50 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Jan. II, igi3 
ACCURACY SHOOTING. 
would season our wood rapidly and retain the 
elastic qualities that are so essential to an 
efficient bow. 
The efficiency of the bow depends also 
upon the weight of the arrow. The momentum, 
or amount of motion possessed by the arrow, 
is the product of its mass multiplied by its 
velocity, or 
Alomentum = mass X velocity. 
A. force, acting for a short time, such as 
that of the bow-string on the arrow, is called 
an impulse, or impact. The quantitative value 
of the impact varies as the product of the acting 
force (constant for any given bow at full draw) 
by the duration of time during which the force 
acts. The effect of the impact is to give mo¬ 
mentum to the arrow and to produce a con¬ 
stant velocity. I'lie impact of the bow equals 
the momentum imparted to the arrow, or 
Force X time = mass X velocity. 
Hence, the velocity of the arrow= 
Force (of bow) X time (during: which the force acts') 
Mass (of the arrow). 
Now, every body at rest, like the arrow drawn 
on the bow, has a tendency to remain at rest. 
This tendency to remain at rest is called in¬ 
ertia. The inertia of a heavy body is greater 
than that of a light one. Consequently the 
force of the bow, exerted through the agency 
of the string, would act on the arrow for a 
longer time if the arrow were heavy than it 
would if the arrow were light. The above 
equation shows that its velocity would there¬ 
fore be relatively greater. In other words, the 
momentum, or energy stored up in the arrow 
would be greater, and the bow more efficient; 
that is, you would be getting more energy out 
of it in proportion to what you put in. I'l’is 
may seem strange, but would you use a liglit 
tennis ball to make a distance throw? 
The greater energy in the heavy arrow 
would diminish the danger of rebound from the 
target, minimize the effect of wind, and over¬ 
come the variable effects produced by a lack of 
uniformity in the size, shape and configuration 
of the feathers. The arrow would also be 
stronger and stiffer, and therefore vibrate and 
deflect less. It would shoot more accurately, 
and especially in the horizontal plane. 
When the arrow is shot, the potential 
energy of the bow is released and imparted to 
the arrow as kinetic energy. The arrow at 
first accelerates in velocity, until the nock 
leaves the string, and thereafter travels with a 
uniform velocity in the direction in which it 
first leaves the bow, except as it is retarded by 
the friction of the air, affected by a head-wind, 
or drawn downward by the force of gravity. 
When the arrow is released a sharp recoil is 
experienced, which is transmitted from the bow 
to the archer. This recoil, or reaction, is equal 
to the energy with which the arrow is projected, 
and therefore depends upon the strength of 
the bow. 
Why is it that one bow’ gives a recoil that 
we call “smooth as silk.” while another kicks, 
twists the wrist, turns the hand and stings? 
It is entirely a question of the mutual ac¬ 
tion, or interference, of the vibrations of the 
two limbs of the bo'v. If these two limbs are 
properly proportioned with regard to strength, 
so that their free periods of vibration coincide, 
they will form a node, or position of rest, at 
the grip of the bow. The limbs then vibrate in 
harmony and the bow feels balanced. 
If, how'ever, one limb is relatively stronger 
than the other, so that it vibrate more rapidly, 
the mutual action of the two limbs will in¬ 
termittently form anti-nodes, or positions of 
motion, under the grip and the bow string, and 
otherwise feels unmanageable. If the two 
lateral halves are not of the same strength, a 
torsional or twisting vibration will probably 
also result, much to the archer’s discomfort. 
This soon affects his equanimity of mind, acts 
on his nerves, and places him in a mental con¬ 
dition where good shooting is an impossibility. 
A bow with a good recoil is a joy forever! 
A poor one may not seriously affect any par¬ 
ticular single shot, but its psychological result 
on the archer is distinctly bad. For good shoot¬ 
ing there is such a delicate balance of opera¬ 
tions which must be performed in synchronism. 
that any irritating influence must not be over¬ 
looked. In fact, the archer's psychological con¬ 
dition. or frame of mind, is of the utmost con¬ 
sequence. In preparing for a meet a course in 
mental training is of the same importance as 
the training of the muscles or the eye. 
We are all acquainted with the archers who 
in practice shoot well, only to meet with 
mediocre success at the crucial moment. On 
certain days we all shoot consistently, while on 
others everything goes wrong. We blame our 
tackle, the wind, the temperature, the light, our 
friends, in fact, everything under the sun. The 
trouble is entirely in our own upper story. I, 
therefore, repeat most emphatically that every 
source of irritation must be eliminated to do 
record shooting. Remedy the bad recoil by 
making the shorter limb of your bow somewhat 
weaker than the longer one, so that the free 
jieriods of vibration of the two are the same; 
see that the bow is symmetrical laterally, and 
use a string compatible with the bow. 
In the future I shall order all my bows 
delivered without the varnish or other finish, 
so that they can be strung,- examined and cor¬ 
rected for any lack of symmetry. If one lateral 
half is stronger than the other, the arrows will 
cast either to the right or left of the target, 
while the side recoil will move the left arm 
from its position of rest. The two limbs of 
the bow can then also be worked to the cor¬ 
rect relative strength, so that their periods of 
vibration coincide. 
The braid at the center of the bow should 
be remo\ ed and the bow built up at the center, 
where it is grasped, until the grip conforms to 
the shape of the hollow of the archer's hand; 
else the bow will be held loosely in the grasp 
and the recoil on release throw it out of true 
alignment. This grip should then be covered 
with some strong, absorbent material that does 
not give on pressure. A soft plush grip is a 
mistake. 
The strings furnished with our bows, or 
imrchased at the supply shops, are not satis¬ 
factory. After trying various materials, I have 
found one consisting of from fourteen to six¬ 
teen strands of carpet warp to give excellent 
results. The separate strands are waxed be¬ 
fore being twisted together. The end of the 
