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 Lesson
times
We offer lessons on Friday Evenings between 7.15pm and 8.50pm
approx. For those who can't manage Fridays we can arrange lessons
on Sunday Mornings (or by special arrangement some Wednesday
evenings), but it may not be possible to provide lessons in
every consecutive week.
What to bring to your lessons
Apart from contact information (if you have been sent forms
to fill in before you started, otherwise fill in the forms when
you arrive) and your payment (or Voucher if someone has bought
you a course of lessons), all we ask is that you wear something
fairly close-fitting on your upper body - such as a sweat shirt.
Please don't wear floppy sleeves or baggy tops unless you're
prepared to take them off - they can get caught in the bow string
and ruin your shooting. Wear comfortable flat-heeled shoes or trainers
with fairly firm soles, not too springy.
It is your responsibility
to make sure you aren't wearing anything attached to you like jewellery or piercings that
could get caught in the bowstring, possibly with painful or
damaging results.
Aptitude and training
There is no need to be particularly strong to be a good archer,
but it is advisable to practice quite frequently.
Many 'club' archers only shoot once a week, but most mid-level
archers would agree that twice a week during the 'season' is
the minimum required to achieve reasonable consistency. A little
more practice time can be enough to raise the archer to County
or Regional level - half an hour a day exercise and another
hour of shooting every week makes a huge difference. One World
Champion and 2-times Olympic medallist claims that most of his
most useful practice is done at home with the target 2 metres
away! So it isn't necessary to go to the practice field to make
a huge improvement.
Equipment and related costs
We do let beginners carry on using Club Equipment after they
have completed their course of instruction provided it doesn't
conflict with the needs of a beginners' course. This bridges
over until the new members are settled enough to buy their own
gear. How long it takes depends on the individual, and whether
they are prepared to change equipment in the medium term, because
the body does adjust to this unfamiliar activity over a number
of months.
Obviously we prefer everyone to have their own equipment after
the first two months or so, and it's generally a much
better plan if they do. The biggest equipment dealer in the
country is only about 35 miles from here, and anyone can go
out and spend a fortune at will, but obviously we do try to
help by finding second-hand equipment to get people started. If you would like any advice on buying equipment, please feel free to ask any of the club members.
Your first set of kit, together with perhaps
a new set of arrows is likely to cost in the region of £150
on average. Occasionally it's possible to find a complete outfit
in excellent condition for £60 or so.
There is an alternative way to familiarise yourself with good
equipment, decide whether you want to continue, and develop
a bit more strength so the set youÊeventually buy is the one
you will stick with - and that is to HIRE the gear. There is
an Archery manufacturer (Stylist Bows) near Guildford who will
hire a complete kit for around £50 for three months.
Occasionally there will be bows for sale through the club.
Check the Noticeboard for details of any items for sale.
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