While at the range over the weekend I saw a very common issue new archers have. How do you adjust your sight correctly and when should you move your sight?

The first question is pretty straight forward. Chase your misses! If you are missing low, move your sight lower. If you are missing to the left, move your sight to the left.

Sights will have micro and macro adjustments. The micro adjusters are the knobs at the sight block and the top and bottom of the sight bar. The adjustment at the sight block will correct your left/right misses, while the adjusters at the top and bottom of the sight bar will allow micro adjustments for vertical misses.

The macro adjustments are made by sliding the entire sight block for vertical misses and the macro adjustment for horizontal misses is some sort of set screw so you can turn your aperture.

When making a macro horizontal adjustment, make sure you leave enough room in the sight block to make micro adjustments later.

Ok, now when should you move your sight? Move your sight when you have a discernible miss pattern. In archers parlance, when you have a ‘group’. If you are not yet at the point where you are able to shoot a group, move the sight so the majority of the arrows find the target and work on your form so you can start shooting a consistent group. If you move your sight after every miss, you’ll chase your tail in frustration.

When shooting outdoors, reading the wind will be extremely important. If there has been a shift in the wind pattern, you should move your sight immediately. If the wind is variable it may be best to ‘aim off’, which means to aim away from the center to compensate for an abrupt wind change.

Understanding how and when to move your sight is a foundational aspect of shooting your bow accurately. Understand your sight and how to adjust it. Understand your group, so you can adjust your sight.