Simply changing the emphasis on the way we use bones as well as muscles will insure the most efficient and effective execution for ALL archers, especially our younger archers. And yes, this advanced technique is appropriate for JOAD beginners if taught by coaches certified in the BEST method. In fact, I feel certain our future Olympians will come from the ranks of BEST-enhanced JOAD archers, and that retention of archers in the sport will increase as a result of BEST.

Does it work? Yes. Definitely. The most successful group of archers today, the Koreans, use many of the aspects of the BEST technique. Simon Fairweather in Sydney used it.  More importantly, elite American archers such as Guy Krueger and Lindsey Carmichael (disclaimer: daughter of author) have been working for more than a year with Don Rabska to incorporate BEST. Guy just won the US Open and is shooting more consistently now than ever before. Lindsey shot a FITA score of 1250 on her way to a silver at the 2005 A Shootout, and a 1249 at the Arizona Cup a few weeks after, both much higher scores than ever before. This method can and does work, for compound as well as recurve.

Be on the lookout for seminars or courses offered by those certified in the BEST method (i.e., NArchival Archery level III and IV coaches) and take advantage of them! Guy Krueger is traveling to various parts of the country to provide seminars, and these are a very good way to get started- go if you can.

"The A State Archery Association (AA) is pleased to offer its member organizations the opportunity to submit grant application proposals for consideration. Grant proposals are due to the Archival Archery secretary by December 31. Announcement of successful applications will be done at the Archival Archery state indoor tournament. "

"Do you have a loose screw?"
If you are using a Cavalier Tab, it is a good idea to tighten the screws from time to time. They will come loose and they will get lost.

To further ensure they don't fall out, put a small dab of Fletch-Tite on the threads before tightening.

"Do you have good, working tabs?"
Also on the subject of tabs, during the off-season is a good time to break-in another new tab. It is always a good idea to have more than one tab and a good idea to have more than one tab ready to go. I currently have three tabs, all of them are broke in and one is about wore in too much so it is time to change the leather to a new piece and I will start to break that one in for the upcoming season.

"Do you have good shooting form?"
While breaking in a new tab, this is a good time to work on your form. Stand in front of the bale and work on form. You are not concerned with shooting a score or even hitting the center of the target. Probably best to avoid a target face and work on form and work on timing.

"Practice"
One of the exercise I do to work on form and still aim at something goes like this: pick a distance you are comfortable with indoors - for me it is 11 yards because that is the distance from the dining room, through the living room and into the back end of the garage. Yes, I do shoot through the house and into the garage. Pick a spot on the bale and shoot an arrow. Then move your windage a little so that when you aim at the nock of the arrow in the target, the next shot will go an inch or so left or right, depending on which way you turn the sight. You shoot an arrow, then aim at the previous nock. Shoot another arrow and then aim at the previous nock. If you are shooting well, you will have a horizontal line of arrows. You can shoot across the target to your right or you can shoot across the target to your left or change it up and go one way one time and another way the next time. It breaks up the momentary of practice and still affords you some decent training. When you get the hang of that routine, then do the same with up or down and if you want to try some real skills, do a combination of left/right up/down by shooting diagonal across the target. This will keep you from wearing out a target and keeps you from piling arrows into each other.