Archery

The Sportsman Warehouse

#Archery (G) is the #art, practice, or skill of propelling #arrows (G) with the use of a bow, from Latin #arcus. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat, while in modern times, its main use is that of a competitive #sport and recreational activity. A person who participates in archery is typically known as an "#archer" or a "#bowman", and one who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a #toxophilite (G)

#Bowandarrow (G)
While there is great variety in the construction details of bows (both historic and modern), all bows consist of a string attached to elastic limbs that store mechanical energy imparted by the user drawing the string. Bows may be broadly split into two categories: those drawn by pulling the string directly and those that use a mechanism to pull the string.
Directly drawn bows may be further divided based upon differences in the method of limb construction, notable examples being self bows, laminated bows and composite bows. Bows can also be classified by the bow shape of the limbs when unstrung; in contrast to simple straight bows, a recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is #unstrung. The cross-section of the limb also varies; the classic longbow is a tall bow with narrow limbs that are D-shaped in cross section, and the #flatbow has flat wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. The classic D-shape comes from the use of the wood of the yew tree. The sap-wood is best suited to the tension on the back of the bow, and the heart-wood to the compression on the belly. Hence, a cross-section of a yew longbow shows the narrow, light-coloured sap-wood on the 'straight' part of the D, and the red/orange heartwood forms the curved part of the D, to balance the mechanical tension/compression stress. Cable-backed bows use cords as the back of the bow; the draw weight of the bow can be adjusted by changing the tension of the cable. They were widespread among Inuit who lacked easy access to good bow wood. One variety of cable-backed bow is the Penobscot bow or Wabenaki bow, invented by Frank Loring (Chief Big Thunder) about 1900. It consists of a small bow attached by cables on the back of a larger main bow.

Modern #recurvebow (Takedown)
Compound bows are designed to reduce the force required to hold the string at full draw, hence allowing the archer more time to aim with less muscular stress. Most compound designs use cams or elliptical wheels on the ends of the limbs to achieve this. A typical let-off is anywhere from 65%–80%. For example, a 60-pound bow with 80% let-off will only require 12 pounds of force to hold at full draw. Up to 99% let-off is possible. The compound bow was invented by Holless Wilbur Allen in the 1960s (a US patent was filed in 1966 and granted in 1969) and it has become the most widely used type of bow for all forms of archery in North America.
Mechanically drawn bows typically have a stock or other mounting, such as the crossbow. They are not limited by the strength of a single archer and larger varieties have been used as siege engines.

Arrow
The most common form of arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end and with fletchings and a nock attached to the other end. Arrows across time and history are normally carried in a container known as a quiver, which can take many different forms. Shafts of arrows are typically composed of solid wood, bamboo fiberglass, aluminium alloy, carbon fiber, or composite materials. Wooden arrows are prone to warping. Fiberglass arrows are brittle, but can be produced to uniform specifications easily. Aluminium shafts were a very popular high-performance choice in the latter half of the 20th century due to their straightness, lighter weight, and subsequently higher speed and flatter trajectories. #Carbonfiberarrowsbecame popular in the 1990s and are very light, flying even faster and flatter than aluminium arrows. Today, arrows made up of composite materials are the most popular tournament arrows at Olympic Events, especially the Easton X10 and A/C/E.
The arrowhead is the primary functional component of the arrow. Some arrows may simply use a sharpened tip of the solid shaft, but it is far more common for separate arrowheads to be made, usually from metal, stone, or other hard materials. The most commonly used forms are target points, field points, and #broadheads, although there are also other types, such as#bodkin, #judo, and #bluntheads.

