Getting your bow ready for the indoor season doesn't have to be complicated, as Duncan Busby explains. A change in shooting distances and light conditions can require a few adjustments to get your bow shooting its best, but if you follow these simple steps, you can really make the most of the winter months.
- Check the condition of your strings
Months of shooting outdoors in all kinds of weather can really take its toll, so if your strings look past their best then get a new set. Don’t just look out for tatty or broken strands, check over the serving as well. In compound bows there can be a lot of wear in the areas where the strings and cables track into cams and run through cable guards. There’s nothing worse than having your serving snap during a crucial moment. Whatever you do, don’t leave it to chance; changing your worn strings now will save you having to do it mid-season.
- Switch shafts
Most archers choose to use large diameter arrows indoors to maximise line cutting ability, so if you’d like to switch shafts, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to get them flying right. Compound shooters, if you are using a blade rest, you may need to switch to a wider and stiffer blade to accommodate larger and heavier indoor arrows as a narrow blade rated for lighter outdoor arrows will not always be able to support the weight of indoor shafts.
You’ll also need to lower your rest slightly to accommodate larger diameter shafts; most bows these days perform their best with the arrow sitting around 90 degrees to the string. To achieve this your rest will need to be set lower that it would for outdoors. Typically, you’ll need to drop the rest by around 4mm, but it will depend on your particular set-up.
- Check your nock fit
Many indoor arrows use different nock sizes to outdoor ones, so you’ll need to check that your nock fit is correct for your new arrows. Nocks that are often fitted to large diameter arrows tend to be chunkier with a wider groove, meaning you may need to widen your nock points (and D-loops) slightly to avoid pinching at full draw. The larger nock grooves don’t always clip onto the string as securely either, which can cause them to come off as you draw your bow. If your nocks feel too loose on the string you may need to re-serve the centre serving with slightly thicker material.
- Adjust your draw length
Indoor distances are a lot shorter, so your bow will be sitting at a much lower angle to the target. This can cause your draw length to feel too short. Some archers lengthen their draw length slightly for indoors in order to give them the same feel they had when shooting at longer distances. Usually this will only need to be a small adjustment of around 1/8” and can be achieved by putting a couple of twists into the string, but it can make a huge difference to how the bow holds on the target. If you find yourself feeling scrunched in the draw and your aim is erratic, then it could be worth going a bit longer in draw length to see if it helps.
- Adjust your peep height
This is specifically for compound shooters. When switching between longer and shorter distances, you can often find your peep height no longer feels comfortable, which makes it difficult to achieve a natural and repeatable anchor point. Your peep is also affected by the bow’s lower elevation indoors and a peep height that felt perfect for outdoors will often be too low for short distances. To achieve the same feeling, raise your peep a little. The amount differs depending on your set up but will be around 1/8”.
You may also want to consider changing the size of your peep aperture; shooting outdoors, you benefit from lots of natural light, giving a nice bright sight picture. The artificial light indoors is often much darker and can be inconsistent so a larger peep size will let in more light. Don’t go for the biggest peep you can find as you still need to align your scope with the peep correctly. A peep sight that allows you to change the size of aperture is also helpful as it allows you to make adjustments on the day to suit the lighting conditions.
Good luck with your move indoors and remember the most important rule to follow this indoor season is to have fun.
Thanks to Duncan from Duncan Busby Archery.
