Let’s talk about building archery stamina — that crucial ability to shoot accurately from your first arrow to your last. It’s a training principle that’s often overlooked but can make all the difference when it matters most.
I want to share a straightforward yet powerful training method: adding ends to build stamina. This approach isn’t complicated. It even sounds obvious. But it’s incredibly effective for developing the endurance needed for consistent accuracy throughout an entire competition or hunting day.
Why Stamina Matters in Archery
Tournament shooting creates a predictable pattern for most archers. You start with nerves jangling as you launch those first few arrows among your peers at a new event.
Then you settle in, find your rhythm, and cruise control takes over. But as the day progresses, physical and mental fatigue start creeping in – your float expands, your execution slows, and those X’s become 9’s.
I hit this exact wall during my recent training. After completing my Power of 4 with 10 ends, fatigue started setting in. The shots that felt automatic earlier now required intense concentration. This transition zone – where comfortable shooting turns into a stamina challenge – is precisely where tournaments are won or lost. If you want to uncover your best abilities, you have to just keep digging.
Adding Ends vs. Adding Arrows
Instead of solely focusing on perfect execution during practice, I’ve implemented a deliberate stamina-building approach: adding ends. Before I even begin my training session, I mentally commit to shooting additional ends beyond my comfort zone. You may even call it over-preparing.
“Alright, we’re adding five more ends today,” I tell myself at the start. This mental preparation is crucial because it frames the entire session as an endurance exercise — not just a technical one.
Think of this like progressive weight training. When getting back into the gym after time off, you don’t immediately go for max weight on bench press. You start with manageable weight, increase your reps, establish control, and feel the movement pattern. Archery stamina works exactly the same way.
Here’s why adding ends works better than adding arrows per end: If you’re completely breaking down for those last few arrows and making horrible shots, you’re creating negative imprinting.
Instead, keep your arrow count per end on the lower side while you build stamina. Focus on quality execution through more ends rather than quantity of arrows.
Just like a weightlifter needs to feel the weight while maintaining form, I’m feeling my draw, understanding it intimately, releasing my safety, and pulling through with consistent execution.
The results aren’t flawless right away and it’s important you get your mindset right on this one before a few iffy shots break your morale. Let yourself be comfortable with building stamina instead of just focusing on the scores.
For my training, I’m shooting on a larger target while focusing on trusting that float and finding comfort in patience and persistence… all while improving week by week.
Results and Application
Two weeks ago, I struggled to get four consistent shots off, one after another. Now, four in a row isn’t a problem. I’m stringing them back-to-back-to-back without hesitation. About three days ago, a switch flipped, and suddenly I could send significantly more arrows downrange without running out of gas.
The evidence of progress is clear, but I can still see room for improvement. During my 11th end, that last arrow wandered, showing me exactly why this training approach matters. That wild arrow is precisely what happens in tournaments when stamina fails.
To implement this approach yourself:
- Start each practice with a mental commitment to specific additional ends.
- Keep arrow counts per end manageable while building endurance.
- Focus on execution quality even when fatigue begins.
- Recognize improvement while identifying areas still needing work.
- Add 1 extra end per week to your rounds each time you get comfortable.
Conclusion
Building archery stamina isn’t complicated, but it requires deliberate practice and progressive overload – just like any athletic training.
By systematically adding ends to your practice routine, you’ll develop the physical and mental endurance needed for those critical tournament-winning final arrows. Your body and mind will adapt, and one day, that switch will flip for you too.
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