The Truth About Increasing Archery Accuracy: Practice Smarter, Not Harder

We’ve all heard it: “Practice makes perfect.” It’s a reassuring mantra, but when it comes to archery, practice alone isn’t enough. Some archers spend countless hours honing their skills yet still struggle with accuracy when it matters most. Why? Because practicing with improper techniques or misunderstood fundamentals can do more harm than good. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

Let’s explore five essential tips that can help you refine your skills, increase accuracy, and elevate your bowhunting game.

Practice With Broadheads

Your choice of broadhead significantly impacts your arrow's flight. While mechanical broadheads may align closely with your practice points, fixed blade broadheads expose even the slightest inconsistencies in your form or tuning due to their larger surface area.

Here’s what you should do:

• Shoot with your broadheads: Sacrifice one fixed blade broadhead for practice to test its flight.
• Tune your setup: Ensure your bow is tuned correctly for the type of broadhead you’re using.
• Practice realistic distances: Test your shots at the ranges you’re likely to encounter during a hunt.

A well-tuned setup combined with proper practice ensures that when the time comes, your shot flies true.

Practice Cutting Angles

Hunting often takes you to rugged terrains where you’ll shoot uphill or downhill. These scenarios introduce a critical variable: trajectory.

Inclines change how gravity impacts your arrow’s flight, and shooting as if you’re on flat ground can lead to misses. Here’s how to improve:

• Use a rangefinder: A rangefinder with angle-compensation technology can adjust yardage for steep angles.
• Practice varied inclines: Spend time practicing both uphill and downhill shots to understand how your arrows behave.
• Develop a rule of thumb: Some archers create personal shortcuts or use angle charts to gauge corrections.

Practicing in realistic conditions bridges the gap between controlled environments and real-life hunting scenarios.

Use a Proper Peep Size & Proper Peep Alignment

The size of your peep sight plays a crucial role in aligning your sight picture and ensuring consistent accuracy. A common method involves centering the sight housing within the peep's visual field.

Tips for peep alignment:

• Match the peep to the sight housing: Ensure there’s no visible gap between the peep and the sight housing’s ring.
• Focus on alignment: This eliminates unnecessary movement and minimizes errors, especially at longer distances.

Consistency in your sight picture leads to consistency in your shots.

Avoid Facial Pressure & Use a nose button

Facial pressure is a sneaky culprit that can derail your accuracy. Unintended pressure on the bowstring from your face or anchor points alters the arrow’s flight path.

Here’s how to avoid it:

• Check your anchor points: Ensure consistent contact between your release, string, and face.
• Nose buttons, or serving knots can help establish proper peep alignment. 
• Adjust your peep: If seeing through your peep requires excess pressure, it might need repositioning.

Maintaining a light, consistent touch is key to repeatable and reliable shots

Increasing your archery accuracy isn’t just about the hours you put in—it’s about the quality of those hours. Understanding your equipment, practicing under realistic conditions, and paying attention to the details will pay dividends when it matters most.

Remember:

• Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but practicing with the right knowledge does.
• Familiarize yourself with how your bow components work together. Learn the relationships between your peep sight, arrow rest, and draw weight.
• Keep refining your skills year-round to stay sharp and prepared.

By applying these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more consistent and accurate archer, ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.