Lucy O’Sullivan reviews South Africa’s solution to Mantis, a high-tech system designed by archers engineers.
You may have heard about new archery technologies that can help you improve your shooting, whether it be video analysis apps like On Form, (perfect when combined with the iRange phone stick), or mountable shot analysis equipment like Mantis or Steady Aim.
I took delivery of a Steady Aim just in time for the Island Games, and I believe it significantly helped my performance. I tend to be sceptical about new technologies, and am bit lazy when it comes to tracking my archery sessions. I need technology to be user-friendly; if it’s too complicated I get bored. Steady Aim is not complicated. The device itself is no larger than a compound scope; you attach it to your bow or sight bar, ensuring it’s on a stable surface, power it up, sync it to the app, and you’re all set. The app is simple to use and functional, is capable of being used by all experienced archers, and should help make shot analysis a seamless and hassle-free process.
Detailed Shot Cycle Analysis and Consistency Comparisons
From the moment I started using Steady Aim, I was impressed by its ability to track my bow’s movement and cant angle throughout the shot cycle. It breaks down this cycle into three distinct phases: Set-Up, Hold, and Release, each phase colour-coded. It has a unique Shot Phase Filter, which allows the user to compare each phase of each shot against all the others. This feature allows the user to spot inconsistencies, identify outliers, and gain a clear understanding of their shooting process. It allows the user to analyse their shots, and understand why some arrows went astray, without just relying upon guesswork and instinct.
Steadiness and Drift Scores
One great feature is the steadiness and drift scores, rated from 0 to 100, which give a clear insight into the steadiness of aim and drift of the sight pin. It offers an immediate numerical assessment of the user’s form at the moment without the need for a detailed shot-cycle analysis, which I found particularly useful. The steadiness score reflects arm tremors during the aiming phase, while the drift score indicates the size of the sight pin drift.
Target Plotter
Steady Aim allows the user to choose between scored and non-scored rounds. I found that after each session I could easily plot my arrows on a virtual target and assess my performance. Adding arrow numbers to each shot allows the user to keep track of their performance over time. The shot cycle data is linked to each arrow, offering a comprehensive analysis of shots, which makes it easy to pinpoint areas for improvement and to track progress.
Vibrational Analysis
This enables the user to understand the forces acting on the bow upon release. With two representations of vibration – “Force Over Time” and “Force Over Frequency” – it is possible to analyse these patterns and use the provided values to fine-tune the bow setup. This helps reduce vibrations and make shots more consistent when configuring stabilisation.
Additional Features and suggestions
Steady Aim regularly issue updates and new features, and the social aspect of the platform allows users to connect with friends and colleagues.
Steady Aim also displays instantaneous shot-timing data for each shot, highlighting whether the user is holding too long or shooting too quickly. And it keeps a comprehensive history and detailed record of training sessions, with the option to add notes and sync data to the cloud for easy access and analysis.
If I were to suggest improvements, they would be:
- It would be great if there was a phone notification reminder feature to remind users to charge it before heading to the range. It charges with a USB cable just like a smartphone.
- It would be useful to have a simple visual aid to clarify the X, Y & Z axes, to help users understand which direction each axis represents.
Whether you’re a seasoned archer looking to fine-tune yourself or your equipment, or are simply looking to correct basic faults in technique, Steady Aim is highly recommended for its accuracy and ease of use.
If you want to see it in action, check out Lucy’s Instagram: @OSullivan_Archery
Visit www.steady-aim.com for more information and set up instructions
UK customers can order Steady Aim at www.cbarchery.co.uk, £127.60, 20% VAT incl., delivery charge excl.; www.alternativess.com £113.68, 20% VAT incl., UPS delivery included.
Steady Aim keeps a comprehensive history and detailed record of training sessions, with the option to add notes and sync data to the cloud for easy access and analysis.
