Archery glossary
Archery terms in plain language. Each one links to a full explanation.
A
- Anchor point
- An anchor point in archery is a repeatable contact between your drawing hand, string and face at full draw.
- Arrow rest
- An arrow rest supports the arrow on the bow before and during the first part of its launch.
- Arrow spine
- Arrow spine is a measure of shaft stiffness, or how much an arrow bends under a load.
B
- Barebow
- Barebow is an archery discipline in which you shoot a recurve bow without a mounted sight or stabilizer.
- Bow sight
- A bow sight is an adjustable aiming reference mounted on the bow.
- Brace height
- Brace height is the shortest distance from the bowstring to the deepest part of the grip when the bow is strung and at rest.
C
- Clicker
- An archery clicker is a draw-length indicator, usually a thin blade mounted on a recurve riser.
D
- D-loop
- A D-loop is a short length of cord tied to a compound bowstring above and below the arrow nock.
- Draw length
- Draw length describes how far you pull the bowstring at full draw.
- Draw weight
- Draw weight is the pulling force required to draw a bow, usually stated in pounds.
E
- End
- An end in archery is a group of arrows you shoot before scoring and collecting them.
F
- Fletching
- Fletching is the set of vanes or feathers near the back of an arrow that helps stabilize its flight.
- FOC (front of center)
- FOC in archery means front of center: the distance between an arrow's midpoint and its balance point, expressed as a percentage of arrow length.
- Follow-through
- Archery follow through is the continuation of your posture and shooting action as the string leaves your fingers or release aid and the arrow leaves the bow.
G
- Gap shooting
- Gap shooting is an aiming method that uses the visible space between your arrow point and the spot you want to hit.
- Grain and GPI
- Arrow grain refers to weight measured in grains, the unit used for shafts and arrow components.
I
- Instinctive archery
- Instinctive archery is shooting with your attention on the intended impact spot, without consciously lining up a sight or measuring an arrow-point gap.
K
- Kisser button
- A kisser button is a small accessory fixed to the bowstring that lightly touches your lips, often at the corner of the mouth, when you reach anchor.
L
- Let-off
- Let-off on a compound bow is the percentage reduction from peak draw weight to holding weight at full draw.
- Line cutter
- A line cutter in archery is an arrow whose shaft touches the boundary between scoring zones.
N
- Nock
- A nock is the slotted fitting, usually molded plastic, at the back of an arrow that clips onto the bowstring.
- Nocking point
- A nocking point is the position on the bowstring where you attach the arrow.
P
- Peep sight
- A peep sight is a small aperture, or viewing hole, fitted between the strands of a compound bowstring.
- Plunger (pressure button)
- A plunger in archery is a spring-loaded button that contacts the side of the arrow near the rest on a recurve bow.
R
- Release aid
- A release aid is a mechanical device that holds and releases a bowstring, usually through a D-loop on a compound bow.
- Riser
- A riser in archery is the central section of the bow that carries the grip and connects the upper and lower limbs.
- Robin Hood
- A Robin Hood in archery is a shot that drives an arrow into the nock end of an arrow already in the target, leaving the two joined.
S
- Stabilizer
- An archery stabilizer is a rod and weight system that changes the bow's balance and resistance to rotation.
- String walking
- String walking is a barebow aiming method in which you move your drawing fingers below the arrow nock while keeping your drawing hand at the same contact point on your face, called your anchor.
T
- Target panic
- Target panic is a loss of control over aiming or releasing that appears when you try to shoot at a target.
- Tiller
- Tiller in archery usually means the difference between the upper and lower limb-to-string measurements on a strung bow at rest.
X
- X ring
- The X ring in archery is the small central scoring zone used to identify the most centered hits on many target faces.