distance, then anchor to your normal anchor point, place the tip of the arrow where you want it to impact and shoot. It takes some time to figure your hand placement hand or crawl for the different distances you shoot . Some archers count the wraps on their serving. Some have markings on their finger tab to indicate where to grip. Some use their fingers as a gauge. Either way, you will have to experiment to find your crawl for each range you shoot.

To use the String Walking Method you have to know your POD. And your POD should be equal to or greater than the longest distance you plan to shoot. String Walking can be very effective if you are shooting known distances and you have put in the time to figure out your crawl for the distances you will be shooting.

Face Walking Method

Face Walking works on the same principle of String Walking. Except instead of moving your hand down the bowstring, you move your hand to different anchor points on your face. These different anchor points change the trajectory of the arrow the same as String Walking does.

For example, if your POD is 30 yards and you want to shot 20 yards, you might anchor with your middle or ring finger at the corner of your mouth instead of your index finger. If you wanted to shoot farther, you might anchor with your index finger touching your bottom gum line or the bottom of your jaw bone. In order to be effective, just like String Walking, you have to put in the time to find the sweet spots for each range you shoot. Face Walking has the advantage of being able to shoot past your POD with your point still on the aiming spot.

Pick The Method That Suits your Style Of Shooting

Each method has advantages and disadvantages. String and Face Walking have the advantage of pointing the arrow where you want it to go, even at longer distances. Either of these can be tailored to almost any range if you put in the effort. I think String Walking has an advantage, in that you always anchor at the same spot. Where as, with Face Walking you have many different anchor points.

Instinctive and Gap Shooting are better suited to short to mid-range shots and is not as precise as String or Face Walking. But for hunting and 3-D target ranges they can work extremely well. All methods require some effort on the archer’s part to become proficient. And of course…practice, practice, practice!

Continue your archery learning experience here:

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