Terminology

Archery Terminology

ARCHER'S PARADOX	The apparent peculiarity of the way an arrow flexes from the loose as it accelerates past the bow, yet maintains accuracy.
ARMGUARD	See Bracer.
ARROW REST/ SHELF	A shelf on which the arrow rests during the draw, located just above the bow handle.
BACK (of bow)	The face of the bow, which is on the opposite side from the string.
BAREBOW	A class in old shooting which does not allow the use of shooting aids on the bow such as sights, buttons and stabilisers.
BASIC TECHNIQUE	The systematic method of shooting used in teaching and coaching.
BELLY (of bow)	The face of the bow, which is on the same side as the string.
BLUNT Flat	head pile used in POPINJAY shooting or for hunting small game.
BOLT	Short arrow for use with a crossbow.
BOSS Target	usually made of compressed straw or layers of foam.
BOUNCER	An arrow that hits the target but rebounds from it
BOW ARM	The arm that corresponds to the bow hand.
BOW HAND	The hand in which the bow is supported.
BOW SIGHT	A device fitted to the bow for aiming, usually adjustable.
BOW STRING	The cord or string which is stretched between the bow nocks when the bow is braced, and on which the arrow is placed for shooting.
BOW STRINGER	A cord with loops or cups for holding the bow limbs to assist with bracing (stringing) the bow.
BOWSTRING KNOT	The knot that is used to form the second loop on a string which has only one spliced loop. It may be a Timber hitch, Honda knot, Clove hitch with two half-hitches or the Oriental bowstring loop.
BOW WINDOW 1	The section of the riser just above the handle which is relieved to allow the arrow shelf to be nearer to the centre line of the bow, and to give the archer a clear view of the sight and target.
BOW WINDOW 2	The space, if apparent, between the bow and string at full draw, through which the archer may (incorrectly) be sighting.
BOWYER	A maker of bows.
BRACE	To string the bow.
BRACER	A shield or guard warn on the inside of the bow arm above the wrist.
BRACING HEIGHT	A specified distance between the string and a particular point on the bow riser when the bow is braced.
CAST	A term used to describe the measured ability of a bow to project an arrow.
CENTRE SHOT	A bow, which is designed to allow the arrow to take a position central to the limbs.
CLASSIFICATION	A system for grading an archer's ability and achievements as described in the GNAS rules of shooting.
COACH	A tutor or teacher of sporting activities.
COACHING CERTIFICATES	Issued to GNAS members after passing the appropriate examination. The grades are: Leader, Coach, County Coach, and Regional Coach and by appointment National Coach. Non members of GNAS may also qualify as Leaders.
COCK FEATHER	The feather at right angles to a RECURVE string and parallel to a compound string, usually a different colour from the others on the arrow.
CREEPING	Allowing the arrow to move forward from fall draw before being loosed.
CRESTING	Bands of colour painted round an arrow for decoration or identification.
DFL	(Draw Force Line) An imaginary straight line from the point of the shaft-arm elbow,through the shaft hand, the point where the bow hand is applying its pressure at full draw.
DRAW	The act of extending the bow arm while pulling the bowstring back.
DRAWWEIGHT	The amount of force required, normally measured in pounds, to extend the bow and string to a specified draw length.
ESAR	(Eye-Sight-Arrow-Relationship) The relationship between the arrow (nock and pile) the eye and the sight at full draw. The nock, pile, sight and eye should form a flat vertical plane.
END(GNAS Rules)	Six arrows shot alternately, in two lots of three, with other archers on the same target. Arrows are scored and collected after each end.
END(FITA Rules)	Three or six arrows shot during one visit to the shooting line. ARROWS are scored and collected after one end of six, for distances in excess of 50 meters, and after ends of three at 50 meters or less.
FADEOUT	The point on the composite limb of a bow where the tillering starts. ie. The thick end fades out.
FAST!	Warning cry used to stop shooting in an emergency. Fast and Loose!
FIELD CAPTAIN	The person controlling the shooting along all or part of the shooting range, responsible to the judge.
FINGER TAB	A shield warn on the loosing fingers for protection of the fingers and consistency of release.
FITA	(Federation International de Tir a l'Arc) The international governing body for archery.
FLETCH	To fix a feather or vane to an arrow shaft.
FLETCHINGS	A collective word to describe the feathers or vanes of some other material (often plastic), which is shaped and fitted to the arrow to stabilise the shaft in flight.
FLETCHING JIG	A device to assist in fletching arrows.
FOOT MARKERS	Small discs of restricted dimensions, used to mark an archers standing position.
FOLLOW-THROUGH	The movements which take place in the archer and his equipment as a result of the loose.
FREESTYLE	A class in field shooting which allows the use of shooting aids on the bow such as sights, buttons, stabilisers and other permissible additions.
GMB	(GRAND MASTER BOWMEN) The highest classification of archer.
GNAS	(GRAND NATIONAL ARCHERY SOCIETY) The body recognised by FITA as governing archery throughout Great Britain.
GOLD	The central zone of the target coloured yellow.
GROUND QUIVER	A frame for holding bows and / or arrows.
