Learn more about common, and uncommon, archery terms.
Beginner Archery Terms
| Term |
Definition |
| Aim |
The act of aligning the bow and sight with the target. |
| Arrow |
A projectile that is shot from a bow. |
| Bow |
The primary tool in archery that uses arrows to shoot. |
| Butt |
A backstop behind the target, often straw. |
| Compound Bow |
A modern bow that uses a system of pulleys and cables. |
| Draw |
Pulling the bowstring back in preparation for shooting. |
| Quiver |
A container that holds arrows. |
| Recurve Bow |
A type of bow where the tips curve away from the archer. |
| Release |
Letting go of the bowstring to shoot the arrow. |
| Stance |
The position of feet and body when shooting. |
| Target |
The object archers aim at, usually featuring concentric rings for scoring. |
Advanced Archery Terms
| Term |
Definition |
| Anchor Point |
The consistent place where the hand or string is positioned at full draw. |
| Back Tension |
The use of back muscles to maintain draw weight and stability. |
| Clicker |
A device that signals when to release the arrow for consistent draw length. |
| Dry Fire |
Releasing the bowstring without an arrow, which can damage the bow. |
| Fletching |
The vanes or feathers on an arrow that stabilize its flight. |
| Nocking Point |
The specific spot on the bowstring where the arrow is placed. |
| Overdraw |
Drawing the bow beyond its intended limit. |
| Sight Picture |
The visual alignment of the sight with the target. |
| Tiller |
The difference in the bending of the upper and lower limbs of the bow. |
| Windage |
Adjustments made to the sight for wind conditions. |
Archery Arrow Parts
| Term |
Definition |
| Arrowhead |
The pointed end of the arrow, used for penetration. |
| Fletching |
The feathers or vanes at the back of the arrow for stabilization. |
| Nock |
The slotted end of the arrow that clips onto the bowstring. |
| Shaft |
The main body of the arrow. |
Archery Bow Parts
| Term |
Definition |
| Bowstring |
The string attached to the bow limbs used for shooting arrows. |
| Grip |
The part of the bow handle where the archer’s hand goes. |
| Limb |
The upper and lower extending parts of the bow. |
| Nocking Point |
The spot on the bowstring where the arrow is nocked. |
| Riser |
The central part of the bow to which limbs are attached. |
| Sight |
A device that mounts on the bow for aiming. |
| Stabilizer |
A rod attached to the bow to balance and stabilize it during shooting. |
Other Archery Equipment Terms
| Term |
Definition |
| Bow Sight |
A device on the bow to aid in aiming. |
| Bracer/Arm Guard |
Protective gear worn on the forearm to prevent injury from the bowstring. |
| Plunger/Button |
A device on the bow that corrects the arrow’s horizontal alignment. |
| Serving |
Thread wound around the bowstring to protect it from wear. |
Archery Scoring Terms
| Term |
Definition |
| Bullseye |
The center of the target, typically scoring the highest points. |
| Compound Score |
A scoring method where arrows in the inner ten ring count for more than those in the outer ten (common in compound bow competitions). |
| End |
A set number of arrows shot before scoring (usually 3, 5, or 6 arrows per end). |
| Gold |
The term to refer to the yellow rings on the target, including the bullseye and X-ring. |
| Inner Ten |
In some rounds, only the X-ring counts as ten points, while the rest of the gold is nine. |
| Line Cutter |
An arrow that touches the line between two scoring zones; it’s awarded the higher score. |
| Miss |
An arrow that misses the target, scoring zero points. |
| Outer Ten |
The part of the gold ring that counts as ten points in rounds where the inner ten rule is not applied. |
| Pass Through |
An arrow that passes through the target, often scored as if it hit the target where it exited. |
| Recurve Score |
A scoring method in recurve competitions where the entire gold ring counts as ten. |
| Round |
A series of ends that completes a portion of the competition. |
| Running Score |
The ongoing total of scores as the round or competition progresses. |
| Scorecard |
The record sheet where an archer’s score for each arrow/round is noted. |
| Total Score |
The cumulative score of all arrows shot in a competition or round. |
| X-Ring |
The very center of the target, often used as a tiebreaker, scoring the same as the bullseye. |
Archery Maintenance Terms
| Term |
Definition |
| Bow Press |
A device that safely flexes the bow limbs for installing or removing bowstrings, cables, or making adjustments. |
| Bow Square |
A T-shaped tool for measuring brace height and nocking point position. |
| Bow String Wax |
A wax applied to the bowstring to protect it from wear and environmental damage. |
| Brace Height |
The distance from the deepest part of the bow grip to the string; adjusting this affects the bow’s performance. |
| Cable Guard |
A device on compound bows that keeps the cables away from the arrow’s path. |
| Cam Alignment |
The process of ensuring the cams on a compound bow are correctly aligned for optimal performance. |
| Draw Length Adjustment |
Changing the length at which the bowstring is drawn, typically on a compound bow. |
| Fletching Jig |
A tool to accurately attaching vanes or feathers to arrows. |
| Limb Bolts |
Bolts that attach the limbs to the riser; can be adjusted to alter bow tension. |
| Limb Inspection |
Checking the bow’s limbs for cracks, twists, or other damage. |
| Nocking Point Adjustment |
The process of adjusting the position where the arrow nocks onto the string. |
| Rest Alignment |
Adjusting the arrow rest for optimal arrow flight. |
| Sight Adjustment |
Fine-tuning the bow sight for accurate aiming. |
| String Serving |
The thread wound around sections of the bowstring to protect it from wear and arrow nock pressure. |
| Tiller Adjustment |
Adjusting the balance between the upper and lower limbs of the bow. |
