5 ways BOWdometer's Xi can help you take your archery skills to the next level!
When we created BOWdometer, we set out to find a way to give INSTANT feedback to you as you shoot, without changing the way you practice. No stopping to look at your phone between shots to make sense of a bunch of complicated information.
We came up with Xi, our own method of measuring and reporting consistency. The idea of Xi is that every shot gets a number based on the movement, vibration and force of the shot. Numbers grouped closer together mean your shots are more consistent. You can learn more about Xi in earlier videos in this series.
The main question is… how can Xi help me? Instead of thinking of Xi as an instant way to help you, think of it more as a way to know how your practice is changing over time. Here are several ways to use Xi…
One way to use Xi is to look at your Xi Spread. If you use the app, your Xi Spread is stored for each session. This number reflects your highest Xi minus your lowest Xi. A smaller Xi Spread means a more consistent practice session. If you use the app, you’ll be able to see your spread over time, which hopefully is moving in the right direction… getting smaller!
Another way to use Xi is to look at your Xi Level. If you’re practicing in Level Mode and your Xi Level is increasing over time, that means your consistency is improving. If you drop down to a lower Xi Level, it means you’re being less consistent now than you were before. You may need to focus more on your technique to bring your Xi Level back up!
Experiment with your shot and see how form changes or setup changes impact your Xi numbers. It can help you make purchasing decisions. You may notice some trends in your own Xi numbers… like weaker shots have lower Xi and stronger shots have higher Xi. Since Xi is highly personalized, trends you notice in your numbers may not be true for other BOWdometer
Use Xi to have confidence in your equipment. You get to know what your Xi numbers are and you can use it during tournament warm-ups or before you head out on a hunt to know your bow is working as expected. If something happens to your equipment, you’ll be able to see it in your numbers.
Use Xi to know when to stop practicing. We all get tired sometimes. We all have bad days at the range too. Use Xi to know when you shouldn’t keep practicing, or when you’ve hit your limit – you’ll be able to see it in your Xi numbers.
Will Xi magically tell you what to do to get better? No… not yet. If you keep using the app to see your history over time, you’ll be able to see your practice paying off. For the tech-savvy folks, our BOWdometer Open Platform gives you full access to live sensor data and our BOWdometer tools so you can create your own views of the data and share it with others.
Let us know how YOU use Xi on YOUR BOWdometer. There’s no right or wrong answer!
Got questions? Let us know on social media, on BOWdometer Nation or in the comments below and we'll get them answered!
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