GROUP	A cluster of arrows close together in the target.
HANDICAP	A system of allowances for scores to be adjusted, theoretically bringing archers of various standards to an equal result.
HANDLE	The part of the bow that is held in the hand.
HANGER	An arrow that does not penetrate into the boss but hangs down from the face of the target.
HEELING	The practice of applying the bow hand pressure too low on the bow handle, and thereby tending to bend the lower limb more than the upper limb.
HOLDING	Keeping the bow at fill draw whilst aiming.
JUDGE	The person responsible for the application of the rules of shooting at a tournament.
KISSER	A small disc or other device, which is fitted on the string and drawn to the lips at, full draw.
LADY PARAMOUNT	Traditionally appointed to preside at competitions as supreme arbiter (GNAS rules only) and to present the awards and prizes.
LIMBS	The upper and lower working parts of the bow.
LOADED BOW	A bow with an arrow nocked on the string.
LOOSE	The result of releasing the drawn string.
MARK	Any target at which the bow is intentionally aimed.
MB (Master Bowman)	The second - highest classification.
MONO-FILAMENT	Single thread or strand. Normally used to refer to single-strand serving thread.
NCF	(THE NATIONAL COACHING FOUNDATION) An independent organisation committed to the promotion of education and the dissemination of knowledge within coaching.
NOCK 1	The slot in the end of the arrow which is used for locating it onto the bow string.
NOCK 2	The grooves at the ends of the bow limbs into which the string is fitted.
NOCK 3	To locate the arrow nock onto the string.
NOCKING POINT	The point on the string where the nock of the arrow is located each time.
OVERBOWED	To use a bow with a draw-weight, which is too heavy for the archer.
OVERBRACED	A bow that is braced to a greater height than intended by the bowyer.
OVERDRAW	To draw the pile of the arrow beyond the arrow rest.
PERFECT END	To obtain a maximum score for an end of six arrows.
PILE	The opposite end of the arrow from the nock, the point.
PINCHING	Gripping the nock of the arrow between the fingers of the shaft hand.
PINHOLE	The exact centre of the target.
POINT OF AIM	An aiming point other than the centre of the target.
PRACTICE BOW	A bow of simple design and light draw-weight used for teaching beginners.
PREFERRED EYE	An archers controlling eye, usually used for sighting.
PREP LINE (PREPARATION LINE)	The balanced pre-draw position of the archer sometimes related specifically to the relative positions of the bow hand, shaft arm and arrow.
QUIVER	Receptacle for holding arrows; usually warn on the belt for target archery.
RECURVE	The curvature of the bow limb away from the archer at the tips of a composite bow.
REFERENCE POINT	A constant point on the archer's face to which the loosing hand and the string is drawn.
RISER	The centre section of a modern bow, onto which the limbs are joined.
ROUND	A combination of set numbers of arrows at set distances, shot on a nominated face and using a predetermined scoring system.
SECONDARY FLETCHINGS	The fletching not m the cock fletching position.
SERVING	The thread, which is wound around the bow string to prevent it from fraying.
SERVING TOOL	Small instrument used for serving strings.
SHAFT	An arrow excluding pile, nock and fletchings.
SHOOTING LINE	The line which the archer stands astride when shooting.
SIGHTERS	Arrows which are allowed to be used at the start of a competition for the benefit of sight adjustment, before the commencement of scoring. See GNAS rules of shooting.
SKIRT (PETTICOAT)	The outer edge of a target for which there is no score.
SLING	Used to restrain the bow movement when shooting with an open hand.
SPECTATOR'S LINE	A line 15 yards behind the shooting line, and parallel to it.
SPINE	The measured ability of an arrow to bend.
STABILISERS	Mechanical systems added to the bow to modify bow movement during the time taken for the arrow to leave the string and to absorb the recoil of the bow.
STRING	Bowstring.
STRING ARM	The arm that corresponds to the string hand.
STRING HAND	The hand which is holding the string during the draw.
TAB	See Finger tab.
TACKLE	A collective word used to described an archer's equipment.
TARGET CAPTAIN	The person in charge of the conduct of archers at a target, particularly when recording scores.
TARGET DAY	A private club shoot officially planned and publicised within the club. See GNAS rules of shooting.
TARGET FACE	A cover marked with scoring zones, placed over the target boss, usually made of paper.
TARGET LIEUTENANT	Assistant to the target captain.
TARGET STAND	Wooden stand supporting the boss
TORQUE	A tuning force applied to the bow at full draw.
TOXOPHILITE	A student of archery.
TRAJECTORY	The curved flight path of the arrow caused by the effect of gravity.
UNDERBOWED	To use a bow of too light a draw-weight.
UNDERDRAWN	To draw sufficient arrow length.
UNIT AIMING	Maintaining the relationship between the arms head and shoulders by adjusting the aim by movement of the hips to or from the target direction.
VANE	Plastic fletch for an arrow.
WAITING LINE	A line 5 yards behind the shooting line, where archers wait while others are shooting.
WAX	Beeswax is normally used to seal a bow string, thus retaining the correct level of moisture within the threads. It also binds the string together.