Archery is a “doing” sport. You only get better by doing it and its impossible to get better simply by watching youtube or reading about it. That said personal coaching can be expensive and getting a framework in which to structure your practice and motivation can be difficult if you have no experience in a non-team sport. That’s where books come in. A good archery book can give structure to your practice, tips, mental guidance, physical conditioning exercises and even ‘tricks’ to fool you into shooting better. More books will be added (as I buy them).

So without faffing around … Let’s take a look at a few tomes of wisdom:

Beginner

Archery (steps to success)              Heywood and Lewis                    approx £11
Archery Fundamentals                     Douglas Engh                                  2nd hand

Intermediate

Archery                                                      USA Archery                                   approx £13
Why You Suck at Archery                Steve Ruis                                         approx £9
The Archery Drill Book                     Ruis and Gerard                            approx £15

Advanced

The Competitive Archer                   Simon Needham                             approx £20
Total Archery                                           Ki Sik Lee                                            approx £35-£50

Traditional

Beginners Guide to Trad Archery               Brian Sorrells                     2nd hand
Shooting The English Longbow                   Pip Bickerstaffe                  varies wildly

Prices may vary from that noted above depending on offers, being second hand or even remaindered stock being cleared.

Free Guides, PDFs and Assorted Musings of Archers

a collection of pdf’s that you might find interesting or useful. All free and all very useful in building knowledge of archery where almost nothing seems logical at times.

Reference Guide for Recurve Archers … fantastic (if slightly dated) reference.
The Nuts and Bolts of Archery … reference guide for tuning a compound
Compound Bow Setup … comprehensive aussie guide for setting up wheeliebows

Specific Physical Training … Ki Sik Lee’s recommended archery torture .. err .. exercises
Exercises for Archery …  by personal trainer and archer Tim Goodwin
Archery Warm Up … warming up for archery by Tim Goodwin

Easton Arrow Tuning and Maintenance Guide … title says it all
How to Tie a Floss Nocking Point … Clue is in the title

Archery GB Rules of Shooting … Every UK archer needs a copy somewhere
WA Field Archery Guidelines … How to shoot a field course

World Archery Level 1 Coaching Manual … Entry level coaching manual
World Archery Level 2 Coaching Manual … A FANTASTIC resource for EVERYONE!
World Archery Judges Guide Book … Why judges are the way they are!
World Archery Judges Aids … Why you wont get that linecutter ….. EVER!

Your First Tournament … Outstanding guide to your first competition (Assheton Bowmen)