Shield cut straight fletching – here the hen feathers are barred red
Fletching is traditionally made from bird feathers. Also solid plastic vanes and thin sheetlike spin vanes are used. They are attached near the nock (rear) end of the arrow with thin double sided tape, glue, or, traditionally, sinew. Three fletches is the most common configuration in all cultures, though as many as six have been used. Two will result in unstable arrow flight. When three-fletched the fletches are equally spaced around the shaft with one placed such that it is perpendicular to the bow when nocked on the string (though with modern equipment, variations are seen especially when using the modern spin vanes). This fletch is called the "index fletch" or "cock feather" (also known as "the odd vane out" or "the nocking vane") and the others are sometimes called the "hen feathers". Commonly, the #cockfeatheris of a different color. However, if archers are using fletching made of feather or similar material, they may use same color vanes, as different dyes can give varying stiffness to vanes, resulting in less precision. When four-fletched, often two opposing #fletches are cock feathers and occasionally the fletches are not evenly spaced.
The #fletching may be either parabolic (short feathers in a smooth parabolic curve) or shield (generally shaped like half of a narrow shield) cut and is often attached at an angle, known as helical fletching, to introduce a stabilizing spin to the arrow while in flight. Whether helicial or straight fletched, when natural fletching (bird feathers) are used it is critical that all feathers come from the same side of the bird. Oversized fletchings can be used to accentuate drag and thus limit the range of the arrow significantly; these arrows are called flu-flus. Misplacement of fletchings can often change the arrow's flight path dramatically.

Bow string
Dacron and other modern materials offer high strength for their weight and are used on most modern bows. Linen and other traditional materials are still used on traditional bows. Almost any fiber can be made into a bow string. The author of "Arab Archery" suggests the hide of a young, emaciated camel. Njál's saga describes the refusal of a wife, Hallgerður, to cut her hair in order to make an emergency bowstring for her husband, Gunnar Hámundarson, who is then killed.

Bracer, Finger tab and Thumb ring

A right-hand finger tab to protect the hand while the string is drawn.
Most archers wear a bracer (also known as an arm-guard) to protect the inside of the bow arm from being hit by the string and prevent clothing from catching the bow string. The bracer does not brace the arm; the word comes from the armoury term "brassard", meaning an armoured sleeve or badge. The Navajo people have developed highly ornamented bracers as non-functional items of adornment. Some archers (mostly women) also wear protection on their chests, called chestguards or plastrons. The myth of the Amazons was that they had one breast removed to solve this problem.Roger Ascham mentions one archer, presumably with an unusual shooting style, who wore a leather guard for his face.
The drawing digits are normally protected by a leather tab, glove, or thumb ring. A simple tab of leather is commonly used, as is a skeleton glove. Medieval Europeans probably used a complete leather glove.
Eurasiatic archers who used the thumb or Mongolian draw protected their thumbs, usually with leather according to the author of Arab Archery, but also with special rings of various hard materials. Many surviving Turkish and Chinese examples are works of considerable art. Some are so highly ornamented that the users could not have used them to loose an arrow. Possibly these were items of personal adornment, and hence value, remaining extant whilst leather had virtually no intrinsic value and would also deteriorate with time. In traditional Japanese archery a special glove is used, provided with a ridge which is used to draw the string.

Main article: Release Aid (Archery)
A release aid is a mechanical device designed to give a crisp and precise loose of arrows from a compound bow. In the most commonly used, the string is released by a finger-operated trigger mechanism, held in the archer's hand or attached to their wrist. In another type, known as a back-tension release, the string is automatically released when drawn to a pre-determined tension.

Stabiliser (archery)
#Stabilisers are mounted usually on the front of the bow below the handle and on the right side, below the handle to help aiming by keeping the bow steady.

A modern compound hunting bow
Using archery to take game animals is known as "bow hunting". Bow hunting differs markedly from hunting with firearms, as the distances between the hunter and the game are much shorter in order to ensure a humane kill. The skills and practices of bow hunting therefore emphasize very close approach to the prey, whether by still hunting, stalking, or waiting in a #blind or#treestand. In many countries, including much of the United States, bow hunting for large and small game is legal. Bow hunters generally enjoy longer seasons than are allowed with other forms of hunting such as black powder, shotgun, or rifle. Usually, compound bows are used for large game hunting and may feature fiber optic sights and other enhancements. Using a bow and arrow to take fish is known as "bow fishing"

Aluminium (material) - Used in modern archery for the production of arrows
Anchor point - a point to be touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot, usually a point on the archer's mouth, chin or nose
AMO (organization) - The Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization (now known as the ATA)
AMO length (measure) - A standardized length for measuring bow strings
Archer (practitioner) - One who practices Archery (a.k.a. bowman)
Archer's paradox (effect) - The effect produced by an arrow flexing as it leaves the bow
Archery (practice) - The practice of using a bow to shoot arrows
Arm guard (equipment) - A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm (a.k.a. bracer)
Arrow (equipment) - The main projectile in Archery
Arrowhead (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the head, point or tip
Arrow rest (equipment) - A device used to hold the arrow against the handle until it is released
ATA (organization) - The Archery Trade Association (formerly known as the AMO)
A.T.A (measure) - An acronym for "Axel-To-Axel", the length between the two pivotal axels which hold the cams onto the limbs on a compound bow.

