We recently caught up with Joshua Hubbs, 27, member of our TAC Vanes Field Staff to learn about some tips and trends in the archery world he’s seeing this year. Joshua joined TAC Field Staff just this past year, and we are excited to have him on board.
“My passion for archery started when I was just 4 years old and has taken off from there, now I dive into every possible detail, learning everything I can to become a more consistent and accurate archer.” -Joshua
Joshua's passion is evident as he shares about everything from grips and releases to arrow setup and shooting distance. Keep reading as he breaks down what he believes are the most critical steps for dialing in to get your perfect shot.
Starting Out:
It’s important when you first start to shoot a bow that you focus on the fundamentals, grip, stance, anchor point, shot, and follow-through. Far too many times, I see new archers shoot one arrow, and when it misses the center, they try to adjust themselves to get it to hit. This leads to bad habits and more frustration. Instead, stay focused on the fundamentals and aim at the same spot every time. Once you start to get a group, then move your sight and slowly work your way back in yardage.”
Grip:
“When it comes to archery, precision is everything. Every detail, from the bow’s tune to the archer’s form, plays a role in where an arrow lands. One often-overlooked factor is the archer’s grip on the bow. The way you hold the bow can significantly influence the arrow’s flight and impact down range. It’s important to maintain a neutral grip on the bow.
Ensure that the grip runs down the center of your hand (on webbing between your thumb and index or down the “life line” of your hand). Then make sure that your knuckles run perpendicular to the rise, not parallel, and that you don’t wrap your fingers around the front of the grip. This gives you a more neutral and torque-free grip.”
Releases:
“There are several types of releases out there but how you shoot them will determine how consistent and accurate you are down range. Thumb-button and index releases all have a trigger that sets them off. To shoot these styles of releases more accurately you should shoot them as if they are a back tension release. For a thumb button this means wrapping your thumb all the way around the trigger (if you can touch your index finger’s knuckle with your thumb making a loop), and then allowing the force of you pulling through the shot to press the trigger into your thumb giving you a surprise shot. Same goes for an index, imagine your four fingers are taped together (this slows the movement of your index finger, making it harder to punch the trigger) then place them over the trigger and slowly pull back as you aim, and the shot will break.”
Arrows:
“Today one hot topic is arrow weight, and I believe there is really no right or wrong answer here depending on what you are looking to get out of your set up. What I do know is that the lighter an arrow is the faster it can fly, but it also loses its energy really fast; and a heavier arrow flies slower but not nearly as far.
Personally I like to have an arrow that maximizes its down range efficiency and still holds the kinetic power it needs for an ethical kill. Testing arrows from 320 grains up to 540 grains, I have found that for someone shooting 65-80lbs, a 470-490 grain arrow seems to be optimal. This weight seems to have the best of both worlds—it's still fast and light enough to shoot those longer shots but heavy enough to hold enough energy for an ethical kill.”
Shooting Distance:
“Shooting further has become more popular over the last few years and if you’ve attended any of the TAC (Total Archery Challenge) events you know that targets can be as far out as 120 yards. To shoot further, I recommend getting a movable sight. And I would highly recommend having 2-3 pins minimum.
Now when setting up this sight make the bottom pin your mover, because this will allow you to place that pin as low as you can in the housing, meaning the housing itself will be as high as it can go, giving you more clearance as you scroll down to further yardages.
Joshua’s insights are a solid reminder that success in archery starts with the fundamentals. Whether it's dialing in a clean, torque-free grip, learning to execute a true surprise release, or finding that perfect arrow weight for your setup, every detail matters. No matter where you are in your archery journey, staying focused on consistency and continuous learning is key, and Joshua’s approach is a great example of just that. We're pumped to have him on board, and can’t wait to see what he does for the remainder of 2025. Follow Joshua on instagram @hubbz14, for more content and tips.
For more from the rest of our TAC Vanes Field Staff, be sure to follow TAC Vanes on Facebook and Instagram.
Did you know TAC Vanes also had a YouTube channel? Hit us up there for tips, tricks, gear tests, and plenty more.