The weather’s warming up, and it’s about time to start sitting beachside, poolside and backyard-side. It’s also a perfect time to brush up on the fundamentals of archery or delve into more advanced techniques in preparation for your first, or next, tournament. Whatever your experience level is, there’s a book about archery out there for you. So, before you dive into the deep end of the pool, dive into one of the books about archery we’ve listed below.
“Total Archery: Inside the Archer”
by KiSik Lee and Tyler Benner
“Total Archery: Inside the Archer” by USA Archery head coach KiSik Lee and his student, Tyler Benner, details the ins-and-outs of high-level Olympic archery. Olympic archery historically includes only recurve bows, so these books detail archery specifically in reference to Olympic-style recurve archery. Lee explains the National Training System, which he created and is the standard for coaching accreditation for USA Archery. Each of the book’s 28 chapters focuses on a new element of technique, accompanied by full-color photos and diagrams that demonstrate the idea presented by the written words. It is written from the perspective of a coach-student relationship, with Lee as the coach and Benner as the student, so you can imagine that Lee is your coach, talking you through your training.
“Archery Fundamentals” (Sports Fundamentals Series)
First Edition by Douglas Engh
Revised, Second Edition, by Teresa Johnson
“Archery Fundamentals” is a great choice for a completely novice archer. It covers multiple types of archery: recurve, compound and traditional. And it touches on how to prepare for competitions. The book will teach you all the basics, from how to string a bow to how to successfully land your arrow on the target. You’ll also learn how to care for and tune your equipment, which is vital when you enter the world of competitive archery. Every archer needs to be able to perform a basic tuneup of their bow at a competition in case of emergency. After reading this book, you’ll be able to go to the archery range with the general knowledge you’ll need to begin your journey into archery.
“Archery”
by USA Archery
“Archery,” a technical publication directly from USA Archery, takes you through the entire archery process from the range to competition. It includes guidance on form, shot sequence, pre-competition strategies and active tournament strategies. “‘Archery’ includes a wealth of information on perfecting stance, body alignment, muscle recruitment, and shot sequence,” the description on Goodreads says. “You’ll master the skills and techniques taught at the U.S. Olympic Training Center by legendary coach KiSik Lee. Then you’ll prepare for competition.” In addition to covering the actual shot process, this book provides advice on how to buy the right equipment and tune your bow. It is a comprehensive resource to get you started on the path to competitive archery.
If you’re a new archer, these books can equip you with the proper fundamentals you’ll need to get started. If you’re more established in the sport, you can revisit fundamentals and dive deeper into more advanced techniques as you compete in outdoor tournaments and continue your practice routines. Either way, these books can be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in competing.
After reading one, or all, of these books, visit your local archery range to put the new techniques you’ve learned into practice.
