Getting started in archery combines focus, precision and physical fitness in a way few sports do. Whether you're picking up a bow for the first time or sharpening the basics, these five fundamentals will put arrows where you want them — and keep bad habits from setting in early.

1. Master your stance first

   Your stance is the foundation of every shot. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, perpendicular to the target, weight even across both feet, posture relaxed but upright. It matters even more on an indoor range in Toronto, where the walls and lighting change how distance reads to your eye.

2. Grip the bow lightly

   The most common beginner mistake is strangling the bow. Your bow hand should cradle, not squeeze — a tight grip introduces torque at the moment of release and pushes the shot off line. If your knuckles are white, you're fighting the bow instead of shooting it.

3. Find your anchor point

   Consistency is everything. Your anchor is the spot on your face where your drawing hand lands the same way on every shot — commonly the corner of the mouth or under the chin. A repeatable anchor is what separates casual shooters from real archers, because it makes your aim measurable instead of accidental.

4. Follow through

   Don't drop your bow arm the instant you release. Hold your position until the arrow lands. Collapsing early is a habit that hides itself for months and then costs you points when the shots start getting tight.

5. Practise with purpose

   Every session should have a goal. Pick one part of your form — stance, grip, anchor, release — and work on that instead of just sending arrows downrange. Quality practice beats volume every time.