Set a total rep goal for the summer. Right now is a great time to pick a number and start chipping away at it.
My goal this summer is 5,000 arrows, shot right here in my backyard. That number sounds crazy at first, but you don’t reach 5,000 all at once. You reach it one arrow at a time.
The summer months give you room to refine your shot without rushing. Today, I’ll cover how to make small refinements all summer long, plus tips on accessories and maybe a few bow builds.
One Arrow at a Time
After the first shot of the day, I pick up my clicker and press it once. It sounds crazy, but that’s all you need to do.
Keep plugging away, one arrow at a time, and the count climbs. I usually shoot five arrows at a time here in the backyard. As the summer goes on, I’ll work up to six, then eventually 10 per session.
I shoot all these reps at home, because having a consistent place to practice makes it easy to come back day after day. Have your clicker with you every session. That’s how the reps add up, one press at a time.
Back Down Your Poundage
If you’re shooting your hunting bow this summer, don’t be afraid to back it down. Get yourself some temporary sight marks at the lower weight.
My bow sits right at 60 pounds. That’s where I’ll keep it for my summer reps. Around the beginning of August, I’ll move back to my hunting setup and return to hunting weight.
A weight you can manage matters more than you’d think. You can get better at holding steady and keeping your pin on the target, even if you struggle with freezing under it. A manageable weight makes all of this work.
Lower poundage opens up your cam settings, too. These are good times to figure out where your modules and let-off fit you best: soft wall or hard wall, high let-off or a little lower. I’m shooting a Hoyt Carbon RX-10, and sorting out its cam modules and let-off is easy with less weight on the string.
Sometimes I wonder if I really need the poundage I use for hunting. At 60 pounds, I can maintain my posture, settle into the pocket, and aim a little longer. You get all that by reducing the weight.
What the Top Archers Pull
A lot of people wonder how the world-class archers get so many reps and shoot so well.
Keep in mind the max poundage at World Archery is 60 pounds. That’s all you can shoot. A lot of those guys pull from the 50s into the 60s.
Look at the Vegas Shoot: 50–60 pounds. They’re not out there pulling heavy weight. They maintain their posture, bring the bow to the target, and draw smooth without feeling like they’re fighting it.
The same approach to building better groups works at home: quality reps at a weight you can repeat.
Dialing In Your Summer Setup
When I drop poundage, I change up my arrows, too. I shoot a 340 spine out here, and it pairs nicely with the lighter weight. Super easy and comfortable to shoot.
If you keep a stiff hunting shaft on a lower-poundage bow, the arrow won’t pair right. Matching a lighter spine to your bow keeps everything flying nicely at a reduced weight.
I set my aiming squares on the targets before I start. I constantly change my targets so I’ve got a fresh point to aim at each session.
Making It Happen
Reduce your poundage, pair your arrows to match, and get out in the sunshine. Keep water close for the long sessions in the sun. A YETI Silo holds cold water through a full afternoon.
Five thousand arrows sounds like a lot until you start stacking reps. One arrow at a time. That’s the secret.
