Archery Equipment

The majority of archery equipment consists of:

1. Bows

2. Arrows

 

Optional 

3. Release aids

4. Protective equipment

5. Stabilizers

6. Sighting Equipment

Bows

 

A bow is a flexible arc that shoots arrows by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord. As this string is drawn, energy is stored in the flexible limbs of the bow; the energy is transferred to the arrow when the string is released, projecting it much farther than a weapon could be thrown.

There are many types of bows available in archery:

1. Recurve bow

2. Olympic Recurve bow

3. Compound bow

4. Longbow

5. Reflex bow

6. Shortbow

7. Japanese Kyudo bow

 

Recurve bow

A recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is strung. A recurve bow stores more energy that a straight-limbed bow, because more is stored and delivered more efficiently, giving a greater amount of energy and hence speed, to the arrow. It is the bow mostly used by archers in the Olympics, as well in many competitive events.

The bow is usually made from multiple layers of fibreglass, carbon or wood.

The Olympic recurve bow

Compound bow

A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system, usually of cables and pulleys, to bend the limbs. The limbs of a compound bow are much stiffer than a recurve bow. This stiffness makes the bow more cost effective to build than other bows because it takes less time and materials to make.

 

The compound bow is little-affected by changes in temperature and humidity and it gives superior accuracy, velocity, and distance in comparison to other bows that cost the same amount of money. You can still get a high quality bow of a different type that will produce the same amount of power and accuracy, but it will be much more expensive.

 

Compount bows are typically used for hunting and bowfishing.

The hunting compound bow

Arrows

The most common form of arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end with fletching and a nock attached to the other end. Shafts are typically composed of solid wood, fibreglass, aluminum alloy, carbon fiber or composite materials.  

 

Wooden arrows are prone to warping, while fibreglass arrows are brittle but can perform well. Aluminum and carbon fiber shafts are very popular currently due to their lighter weight creates greater speed and accuracy.

Today, arrows made of composite materials are the most popular tournament arrows at Olympic Events.

Different kinds of arrows

Release Aids

When such a device was first invented, it was known as a clutch. The trigger may be an actual trigger lever which is depressed by a finger or thumb. Archers using compound bows usually use a release aid to hold the string and release it precisely. This attaches to the bowstring just below the nocking point or at the D loop and permits the archer to release the string by the use of some form of trigger. 

An example of a release aid

Stabilisers

A general term for various types of weights, usually on rods, mounted on the bow to increase stability. It is the inconsistencies of the archer that stabilizers can help to reduce. The various types of stabilizers are each designed to minimize a particular direction of movement. The successful addition of stabilizers can only be achieved by actual testing and accuracy grouping. 

A stabilizer to minimize a faulty shot

Protective Equipment

Bracer - Also known as a arm-guard, to protect the inside of the bow arm from being hit by the string and prevent clothing from catching the bow string. 

Bracer made out of plastic

Chest guards – Protection for their chests, where mostly female archers wear them.

Chest guard where mostly women wear

Thumb ring – To protect the drawing digits.

Thumb ring made from leather