As a three-time Vegas Shoot winner, Chance Beaubouef knows a thing or two about how to get prepped for the biggest indoor shoot in the world. We had the chance to sit down and get some thoughts from Chance about how he goes about preparing his gear and his mental game each year. After all, it's never too early to start planning your trip to Vegas. 

When I first started shooting at 3D targets several years ago, my main goal was to get better at shooting a deer during bow season.

The different shot scenarios and situations, along with multiple repetitions, really helped me prepare for that shot opportunity when it presented itself in the fall. I would build a lot of confidence in my shooting over the summer by practicing the varied shot angles and distances of a 3D course.

Every archer has their own strategy for preparing for tournaments, but how do you prepare for the “marathon” of archery tournaments? Indoor nationals is a more unique tournament just because the arrow count is higher than the typical indoor shoots that use a Vegas target, you’re shooting five arrows at a time and a minimum of 60 arrows if you do not warm up. Here are just a few ways that I like to prepare for this tournament!

When it comes to bow setup and tuning you can get so advanced that you end up working on your bow more than actually getting out and shooting it. I prefer the KISS Method.  Keep It Simple, Stupid! 

Finding the perfect arrow for your 3D set up is a fairly simple task. There are many factors involved but if you try and keep the fundamentals of shooting in the forefront of your mind then it becomes much easier. 

A big thing that hurts a lot of people is shooting in the wind, whether it’s their backyard or they are on a big stage at a World Cup shooting for Gold. The worst is when you feel like you just shot the best shot all day, and then it drifts over missing the spot you were shooting at. When you can't control the wind, you're left relying on a few good strategies.

While working in the archery shop and shooting tournaments, one of the most frequently asked questions I am asked is what draw stops I am using and why. Currently I am shooting the Elite Echelon 39. This bow is unique in the fact that the bow gives the archer both types of draw stops to choose from, either limb stops or cable stops. The draw stops on Echelon allow each archer to mold the bow into your own shot style.

#TeamElite's Alexis Ruiz knows a thing or two about winning. She placed atop outdoor and indoor podiums throughout 2018 (including the coveted Vegas Shoot championship and most recently her World Archery gold in Macau) and has her sights set high for 2019 as part of USA Archery's women's compound team. She's figured out what works for her indoor setup and shares below how it all came together.

I get more messages and questions on this subject than any other. People always want to know how a pro practices, what their mental game is and how to handle nerves. I can personally tell you that I shot more than I ever have this past season, but it turned out to be the longest and worst year that I have had as a pro. Due to this, it was an extremely mentally draining year and my confidence suffered. Notice that I said that I shot more and not that I practiced more. There is a HUGE difference between shooting and practicing. Your mental game isn’t only something that you use in tournaments; it is also something that you use in practice.

Growing up bowhunting to now having a career in professional archery, draw length has always been critical factor in my bow setups. Whether it be because of me growing or just getting it fine-tuned to shoot more accurately, I have always had to adjust it. To me, draw length is one of the most important parts of a bow if not the most important part. It affects how the bow feels, your accuracy, and even how your bow tunes.