Blunt (equipment) - An unsharpened arrowhead used for targets and small game
Bodkin point (equipment) - A sharp, pointed arrow head
Bolt (equipment) - A crossbow projectile; also called a quarrel
Boss (equipment) - A target, typically made from tightly compacted foam or straw
Bowman (practitioner) - One who practices Archery (a.k.a. Archer)
Bow (equipment) - An ancient weapon powered by elasticity used for hunting and sport
#Bowfishing (practice) - The use of archery equipment for catching fish
Bowhunting (practice) - The practice of taking game using archery
Bow string (equipment) - A fiber joining two ends of a bow for launching arrows
Bowyer (craftsman) - One who makes bows
#Brace (practice) - The act of attaching a bow string to a bow
Brace Height (measure) - the distance from the string to the pivot point of the bow's grip.
Bracer (equipment) - A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm (a.k.a. arm guard)
Broadhead (equipment) - A sharp-bladed hunting head
Bullseye (equipment) - The central area of a target, often for which a greater number of points may be scored when hit
Butts (location) - A practice field with mounds of earth used as targets
Button (equipment) - An adjustable spring-loaded contact for the arrow as it sits on the rest mounted in a perpendicular direction to the arrow.

Carbon fiber (material) - Used in modern archery for the production of arrows
Clicker (equipment) - A device used to indicate an archer's optimum draw length
Clout archery (practice) - A form of archery in which archers shoot arrows toward a flag (known as "the Clout") from a relatively long distance and are scored based on how close each arrow lands to the flag.
Cock feather (equipment) - A differently-colored fletch that indicates proper arrow alignment on the string (a.k.a. Index feather)
Composite bow (equipment) - A bow made from laminating various materials together
Compound bow (equipment) - A modern bow that uses a system of cables and pulleys
Crest (equipment) - Heraldic markings on an arrow used for identification or design
Crossbow (equipment) - A bow mounted on a stock that shoots bolts or Quarrels

Daikyu (equipment) - A Japanese longbow
Decurve bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve toward the archer
Deflex bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the entire length of the handle and limbs curve toward the archer
Drawing (practice) - The act of pulling an arrow against a bow string in readiness for shooting
Draw weight (measure) - The number of pounds of force required to draw a bow twenty-eight (28) inches

End (Practice) - A round of arrows shot during an archery event (rarely more than six arrows)
English longbow (equipment) - A powerful medieval bow; also known as the Welsh longbow

Fiberglass (material) - Used in modern archery equipment for the production of both bows and arrows
Field archery (practice) - Shooting at targets of unmarked distances in an open field
Field tip (equipment) - A practice head for targets
Finger Tab (equipment) - A small leather patch to protect the archer's fingers (a.k.a. Tab)
Fistmele (measure) - The proper distance between the handle of a bow and the bow string when the bow is strung (a.k.a. Brace Height)
Flatbow (equipment) - A non-recurved bow with a rectangular cross section
Fletching (equipment) - The stabilizing fins or vanes of an arrow (each individual fin is a fletch)
Fletcher (craftsman) - One who makes arrows
Flex (measure) - The amount of "bend" an arrow shaft provides; contrasted with Spine
Flu-Flu Arrow (equipment) - A specially designed short-range arrow
Footed arrow (equipment) - An arrow with a shaft composed of two types of wood

Game (target) - Non-domesticated animals hunted for food or sport
Glove (equipment) - Protective gear for an archer's fingers (a.k.a. Shooting glove)
Gungdo (practice) - The Korean art of archery

