What is the X ring in archery?
The X ring in archery is the small central scoring zone used to identify the most centered hits on many target faces. On outdoor World Archery target faces and standard Vegas scoring, an X is worth 10 points and is recorded separately. Other formats can give an X a different point value.
Where is the X ring?
On the outdoor 10-ring target face, the X ring sits inside the gold 10 zone. An arrow in the surrounding 10 zone still earns 10 points, but it does not add an X. Check the printed ring boundaries rather than treating the whole gold center as an X.
Each spot of the Vegas 3-spot face has its own central X ring. Under standard Vegas scoring, X and 10 have equal point value. The X identifies the more centered hit in your score record.
How do you record Xs?
Write X in the arrow-value box instead of replacing it with an ordinary 10. Add its numeric value when totaling the end, and enter it in the X-count column as well. For example, X, 10, and 9 make a 29-point end with one X under 10-point scoring.
Scorecards may have separate columns for 10s including Xs and for Xs alone. Read the headings before adding them up. In the example, the combined 10+X count is two and the X count is one. The X does not add a bonus point to the total.
Does the higher X count always win a tie?
Tie procedures depend on the round and stage of competition. World Archery outdoor target ranking uses total 10s including Xs before comparing Xs for many tied scores. Some ties instead require a shoot-off. Do not rank a tied score by X count alone without checking the event rules.
In practice, X count helps separate rounds that have the same point total. It says little about arrows farther from the middle, though. Keep the full arrow record if you want to see whether a higher X count came with more low scores elsewhere.
Why indoor scoring needs a separate check
An inner 10 and an X are not interchangeable in every event. World Archery indoor compound scoring uses the smaller inner 10 as its 10-point zone; it does not use an outdoor-style X count. The area between the smaller inner 10 and the larger 10 boundary scores 9 for World Archery indoor compound.
The NFAA indoor blue-and-white face has an X inside its 5-point center. During standard NFAA indoor scoring, that X earns 5 points. Shoot-off rules can differ. Before calling arrows, confirm the face, division, and scoring system with the target group.
Questions
Is an X worth 11 points?
In standard World Archery outdoor target scoring and standard Vegas scoring, an X earns 10 points. It adds to the X count, which may matter for ties, but it does not increase the numeric end total beyond 10 for that arrow. Other event formats can use different scoring, so confirm the round before recording values.
Does touching the X line count as an X?
Under World Archery outdoor target scoring, the shaft touching the boundary of the X zone scores X. The center of the shaft does not need to be inside. Leave the arrow and face untouched while resolving a close call. Different formats can have special inside-out requirements, particularly during shoot-offs.
Can two ends have the same score and different X counts?
Yes. A three-arrow end of X, 10, 10 and one of X, X, X both total 30 under standard 10-point scoring. Their X counts are one and three. Record both the arrow values and the X count so the difference remains visible, even when you are only scoring a practice round.