WA 1440 round: distances and scoring

Distances for the senior recurve round

World Archery specifies the round in meters. The yard figures below help you picture the distances, but the range should use the official metric measurements. Each distance contributes the same number of scoring arrows and the same possible 360 points, even though the difficulty and target size change.

The yard conversions are approximate. Youth and older age classes have their own distance schedules, so this table is not a substitute for checking your event category. Confirm the published shooting order as well. World Archery permits variations in how the round is scheduled, including shooting the distances in reverse order.

The face gets smaller at the shorter distances

For the senior recurve schedules above, use a face about 48 inches [122cm] across at the two longer distances and about 31.5 inches [80cm] across at the two shorter distances. Both use 10-point scoring. The 10-ring target guide explains the scoring colors and the central X.

The change from the second to the third distance deserves attention. You move closer and change to a smaller face at the same time. Do not assume the sight picture or expected score will change in proportion to distance alone. Check which full or reduced-center face arrangement the organizer uses at the shorter distances.

An X contributes 10 to the score. Record center counts in the columns required by the event instead of adding bonus points. For each distance, 36 arrows multiplied by 10 gives 360. Four distance totals then add to 1440.

Keep a subtotal for every distance

Create four separate sections on your scorecard before shooting. At each distance change, finish the current subtotal and verify that it includes exactly 36 arrows. This catches a missed entry while the relevant arrows and end records are still easy to identify.

That example finishes at 1220 out of 1440. If the next round also totals 1220, you still need the four subtotals to know what changed. Better long-distance shooting can be canceled by a weak final block. Keeping only the grand total erases that distinction.

Compare each distance with the same distance from previous rounds shot on the same face. A lower score at the longest distance is not automatically a technique failure. It is a different task, with more opportunity for wind and small aiming errors to affect where the arrow lands.

Prepare sight marks before the event

A sight mark is the sight setting you use at a particular distance. Have a usable mark for every distance in your round. Establish those marks on an appropriate range before the event, and write down the bow and arrow setup used. A sight mark from a different arrow build may put the group somewhere else. Begin long-distance work under your club's supervision if the setup is unfamiliar.

At each transition, read the new distance, adjust the sight and check the setting again before drawing. This prevents a simple administrative mistake from becoming a lost arrow. Follow the range officer's instructions while targets or shooting lines move; keep your bow undrawn while people are downrange.

The Olympic archery distance guide helps place the 70-meter stage in context. A 1440 asks you to manage several distances in one score, so bring the complete sight-mark record instead of relying on the distance you shoot most often.

Plan for all 144 scoring arrows

The round contains twice the scoring arrows of a WA 720, plus whatever practice the event allows. Work up to the volume in training. If your usual session is much shorter, first learn how your bow arm and concentration respond to longer sessions with normal rest between ends.

Take the food, water and weather protection you can use within the venue rules. Check arrows for damage as you collect them and remove any suspect shaft from use. Use spare arrows that match the set you practiced with, and check them before packing.

Fatigue can be easy to miss when the target gets closer later in the day. Your score may rise because of the distance change even while your shot routine becomes less consistent. Record specific observations beside the relevant distance subtotal, such as having to abandon shots before release or difficulty maintaining your normal draw.

Use the distance split to choose your next session

Pick the distance where your recent results vary most, then look for a repeatable condition you can test. If your longest-distance groups spread in gusts, practice there in manageable conditions and record what the wind was doing. If points disappear immediately after a move, rehearse the sight change and first-end routine.

Keep the next comparison narrow enough to interpret. Shooting a new arrow setup at a different distance on a different face gives you several explanations for a changed score. For a useful 1440 record, retain the four subtotals, category, face arrangement and any equipment change on the same sheet.

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