How to Improve Your Archery Form Score: 8 Drills to Go from 7.0 to 9.0+

If you've been using ArcheryBuddy to analyze your form, you might be wondering how to push your form score from the 7.0 range into the coveted 9.0+ territory. The good news? It's absolutely achievable with deliberate, focused practice.

In this guide, we'll share 8 proven drills that elite archers use to refine their technique. These aren't just random exercises—they target the specific form elements that ArcheryBuddy evaluates, helping you make measurable improvements.

Understanding Your Form Score

Before diving into the drills, let's understand what goes into your form score. ArcheryBuddy's AI analyzes multiple aspects of your shot:

Stance & alignment – feet, hips, and shoulder positioning
Bow arm – extension, elbow rotation, and stability
Draw hand – anchor point consistency and finger position
Back tension – proper muscle engagement
Head position – upright and stable throughout the shot

A score of 7.0 means you're getting the basics right, but there's room for refinement. A 9.0+ indicates near-perfect execution. Let's get you there!

1. Blank Bale Shooting

❌ Challenge #1: Distractions Killing Your Focus

When you're focused on hitting the target, you stop paying attention to your form. This is the biggest barrier to improvement for most intermediate archers.

✅ The Fix

Use blank bale shooting - the #1 drill recommended by Olympic coaches:

Stand 3-5 meters from a blank target butt (no target face)
Close your eyes or look at a neutral point on the bale
Execute your shot sequence with full attention on body feel
Focus on back tension and a clean release
Shoot 20-30 arrows per session

Blank bale practice drill — Shooting at a blank bale lets you focus entirely on form

💡 Pro Tip

Record these sessions with ArcheryBuddy! Even without a target, you can analyze your form and track improvements in your body mechanics.

2. SPT (Specific Physical Training)

❌ Challenge #2: Lack of Muscle Endurance

Many archers struggle to hold steady at full draw because they haven't built the specific muscle endurance needed for consistent shots.

✅ The Fix

Practice drawing without releasing to build endurance:

Draw to your anchor point as normal
Hold at full draw for 10-30 seconds
Focus on maintaining perfect alignment and back tension
Let down slowly (don't release)
Rest 30 seconds between reps
Do 10-15 reps per session

💡 Pro Tip

Start with 10-second holds and gradually increase. If your form breaks down during the hold, the duration is too long.

3. Mirror Training

❌ Challenge #3: Can't See Your Own Form

You can't fix what you can't see. Most archers have no idea what their form actually looks like during a shot.

✅ The Fix

Use a full-length mirror for immediate visual feedback:

Set up a mirror to your side
Use a stretch band or unstrung bow (NOT a loaded bow indoors)
Practice your draw and hold while watching your reflection
Check for: straight bow arm, elbow rotation, head position, T-form alignment
Make micro-adjustments and repeat

Checking form alignment — Use a mirror to verify your T-form alignment

4. Resistance Band Training

❌ Challenge #4: Limited Range Access

You can't always get to the range. Without regular practice, muscle memory fades and form consistency drops.

✅ The Fix

Use a stretch band to practice anywhere:

Use a band with similar resistance to your bow
Practice full draw sequences: stance → draw → anchor → hold → release
Focus on engaging back muscles, not biceps
Do 50-100 reps daily

Back tension engagement — Focus on squeezing shoulder blades together during the draw

💡 Pro Tip

Olympic archers often do 100+ band draws daily. The repetition builds muscle memory that transfers directly to the range.

5. Anchor Point Consistency Drill

❌ Challenge #5: Inconsistent Draw Length

An inconsistent anchor is one of the biggest accuracy killers. Every millimeter of variation translates to inches on the target.

✅ The Fix

Practice precise anchor placement:

Draw to anchor with eyes closed
Have a friend check if string touches your nose and mouth corner
Use a small piece of tape on your face as a reference point
Practice coming to anchor 20+ times, checking each time
Goal: hit the exact same spot every single time

Consistent anchor point — Your anchor should be identical on every single shot

6. Closed-Eye Shooting

❌ Challenge #6: Target Panic Taking Over

Target panic causes archers to release the moment they see the target. This ruins the smooth, controlled shot execution you need.

✅ The Fix

Build trust in your form by removing visual dependency:

At close range (3-5m) with a safe backstop
Aim at the target, then close your eyes
Execute your shot completely by feel
Open eyes only after the arrow hits
⚠️ This is advanced—ensure safety first!

7. Slow Motion Draws

❌ Challenge #7: Hidden Form Errors

Speed hides mistakes. When you draw quickly, you can't feel the subtle errors that are hurting your accuracy.

✅ The Fix

Slow everything down to feel every detail:

Take 10-15 seconds to complete your draw (normally 2-3 seconds)
Pay attention to: grip pressure, string path, shoulder movement
Note any points where you feel tension or compensation
Address those specific issues in your training

💡 Pro Tip

Record your slow-motion draws with ArcheryBuddy in slow-mo video mode. You'll spot things you never noticed at full speed.

8. Regular Video Analysis

❌ Challenge #8: No Objective Feedback

Without objective feedback, you're practicing blind. You might be reinforcing bad habits without even knowing it.

✅ The Fix

Use consistent self-analysis with ArcheryBuddy:

Record 10-20 shots at the start and end of each practice
Review your form score trends over time
Focus on one improvement area per session
Compare your form to your best shots
Track your score progression: 7.0 → 7.5 → 8.0 → 8.5 → 9.0+

📌 Your 9.0+ Action Plan

Blank bale – 20-30 arrows, 2-3x per week
SPT holds – 10-15 reps daily
Mirror training – 10 min before each session
Resistance band – 50-100 reps daily
Anchor checks – Until it's automatic
Video analysis – Every practice session with ArcheryBuddy
Be patient—form improvement takes 4-6 weeks to solidify

Remember, a 9.0+ form score isn't about perfection—it's about consistency. The archers who score highest are the ones who do the same thing, the same way, every single time. These drills will help you build that consistency.

Ready to Track Your Form Progress?

ArcheryBuddy uses AI to analyze your shooting form and give you instant feedback on exactly what to improve. Download free and start shooting better today!

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