Why Archery Is A Better Workout Than You Think

Archery is a deceptively complex workout. To an outside observer, all a person has to do is nock the arrow on the string, pull it back, and let it go. However, as any archer will tell you, there is a lot more going on than what the average person might assume.

AZCentral notes that archery is a skill that involves an ample amount of hand-eye coordination. Additionally, archers can walk up to 5 miles during competitions, usually while in the process of retrieving arrows, moving targets, or going from one event location to the next.

This doesn't mean archery will have you on your feet for miles every day, but even a half-hour of practice has its benefits, such as burning 100 to 150 calories from drawing the bow alone (via Archery360). While it might be hard to believe that archery can burn so many calories, it seems much more reasonable when all the muscles involved are considered.

The most obvious muscles involved in archery are the hands, arms, and shoulders. A person must have a decent grip to hold the arrow when pulling it back, as well as shoulder and arm strength to draw the bow.

But as World Archery explains, there are many more muscle groups involved in the sport. An archer must also engage their core and back muscles to maintain proper balance, and they must hold tension in their legs for a solid stance. This means that when an archer draws a bow, they are using not only their shoulders, but also their chest, back, core, and legs all at once.

With all of these muscles in use, archery is a better workout than many people realize. Archers also work out their minds by learning to maintain focus during their shot routine and avoiding distractions, such as wind and noise.