What is an end in archery?
An end in archery is a group of arrows you shoot before scoring and collecting them. The round specifies how many arrows belong in each end. Three-arrow and six-arrow ends are common in target archery, while the NFAA indoor round uses five. A round contains a prescribed series of scoring ends.
How many arrows are in an end?
| Round | Arrows per end | Scoring ends | Total arrows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas 300 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| World Archery 18m indoor | 3 | 20 | 60 |
| World Archery 720 ranking | 6 | 12 | 72 |
| NFAA indoor 300 | 5 | 12 | 60 |
A match or shoot-off can use a different arrow count from the ranking round. For example, the World Archery 720 ranking round has six-arrow ends, while individual match play uses a different structure. Check the event instructions for your round and division.
Practice ends let you warm up or check your sight before scoring begins. Keep them separate from the scorecard total. An archer saying "one more end" means one more group of arrows, not necessarily one more arrow.
What happens between shooting and scoring?
After shooting the required arrows, leave the shooting line as directed. Wait for the range signal before walking forward, even if your own target group has finished. Other archers may still be shooting.
- Identify your arrows and agree their values with the scorers before anyone touches the arrows or target face.
- Call and record the values from highest to lowest. For World Archery outdoor target scoring, keep X as X and record a miss as M.
- Add the end total, update the running total, and check the recorded values. Resolve disputed calls through the event's scoring procedure.
- Pull arrows only after scoring is complete and the target group is ready.
How do you total an end?
Under World Archery outdoor target scoring, X, 10, and 8 add up to 28. The X contributes 10 points and also goes into the X count. A miss uses one of the prescribed arrows and adds zero points; it is not a spare shot you can replace.
If your previous running total was 111, that 28-point end takes it to 139. Keep individual arrow values even if you use a calculator for the addition. They let you check a disputed total or spot an omitted arrow later.
Round · Vegas 300
114/120- End 1X10929
- End 2109928
- End 310X1030
- End 4981027
What should you check before the next end?
Count your arrows back into the quiver and confirm how many you will shoot next. Shooting extra arrows can trigger penalties under the governing rules. A practice app selecting the best arrows from a photo does not determine your official competition score.
Use the printable score sheet with the correct number of boxes per end. If the round has six-arrow ends but the sheet groups entries in threes, make the grouping clear before you begin so a subtotal is not mistaken for a completed end.
Questions
What is the difference between an end and a round?
An end is one group of arrows shot before scoring and retrieval. A round is the full prescribed course, including its distances, faces, and total arrow count. Several ends make up a round. For example, a Vegas 300 has ten scoring ends of three arrows, for thirty arrows altogether.
Is an end always worth 30 points?
No. A three-arrow end on a 10-point face has a maximum of 30, while six arrows on that face can total 60. Five arrows under standard NFAA indoor scoring can total 25. Calculate the maximum from the prescribed arrow count and the scoring system used for that round.
Can you pull your own arrows as soon as you finish?
You must wait for the range signal before going forward. At the target, leave arrows in place until the group has completed scoring and resolved any disputed values. Pulling an arrow early removes the evidence of its position on the face and can complicate or invalidate a scoring claim.