Practicing sports like archery can be exciting and fun. It is an interesting skill, but it’s still important to consider safety precautions when practicing any sport.
Archers often wear chest guards to make the process more efficient and safe. A chest guard is used to protect the string from being caught in the clothes of the archer. This can damage both the strings and the clothing. It is also used mostly by female archers or archers with a more bulky chest for safety reasons since shooting an arrow can hurt their chest area.
Wearing a chest guard adds more stability and allows you to shoot straight and precisely.
To learn about ways in which the chest guard can help you stay safer during the practice of archery, keep reading.
What Is A Chest Guard?
A chest guard is a protective pad worn over the chest to keep people safe when playing a sport in which their chest is exposed. It is also worn by umpires or catchers to shield their bodies. At times, archers may also need a chest guard, and this could be for several reasons.
To learn more about this, watch the video below.
The Chest Guard Protects The Chest Of The Archer
It is very common for the bowstring to touch the chest when pulling it backward. This is especially true in women with more sensitive chests that are likely to get in the way. But this also applies to bulkier men.
Firing an arrow with the bowstring touching your chest or your chest getting in the way can severely injure the chest and cause a lot of pain. The chest guard protects the archer from this.
It Prevents The String From Being Caught In Clothing
Clothing getting caught in a bowstring is a common problem faced by archers. This problem occurs even if you are wearing tight clothes and is more common in winter when you have to wear bulky jackets. The arrow being caught in the clothes can ruin your aim and damage the clothing. Archers wear chest guards to prevent this risk.
It Makes The Shooting More Efficient
The chest guard provides a smooth surface for the drawn arrow to rest on. This surface is smoother than your chest or the clothing covering it. This allows for a more stable shot with a better aim. Wearing a chest guard also prevents the archer from worrying about injuring themselves, and taking away this stressor can help with focus.
Does Everyone Need A Chest Guard?
A chest guard is not necessary for everyone. Especially those who don’t feel comfortable shooting while wearing it. You can shoot perfectly fine even without the chest guard, especially if your chest is not bulky. Just be sure to wear tight clothing and not let the drawn strong touch the chest too much.
The Conclusion
In short, a chest guard is not a necessity, but it is often needed to allow women and men to protect their chests during archery. It can also give additional benefits like greater stability, more focus, and better aim. Even though using it may not be mandatory, it can make your shooting more efficient.
