Off the Arrow Shelf

So the title of this episode might be a little confusing as strictly its the 86th full episode but the 100th podcasts as I have made some my mini episodes. It is coming to the endo of 2023 and I guess it's as good a time as any to post a brief review of the year and to say thanks to all my followers. I hope you all enjoy a great festive break and I'd like to wish you all the best for 2024....

Some thoughts after the nfas agm held earlier today. Sorry for poor quality as recorded on mobile in car.

In just over a week there is the AGM for the National Field Archery Society here in the UK. It’s the opportunity for people to contribute to the society and even if you can’t physically get to the meeting you can join via zoom link if you contact the general secretary in advance (general.secretary@nfas.net). Likewise after the AGM in the following months there will be the voting on the proposals d...

This episode idea was partly inspired by Angel at High Power Archery and as I said he’s just put out a really good short video titled” Put it in neutral!” which I would encourage people to view ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgmT4j6O1E4 )   I try to adapt the don’t be that guy that he is made famous to a “Be that guy” Be the guy who offers to help or tries to help, offers a friendly ear or non-...

I’d hope to get this out over the weekend but that was not to be. In this episode I talk about the changing season and offer some thoughts on what you can do to prepare for it, including things to swap out and consider carrying in the car. Let me know if you have any tips or thoughts I mentioned I shot some videos when course mapping and they are available on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtub...

No surprise that the subject of this episode is target panic. I talk about how it made me feel when it hit me at a local field archery tournament a few days ago. This is partly a personal reflection but also I am hoping it will give some confidence to those who like myself struggle. How I used a few techniques to settle my nerves throughout the day. Inspired by Angel at High Power Archery I try to...

I was very fortunate to be able to record this podcast with special guest Kristina Dolgilevica Editor of Bow International before she set off to South Korea. In this episode we discuss her passion for archery and in her own words how you don’t extinguish the fire of passion for the sport. I hope you enjoy it and let me know your thoughts and remember if you do have any question or thoughts let me...

A short episode this time with an update of what I’ve been up to and why so quiet recently. We’ve been pretty busy having some family time and work madness over the past few weeks. I mentioned a couple of podcasts Archery Geek outdoors https://open.spotify.com/episode/6jMyHqnBooBqKS4hZeYsBg?si=491c8f286c0b445a and The push podcasts https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PgERox241c8uKo9bJjE0E?si=f3a25d6...

This is one of the most common problems new archers encounter and can be incredibly frustrating. In this episode I offer some thoughts and practical tips on how to overcome the issue. The NUSensei video I mentioned in the podcast can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5-mwtgzJk Let me know your thoughts and remember if you do have any question or thoughts let me know, drop me an email...

A quick report on Briar Rose Shoot earlier in July. Thanks everyone for the feedback. Let me know your thoughts and remember if you do have any question or thoughts let me know, drop me an email on  ⁠offthearrowshelf@yahoo.co.uk ⁠ or via the website  ⁠offthearrowshelf.com⁠ Enjoy your shooting and as always thanks for listening. #barebow #bow #bows #arrows #fieldarchery #archerycoaching #archery #a...

This is a very brief podcast to wish those heading to the NFAS Welsh Championships good luck. We have our shoot at Briar Rose this weekend too and I am feeling a mix of nerves and bit sad. More coaching tips will be out shortly Thanks for listening. #archery #field archery #fieldarchery

This is the first is a series of coaching tips and advice I am recording and in this episode I am focussing in the common problem of under drawing or short drawing, detailing why it might takes place. I hope it proves useful. Let me know your thoughts and remember if you do have any question or thoughts let me know, drop me an email on ⁠offthearrowshelf@yahoo.co.uk ⁠or via the website ⁠offthearrow...

So I have reached the 75th episode of the podcast and the first thing I want to say is a huge thanks to everyone who has support me, offered help and advice, or sent in questions and feedback. Besides thank everyone I mention a couple of other podcasts to go and listen too along with some plans for the future topics. Along with a don’t be that guy inspired segment on a safety aspect and importance...

I recently received a question from a listener who had just had a great day at a tournament and had shot a personal best score. He reached out to me because he was concerned about what to do next, how to cope with his next shoot and whether I had any tips or advice on keeping positive and capitalising on the success. I’ve tried to outline some thoughts and strategies he could focus on along with s...

A few weeks ago there was the National Field Archery Society 3D championships, it also marked the 50th anniversary of the society formation. In this episode I’m going to give my view of how it went. For those of you who aren’t familiar with these styles of events, it’s 2 days of shooting, with over 600 archers and 4 courses of 40 3D targets of all shapes, sizes and distances. It was in my view a g...

Episode 72 – Target boss options   This episode is in response to listeners questions I have had recently about what sort of target boss they should buy for shooting at home and for practice. I’m not going to go into details about the risk assessing your garden as to whether it is safe to shoot or not. This decision is yours but I have written about factors you need to consider on the website site...

We don’t always get things right; we are human and make mistakes. With modern media like Instagram, TikToK etc we tend to only see the perfect groupings or perfect shots. This is the main topic of this episode where I discuss that it’s important for people to realise things can go wrong and to remember “ Mistakes are only mistakes if we don’t learn from them ”. You shouldn't dwell on your mist...

In this special episode of the podcast, I am delighted to have as a very special guest on the show Harry Boyce, the current president on the National Field Archery Society here in the UK. In the episode we discuss what got Harry into archery, his current set up, what he does when not shooting and the upcoming One Big Event which see the 50th anniversary of NFAS. At the two-day event there are expe...

I often get asked what to take on a shoot and what do you carry, so I recorded this in response. Sorry audio not great at times with rustling of contents of quiver. I carry more than other people do, but over the years I’ve found it all useful. I mention an article I wrote for the site on what I carry so this is the link https://offthearrowshelf.com/2012/06/19/bow-arrows-and-kitchen-sink-what-do-y...

So a couple of questions to ask yourself Why did you get into archery in the first place? Why have you stuck with it? We all come to it via different paths and stick to it for different reasons too. I know we got into it after having a go whilst on holiday and stuck around because we enjoyed it. Combination of being out in the woodland and nature, challenge of shooting and for me the opportunity t...

This may not sound the most exciting topic to talk around but as an archer, course layer or just attendee at a club we have to recognise that archery can be potentially risky, some might say dangerous. I discuss ideas and views of what to consider and why it is important. There is also a bit of a don't be that guy rant too in this podcast. If you have any question or thoughts let me know, drop...

This is in response to a couple of questions from a follower, who was asking about how to incorporate the use of binoculars into his shooting process now that National Field archery Society here in the UK are allowing them in his class which is Barebow.  I offer some thoughts and ideas of what you could do and how to gain confidence in using them, along with factors to consider to consider so they...

Episode 65 - New recording kit update on NFAS vote results and how my return to shooting is going So yes I am testing out some new recording equipment in this podcast thanks to my better half birthday present to me. I give a quick summary of the National Field Archery Society voting results on new rules and classes, etc. There is also a quick update on how I am feeling after shooting a couple of N...

In this episode I talk about the process of mapping out a field course and the steps I go through for a shot. How I use mapping app, camera phone and range finder to record our course. It might not sound the most exciting thing in the world but I know there are a couple of listeners who have been asking about the process. The App I use is OS Locate on my phone and the range finder is a Hawk and he...

In this episode I talk about what I’ve been doing recently, Shot, my first competition in years and didn’t go well. There is a quick thought on coaching tips when it comes to your stance and taking a shot and how this differs to target as not always on flat ground. If you have any question or thoughts let me know, drop me an email on offthearrowshelf@yahoo.co.uk or via the website offthearrowshelf...