I see a lot of archery-themed photos. The ones I deplore the most are the William Tell re-enactment photos. People seem to think these are cute but don’t seem to know that Tell’s shot was coerced by a tyrant. They also put ugly ideas in the hands of, well, some people who are tempted to act them out.
Just as one instance of these representations, consider the following book cover.
Sister Light, Sister Dark Book Cover
The model apparently had never drawn a bow before or, if she had, she had pinched the nock and string of a toy bow like all children do.
• Note that the arrow is too short to be drawn into proper position.
• There is no signal to stop drawing the bow other than the razor sharp broadhead slicing into the archer’s hand.
• And what kind of arrow rest is she using? If one were being generous, and I am not, she might be using a thumb release, which the picture surely disallows, but if she were, then the arrow would be on the correct side of the bow at least. The arrow should then rest on the top of her upper finger curled around the bow, but the arrow clearly sits lower than that. Is she pinching that, too?
What is clearly needed in these ridiculous photos is ridicule to be applied, and lots of it. If you have a chance to review such photos please be discriminating and pile on some steaming ridicule on these people who don’t even bother to Google what an archer is supposed to look like before setting about their business.
And dump some more on any of the stupid William Tell-type photos, while you are at it. They put dangerous ideas in the minds of people who desperately need other things to think about.
PS I apologize for the rant, I just need to get some things off of my chest from time to time.
Steve
A Blog for Archery Coaches 