Q&A for How to Aim a Compound Bow

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How do I properly grip a compound bow?

Clay Hayes
Archery Expert
Clay Hayes is an Archery Expert based in Idaho. He owns and operates the website Twisted Stave, where he sells merchandise, offers tutorials, and blogs about his life as an outdoorsman. Clay and his family have built an online community of over 440 thousand archery and hunting enthusiasts with their YouTube channel. Clay has authored three books and produced hundreds of videos on wilderness skills, traditional archery, bow building, and bow hunting. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State University.

Clay Hayes

Archery Expert

Expert Answer

Hold the compound bow with the pressure from the grip centered on the fleshy part at the base of your thumb, where the large fleshy area seamlessly transitions into your palm. Ensure that the pressure travels directly up your arm and through your shoulders, maintaining a straight alignment. Avoid bending your wrist inward, outward, up, or down. The goal is to establish a straight shot from the contact point at the base of your thumb through your arm, elbow, and shoulders. This grip provides optimal structural support, requiring minimal muscle effort to hold the bow at full draw.

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Question

How do I find my dominant eye?

Community Answer

Hold a triangle with your fingers. Put your eye on a target. Then you can figure out which feels more natural. Most common is if you a right handed, you will shoot right handed.

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Question

How can I accurately shoot without a sight?

Community Answer

It is hard to accurately shoot without a sight, but it is possible. Shooting without a sight is called "barebow." You have to practice and figure out where you need to aim your arrow on the target for each distance. For close distances, like 20 meters, you can probably still aim your arrow on the target, but for farther distances, like 70 and 90 meters, you'll have to aim your arrow much higher.

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How do I aim a compound bow at 30 yards?

Community Answer

Try to line it up with the 30 yard marker. If (when you shoot it) it isn’t where the shot should be, adjust the markers.

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