Having a go at archery was something I’d wanted to do for a long time. Roping a friend in to try it with me as one of my 52 new things in 2020, here’s what the experience was like, and how you can try it too.
Archery; A Super Cool Sport
What do Hank the ranger in Dungeons and Dragons, and Willa and Nayda the warrior maidens in Thundercats have in common? They all used a bow and arrow and were amazing archers.
Growing up in the 80s, I thought these were cool characters and greatly admired their mystical weapons.
More recently, Katniss Everdeen rocked a quiver and nearly always hit the target in the Hunger Games. I know they are cartoons and ficticious characters, but I aspired to be as cool as them.
Having A Go At Archery In York
Our experience took place at Yorkshire Activity Centre, just outside the city of York. We were booked onto the Triple A Package, which meant we would also get to try axe throwing and air rifle shooting. You can book the activities individually if you don’t want to do all three.
We began by filling in a trusty disclaimer form acknowledging that any tomfoolery with the equipment would not be tolerated and if we ended up with an injury it would be our own fault for not listening to the instructor.
Not Heard About This Grizzly Thing Before
The instructions were fairly straightforward. What I had never thought about before, as I had never thought in detail about archery, was something the instructor referred to as de-gloving. It’s not something I wanted to experience either, it sounded horrific!
In my minds eye, when participating in archery, you would pull the string back on the bow, rest the arrow on your thumb, and release once you’re lined up with the target.
Our guide pointed out that upon release, the fletching (the fin bit at the opposite end to the point fact fans), would strike into the thumb with such force that it would do exactly what de-gloving sounds like. Except there is no glove to remove. Just your skin.
Staying Safe - Having A Go At Archery
When released, arrows can travel ridiculously quickly – at over 150 mph in some cases. I really didn’t want to experience the full force of one ripping across my hand.
To prevent a toe curlingly agonisingly awful injury, our instructor explained how to fire a shot safely.
The bow actually has an arrow rest built in. It’s just a tiny little thing which is above where you grip it. Clearly I had never paid enough attention to the characters I’d watched on screen.
The non pointed end of the arrow has a slight groove in it, called the nock. This rests against the string of the bow and that slight indentation just helps to keep it in position so the string doesn’t slip off when it is pulled back.
Taking Aim
To fire the arrow in a vague attempt at getting it to land somewhere with intention, the idea is to stand sideways on to the target. Hold the bow out at arm’s length, and pull the string back alongside your cheek so that you can just about line your eye up with where you want the arrow to go.
Once you’re in line with the target, it’s just a matter of releasing the string. Oh, and remembering to keep breathing. I caught myself holding my breath in an attempt to reduce any movement, but all that did was make me wobble more as I was running out of air.
Practice shots - Having A Go At Archery
We had five arrows each, and our first round was about getting a feel for the equipment, working out what stance felt comfortable and identifying how far back to pull the string. Any shots near the target was a bit of a bonus.
My attempt was really quite feeble although I did a good job of aerating the grass. My friend on the other hand was showing some natural talent.
The second attempt was recognising whether we needed to aim higher or lower. I’m pleased to say the arrows actually got into the target this time. Although not into the coloured circles, but hey, it was progress.
Competition
The session then became competitive, with my friend and I competing against each other to try and earn points for hitting the different colours of the target. Each shot showing improvement from both of us.
Another couple joined us, and whilst our guide brought them up to speed, we continued to practice and score points.
We fired some good shots, and it felt like I’d channelled my inner Katniss when I actually hit the bullseye! What a result!
Why You Should Consider Having A Go At Archery
I really enjoyed experiencing archery for the first time, it was great fun!
- It’s really easy to pick up. With just a few simple instructions and safety tips, you’ll soon be firing your arrows.
- You don’t have to be particularly sporty to give it a try. This is more about hand-eye coordination.
- It’s a great if you want to do something a little bit different for a birthday, hen do, stag do, team building event etc.
- If you’re looking to do something different with friends, why not try archery?
Good luck if you give it a go!
Want To Try It Yourself?
- To try the exact same archery experience, visit the Yorkshire Activity Centre
There are several places in York when you can try your hand at the experience;
- Kinsmen Activity Centre in Riccall is another provider of archery experiences in York.
- Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park in Escrick have sessions to try your hand at archery.
- York Archers Society offer full courses rather than taster sessions – great if you’re serious about taking up the sport.
- Ebor Archers offer 6 week beginner courses.
If you’re in Yorkshire, take a look at Uniquely Local who curate a selection of archery experiences across the county, with prices starting from £30 per person.
If you’re not in Yorkshire;
- take a look at National Archery. They list all of the locations across the UK who they are linked with, and you can even buy gift vouchers.
- Archery GB also lists clubs across Britain, so why not take a look to see if there is one near you.
- Virgin Experiences offer a selection of archery experiences across the country too, with prices starting from £31
Cost Of Experience
- We paid £60 per person for the triple A package at Yorkshire Activity Centre. This included Archery, Axe Throwing and Air Rifle Shooting.
- To partake in archery only, it costs £25 per person at the Yorkshire Activity Centre.
- Prices with vary depending on the provider you go with.
Recommendations
- Pay attention to the instructions. This is a fun activity, and the organisers want you to have a good time. However, there is an element of risk, so make sure you listen so that you stay safe.
- Check the forecast. This is usually an outdoor activity, so dress according to the weather.
- Wear something that isn’t restrictive. Make sure you can easily move in whatever you’re wearing.
- Don’t forget to breathe. It makes it much easier to aim and hit the target if you don’t hold your breath.
- Have fun! It’s a great sport to try, don’t worry if you don’t hit the markers at first, stick with it and you’ll soon see progress.
- Don’t forget to take some pictures, and capture your warrior experience.
- Let me know how you get on if you do decide to give it a try.