Anchor | Anchor point

As you draw the bow and pull back the bowstring, you will find that you are getting closer to your face.

This can be scary, but it's actually a good thing and the right form.

The anchor point is a point on your face that your pulling hand—or the line itself—should touch when you are at full draw.

The anchor point is crucial.

It's the only point you can consistently aim for. This means you can shoot consistently.

Without an anchor point, it is absolutely impossible to hit a target consistently.

Traditional archers

For traditional archers, the anchor point is to the right of the nose when fully drawn (right-handed archers). The thumb is positioned under the chin, relaxed. The skin fold between the thumb and index finger rests behind the jawbone (angelus and mandibular ramus). The first index finger joint rests just below the cheekbone. The string is positioned (at a respectful distance) next to the nose. This type of anchoring is called the side anchor.

Olympic Recurve

Known as the under-chin anchor, this anchoring method places the tendon centrally on the lip and nose. The index finger rests below the jawbone.

Compound bow

Compound archers naturally anchor a little differently. By using a release (mechanical release aid), the string also rests on the nose. The difference to the Olympic recurve archer, however, is that the string rests in the corner of the mouth, not on the lips.

There are many different ways to anchor, and many have their own techniques.

>>> back to WORTH KNOWING <<<