The Practical back-yard range

My name is Jerry Mark Brinkman; I starting shooting a bow in 1958 @ the age of 10.  It was a year and a half later before I was led into the world of real NFAA field archery competition when the father of a school friend offered to take me to a ARCHERY SHOOT!  I didn't know what he ment but it sounded fun!  Little did I know that he was opening up a dream for a young boy; Olympic Glory, could it be?  Five years later, my mom re-married and shortly thereafter I convinced my step-dad to help me start an archery club in the small town of Martinsville, In.  It took an adult talking before other adults listened in those days, kids were to be seen and NOT heard  LOL!  The above (L) photo was taken in 1966, just 3 yrs later, the two trophies just behind me represent (l-r) the 1966  IN NFAA State Indoor Championship in which I managed to set a new state record on the PAA 300 Indoor Round with a 296.  The other was won just a week later at the International Indoor Archery Championship; held @ Detroit, Mi; when I managed to win the Amateur Men Freestyle Championship after shooting a double PAA score of 587/600.  The reason I have shown this is that My first personal practice range was only 20 yards distance in my backyard.  A Winter morning in March, 1965 I managed to talk my mom into taking me to an archery meet over 100 miles from M'ville, not knowing it was the 1965 IN State Indoor Championship, being held @ Anderson, IN.  Before we left home, I went out to my backyard range and shot a complete PAA round, firing a 264, the highest score I had ever shot!  Deja Vu in the air! When we arrived, we went into the building where mom paid my entry fee, gave me a $1.50 for lunch and then went back home.  Only after she had left did I discover what I was about to do.  I was entered in the Intermediate boys freestyle division; after firing the first 6 ends (5 arrows per end), the shooters were rotated to bring up the next group.  Scores were posted similar to a golf scoreboard with the various divisions displayed down the board.  I was looking for my name on the INT. BOYS area when I heard a group of men talking rather loudly asking each other who was this 'Brinkman' guy that was leading the AMATEUR MENS Freestyle ??HEY, THAT'S ME, came the still changing voice of a VERY nervous 15 year old.  Looking back, that was one of the funniest moments of my 8 yr career!  My name was quickly removed from the MENS board amid some rather embarrested glances as I was leading by about 7-8 points at the half.  I dropped more points in the second half, but still ended up winning my class with a 264!!!!!!!!!!!  When I walked into the house that night, I left the trophy on the porch and went in acting really upset before springing my prize on my family.  That was #1.  In 1971, after giving my heart, soul and body to the sport, the US Olympic committee announced that archery was to be accepted into the summer games, finally the dream was possible!  In 1965, early summer, I damaged the rotator cuff in my left shoulder in two different incidents and shot through the pain for the next 6 years, getting cortizone shots into the socket so that I could draw the bow; oh yea, I am Left Handed, and was shooting back in the ol traditional days of fingers and recurves.  I competed through 1971 before my doctor refused to give me any more shots, he then ordered me to either have surgery on the shoulder of STOP shooting the bow, WHAT??? I could see the Olympic flag blowing in the wind!  My L. shoulder and arm were totally useless to the point that at times I was unable to even lift the arm from my side. Too scared and broke to pay for the surgery; I hung it up and watched as my good friends and competitors stormed to the front and brought home the GOLD.  Richard, God bless you, my man,  I lived a dream through your skills and abilities.

Range set-up

1. Find a clear area @ least 10 yards long.

2.Determine what type of target stop you are going to use; my first was a 24' ROUND MAT on a 3 legged stand.  Straw bales work quite well, especially with a recurve bow, use your imagination, lots of things can be made to work SAFELY!

3.Place a backer behind your target to stop pass thru's, misses etc. Carpet strung over a line; plywood, use enough to STOP the errant arrow from leaving your range.

4.Be aware of what can pass behind your target; make sure no one can walk past, behind the target, unaware of what you are doing. Also watch for neighbors appearing from around an out building, ie shed, garage, back porch.

5.Set rules for any one who wants to watch you practice; and inforce them, even if you are 12 years old and an adult doesn't do what you say!  Safety Always!!!!!!!!!!

6.Remember that distance is Not as important as doing the basics exactly the same EVERY shot. 

7.Never allow anyone to shoot at anything but the target on YOUR range.  For some reason, kids like to shoot arrows straight up into the sky; then stand around and wait for it to come down. SAFETY!!!!!!!!!!!

8. When you have too many distractions, quit shooting for the day or get the range back under your control.

                                                                                           PUSH PULL CLICK CLICK

9. This is a shooting pointer that I lived by; Shoot every arrow as if it is the last one you need in the bullseye to win the Olympics.  If you can only shoot 10 shots a day, make each of them all perfect shots, sight picture, sight alignment, PUSH with your bow hand, extention, toward the target while  PULLing with your arm UNTIL the elbow breaks 90 degrees to the target, then start using your back/shoulder muscles to FINISH the draw to your anchor point. ALWAYS USE THE SAME ANCHOR POINT for every shot. This CLICK is when your sight picture/alignment and sight pin are on the center of your target; if you are using your fingers to draw the string, then simply QUIT HOLDING the string, release shooters simply touch off what-ever is required to release the string: This Click can also by used when shooting with a clicker, using it as the trigger to your release, sending the arrow flying toward its intended target!  The final CLICK is your follow thru, If done correctly, the elbow will go back further and your shooting hand will end up hanging down slightly behind your ear.  Enjoy and if any of this helps then my time was well spent!