Archery Terminology

These terms are listed by current usage. Where applicable, older equivalents are listed at the end of the definition.

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[ General Info ] [ Safety ] [ Terminology]

• Addressing the Target: The archer's stance straddling the shooting line prior to shooting the arrow.
• Aim: Visually lining up a sight pin to the center of the target; if a sight is not used, visual placement of the tip of the arrow on a specific point while shooting at a target over a given distance.
• Anchor Point: The fixed position of the bowstring hand on the jaw or cheek while holding or aiming.
• ArcherÕs Paradox: Situation in which the arrow flies in the direction aimed although its initial movement is in a different direction.
• Arm Guard: Device worn on forearm and wrist areas of the bow arm to protect the arm from impact.
• Arrow Plate: The piece to which the arrow rest is attached.
• Arrow Rest: Device mounted just above the arrow shelf on the bow on which the arrow rests during draw, hold and release.
• Arrowsmith: Individual specializing in making arrows and/or arrowheads.
• Back: The side of the bow limb away from the string.
• Bare Bow: Method of shooting which does not use a bow sight.
• Billet: One of two short pieces joined at the handle to make a bow.
• Blunt: Arrow with a blunt tip for use on small game.
• Bolt: The projectile shot from a crossbow.
• Bow Arm: The arm in which the bow is held.
• Bow Hand: The hand in which the bow is held.
• Bowyer: One who makes bows.
• Brace/String Height: Distance between the pivot point of the bow and the string. AKA: Fistmale.
• Bracing: Process of stringing the bow in preparation for shooting, by placing the bowstring loops into position in the notches of the bow.
• Bull's Eye: The center of the target or that part of the target face with the highest scoring value.
• Butt: A mound of straw on which the target face is placed.
• Cast: the speed with which an arrow is shot.
• Clout: Shooting at a relatively long distance at a large target lying, or painted, flat on the ground.
• Composite Bow: Bow composed of two or more materials, such as wood and fiberglass.
• Compound Bow: Bow invented by H.W. Allen in 1966, designed with an eccentric pulley system to maximize pull weight poundage at mid-draw and minimize stacking at full draw.
• Creeping: Undesired forward motion of the bowstring from the anchor point immediately prior to release.
• Crest: Colored bands on the arrow used to identify a set.
• Director of Shooting: The individual in charge of shooting. AKA: Field Captain; Lady Paramount.
• Double Round: Shooting the same round twice.
• Draw: The process of moving the bowstring with nocked arrow from brace height to the archer's anchor point on the face.
• Drift: Deviation in the flight of an arrow due to wind.
• End: A set number of arrows which are shot before going to the target (typically 3, 5, or 6) to score and retrieve them.
• Face: The side of the bow nearest the string. AKA: Belly.
• Finger Tab: Leather device worn to prevent blistering on the surface of the three drawing fingers.
• Fletching: The stabilizing feathers attached to an arrow between the nock and crest. See vane.
• Follow-Through: The act of holding the release position until the arrow has struck the target.
• Freestyle: Style of shooting using a bowsight.
• Flu-Flu: An arrow with large or spiraled fletchings, which increase drag and reduce the arrowÕs range.
• Grip/Handle: The center portion of the bow where the hand exerts pressure during the draw.
• Grouping: The arrangement of the end of arrows on the target face after they have been shot.
• Hanging Arrow: An arrow that does not penetrate the target, but dangles from its point.
• Hen Feathers: The two feathers on either side of the index feather. Traditionally, these feathers are not as flamboyant as the index feather.
• Hit: An arrow which embeds itself within one of the scoring areas on the target face.
• Holding: The act of maintaining the bow and arrow in a stable position at full draw prior to release.
• Index Feather: The feather at right angle to the slit in the nock of the arrow and usually a different color from the remaining feathers. AKA: cock feather.
• Kick: When the bow shoots with a jar to the bow hand.
• Kiss Button: A contact point on the bowstring for the archer's lips to touch as to insure consistency and accuracy of the anchor point.
