1. World Archery Coaching Seminar
London, GBR
November 2011

2. The Biomechanics of Gold Medal Shooting
9 November 2011
The Biomechanics of Gold Medal Shooting
Oliver Logan
English Institute of Sport
Biomechanist – ArcheryGB
EIS Skill Acquisition Lead

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Note!
There are many different styles and techniques of shooting. What is presented here is only our thoughts on what works well.

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Discussion Areas
The Biomechanics of Archery
Automatic Technique
Skill Acquisition

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Posture
Good posture is extremely important for:
Balance
String Clearance
Effective posterior chain use
Shooting mechanics

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Posture
An ideal posture would see the centre of gravity of the archer centred between the feet

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Good Posture
Forward Lean
Thoracic/Lumbar Extension

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Alignment
Proper alignment is important for a robust consistent competition technique
Allows the forces of the bow to be controlled via bones and joints rather than through the muscles
Creates a more consistent repeatable technique that stands up under pressure

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Alignment –Coronal Plane

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Alignment
2 types of alignment used in world archery

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Alignment
Direction of Force Line
Energy Stored in Limbs
Draw Force

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Alignment
This way primarily uses posterior deltoid muscle to draw and upper trapezius to anchor

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Alignment
Direction of Force Line
Energy Stored in Limbs
Draw Force

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Alignment
This way uses more of the scapular muscles such as all of the Trapezius muscle, rhomboids as well as posterior deltoid

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Alignment - Sagittal
Again very important that the archer stands up straight and does not lean to the side. The archer should be like a crane

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Execution
Consistent execution is the result of a good physical setup, draw and alignment
Execution is the difference between the best and all the rest
Some videos of different execution

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Execution Errors
As the signal from the brain to relax the fingers is sent some of the upper body musculature also relaxes – causing collapse or softness on the shot
Can result from:
Pain response
Not learning the shot properly
Poor alignment
Lack of strength

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Tracking Execution Errors
Can quantify strength of execution via 2D tracking.
6 marker upper body model
Able to provide joint angles, displancements, velocities and accelerations

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What execution looks like

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Automatic Technique
In archery when shooting at a target the archer has an external focus on:
Aiming
Wind conditions
Time
The archer is not focusing on his/her technique. Therefore if it is not well learnt or automatic then it is more likely to break down

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Skill Acquisition
1. Learning The Movement
-High frequency live feedback (visual/coach)
-Archer has low self feedback and awareness
2. Training The Movement
-High frequency delayed feedback (visual/coach)
-Archer improves awareness and self feedback
3. Practising The Movement
-Low Frequency Delayed feedback (visual/coach)
-Archer has high movement awareness and self feedback
4. Challenging The Movement
-No external feedback
-Archer can self correct and movement is autonomous
Increase Contextual Interference
-Increase Draw Weight, shoot at a target face, increase shooting distance, add pressure etc.

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References
Axford, A. (1995). Archery Anatomy (1st ed.). London UK: Souvenir Press.
Ertan, h., Kental, B., Tumer, S.T., and Korkusuz, F. (2003). Activation patterns in forearm muscles during archery shooting. Human Movement Science, 22, 37-45
Ertan, H. (2009). Muscular activation patterns of the bow arm in recurve archery. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12,
Lin, Jiu-Jenq, Hung, Cheng-Ju, Yang, Ching-Ching, Chen, Hsing-Yu, Chou, Feng-Ching and Lu, Tung-Wu (2010). Activation and tremor of the shoulder muscles to the demands of an archery task. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28: 4,
Leroyer, P., Hoecke, V., and Helal, N. (1993). Biomechanical study of the final push-pull in archery. Journal of Sports Sciences, 11, 63-69
Mann, D. L., and Littke, N. (1989). Shoulder injuries in archery. Canadian Journal of Sports Sciences,
Nishizono, H., Shibayama, H., Izuta, T., and Saito, K. (1987). Analysis of archery shooting techniques by means of electromyography. International society of biomechanics in sports. Proceedings. Symposium V (pp ). Athens, Greece.
Park. J., and Larven. J. (2007) Archery Australia Shooting Technique: Biomechanics.
Schmid, M., Schieppati, M., and Pozzo, T. (2006). Effect of fatigue on the precision of a whole-body pointing task. Neuroscience, 139,
Logan, O. (2011). A framework for technical modification: an archery case example. The Sport and Exercise Scientist: the official publication of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. (29).
Masters, R.S.W. and Maxwell, J.P. (2004). 'Implicit motor learning, reinvestment and movement disruption: What you don't know won't hurt you?'. In Williams, A.M. and Hodges, N.J. (eds) Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice. Routledge: London
Masters, R.S.W. (2008). 'Skill learning the implicit way - say no more!'. In Farrow, D., Baker, J. and MacMahon C. ‘Developing Sport Expertise: Researchers and Coaches Put Theory Into Practice.’ Routledge: London
Porter, J.M and Magill, R.A. (2010). 'Systematically increasing contextual interference is beneficial for learning sports skills'. Journal of Sports Sciences, (28):

32. Thank you… Ready to answer your questions!