This is a List of #archery terms,
#Fletching showing index feather (a.k.a. cock feather - green) and hen feathers (pink)
#Hankyu (equipment) - A short Japanese bow
Head (equipment) - The front end of an #arrow; also known as the#arrowhead, point or #tip
Hen feather (equipment) - Name incorrectly given to the shaft feathers based on misunderstanding of 'cock' (leading) feather
Horse archer (practitioner) - An archer mounted on a horse

Index fletching (equipment) - A differently-colored fletch that indicates proper arrow alignment (a.k.a. Cock fletching)
Judo points (equipment) - A target and small-game head equipped with spring wires for easy location

Kisser (equipment) - A button used to indicate consistent vertical distance when drawing a bow
#Kyudo (practice) - The Japanese art of archery
Longbow (equipment) - A tall wooden bow with a ‘D’ shaped cross-section, approximately the same height as the archer, without significant recurve
Loose (practice) - The act of shooting an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. Release)
Laminated Bow (equipment) - A bow with different materials laminated together to make a single bow.
Limb (equipment) - The upper and lower arms of a bow.
Longrod (equipment) - Rod attached to the bow to dampen vibration.

Mounted archer (practitioner) - An archer mounted on a horse
#Mongoliandraw (practice) - The act of drawing a bow with one's thumb (a.k.a. Mongolian release)

Nock (equipment) - The notch at the rear end of an arrow; also the notches at the ends of the bow limbs to which the bowstring is attached, or looped over.
Nock (practice) - The act of setting an arrow in a bow
Nocking point (equipment) - The point on a bow string over which an arrow nock is placed

Overdrawn (measure) - A condition in which a bow string is too short for the bow; fistmele is exceeded

Plunger/Pressure button (equipment) - A device used to correct an arrow's flex at the point of release
#Point (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead, head or tip
Poisons (equipment) - Toxic additions to arrow heads in order to increase hunting effectiveness

Quarrel (equipment) - A crossbow projectile; also called a bolt
Quiver (equipment) - A container for an archer's projectiles

#Recurvebow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve away from the archer
Reflex bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the entire length of the handle and arms curve away from the archer
Release (practice) - The act of firing an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. Loose)
Rest (equipment) - A device used to hold the arrow against the handle until it is released (a.k.a. Arrow rest)
Riser (equipment) - The handle section of a Bow

Safety arrow (equipment) - Arrow with Wide tip or padded head for reenactments
Self bow (equipment) - A bow made from a single piece of material (normally wood)
Serving (equipment) - Extra thread wound around a bow string in order to support or protect the main fiber
Shaft (equipment) - The main structural element of an arrow
#Shaftment (equipment) part of the arrow upon which the fletchings lie
Shaft feathers (equipment) those two which oppose the cock feather
Shooting glove (equipment) - Protective gear for an archer's fingers
Spine (measure) - The stiffness of an arrow shaft; contrasted with Flex
Stabilizer/Stabiliser (equipment) - A weighted rod or set of rods used to provide balance to a bow
Stave (equipment) - A strip of wood from which a bow may be made
.Stacking

Tab (equipment) - A small leather patch to protect the archer's fingers (a.k.a. Finger tab)
Target (equipment) - General term for the intended destination of a shot arrow
#Targetarchery (practice) - Shooting at non-moving targets placed varying distances away
Target point (equipment) - Bullet-shaped practice head for targets
Target shooting (practice) - Competitive event that uses projectile weapons for tests of proficiency
Thumb ring (equipment) - Protective ring for an archer's thumb
#Tip (equipment) - Either (especially the top) end of the bow, as differentiated from the point of an arrow

#Upshot - The last shot in an archery contest.

#Vane (equipment) - The stabilizing fin of an arrow

#Wandshoot (practice) - An archery event in which arrows are shot at a slat of soft wood that is typically 6' tall and 2" wide
Welsh longbow (equipment) - A powerful medieval bow; also known as the English longbow
Wood (material) - The earliest material used for the construction of bows and arrows

#Yabusame (practice) - A type of mounted archery practiced in Japan
Yew (material) - A type of wood traditionally used to make bows[3]
#Yumi (equipment) - An asymmetric Japanese bow; includes both long and short varieties (daikyu and hankyu)