• Laminated: Composed of several layers.
• Let Down: Releasing tension after drawing without releasing the arrow.
• Limbs: The energy-storing parts of the bow located above and below the riser.
• Longbow: A long, relatively straight bow that preceded the recurve bow in many cultures.
• Nock: Device on the end of the arrow opposite the point, made with a groove for holding the arrow to the bowstring when placed in position for shooting.
• Nocking: The technique of placing the arrow on the bowstring in preparation for shooting.
• Nock Locator: The stops on the serving of the bowstring which mark the nocking point for the arrow.
• Nocking Point: The position on the string where the arrow is placed. Typically marked by the nock locator.
• Notch: The slits at the ends of the bow for the string.
• Overdraw: Drawing the arrow beyond the face of the bow or drawing the bow to its point of maximum stress on the limbs.
• Peeking: Undesired motion of the archer's head at time of release in an attempt to follow the arrow trajectory into the target.
• Plucking: Undesired lateral motion of the string hand and arm away from the bowstring at time of release.
• Point/Pile: The tip of the arrow that pierces the target. Classifications include: target; field; broadhead; and blunt.
• Point-Blank Range: Distance at which the archer may utilize the center of the target as an aiming point.
• Point-of-Aim: A technique, whereby the archer uses a mark unattached to the bow and usually on the ground as an alignment point.
• Pressure Point: Place on the arrow plate against which the arrow lies and exerts pressure when the arrow is released. It can be cushioned or spring loaded.
• Quiver: Any device designed to hold arrows not being shot.
• Range: Area designated for target or field archery.
• Rebound: An arrow that bounces off the target face.
• Recurve Bow: Bow manufactured so the ends of the limbs deflect toward the back of the bow to increase leverage when the bow is braced.
• Release: The act of putting the arrow into flight due to a release of pressure on the bowstring. AKA: Loose.
• Riser: The areas of the bow just above and below the grip.
• Round: Term used to designate the number of arrows to be shot at specific distances at specific target faces or targets.
• Self Bow: A bow made of one piece of wood or raw material.
• Serving: Protective thread wrapped around the bowstring where the arrow is nocked.
• Shaft: The body of the arrow upon which the nock, fletching, and point are mounted, and the crest is printed.
• Shooting Line: The line straddled by archers during shooting which indicates a specific distance from the target in target archery.
• Sight/Bowsight: Adjustable device attached to the bow which facilitates the aiming process for the archer.
• Skirt/Petticoat: The outermost perimeter of the target face outside the scoring area.
• Spine: The measured deflection of an arrow when depressed by a two-pound weight at its center.
• Stabilizer: Weighted device added to the riser of the bow and designed to reduce torque and absorb shock upon release.
• Stacking: Disproportionate increase in bow weight during the last few inches of the draw.
• Stave: Full-length piece of wood used to make a bow.
• Tackle: Equipment used by an archer.
• Target Captain: Individual at each target designated to determine and call the score of each arrow and pull them from the target.
• Target Face: The scoring area of the target.
• Tiller: Device for holding the bow at draw and to inspect the curvature.
• Toxophilite: Individual pursuing the sport of archery, as a participant and/or student.
• T-Square: Device used to measure brace height and locate the nocking point on the bowstring.
• Trajectory: The parabolic flight pattern of an arrow following release.
• Tuning: Adjustment of arrow rest, pressure point, string height and nocking height to improve arrow flight; includes determination of correct spine.
• Vane: A term used most commonly when fletching is made of plastic or rubber instead of feathers.
• Weigh/Draw Weightt: The bow manufacturer's determined number of pounds required to draw each bow's string at a given draw length.
• Windage: The effect of wind on the arrowÕs flight.
• Window: Viewing space between the side of the bow and the string at full draw.

[ General Info ] [ Safety ] [ Terminology]