We provide pertinent answers to archery related questions, and archery terminology on this page as a public service to archery target shooters and hunters alike. Please respond on our 'Feedback' page with any comments or suggestions you may have.

What is .............

Anchor Point

The reference point that a person pulls the bow string to before releasing.

This point should be the same for each shot and may be the side of the mouth, ear lobe, or other reference point

Armguard

Material attached to the forearm of the arm that holds the bow to protect it from a string burn or keeps the sleeve from catching on the string.

Arrow shaft

The main body of the arrow before the nock, fletching, or point is installed. It can be made from several materials including wood, aluminum, carbon, and composites.

Brace height

The distance from the string to the deepest part of the handle or grip. This distance can be changed by twisting the string tighter to increase the height and untwisting it to decrease the height.

Broadhead
Arrow tips meant for hunting big-game. They generally feature at least one-inch of cutting diameter and may be fixed blades or expandables (mechanicals).

Blunts

Arrow points that have flat ends that are made from steel, aluminum, rubber,or brass. They are used for small game and practice.

Cable guard

The rod on compound bows which keeps the cables away from the center of the bow so the arrow can pass by without hitting the cables.

Cam

The wheel or pulley on the end of compound bow's limb used to provide let-off and power. They may be round or elliptical shape.

Center shot

A bow with a sight window that is inset to the centerline that runs along the bow from end to end inline with the string. This lessens the bending of the arrow when released.

Cock feather

The odd colored or marked feather (vane).

How to Determine Draw Length
Your Draw Length is used to determine your Actual Peak Bow Weight for Recurve bows, and to select the proper draw length setting for compound bows. To determine your Draw Length, use a lightweight Recurve bow with an extra-long arrow and have someone mark the arrow at the back (far side) of the bow while you are in a comfortable full-draw position. Your Draw Length is the distance from the mark to the bottom of the nock groove.

Draw length

       A properly sized bow has to fit your arms. But don't get caught short. The longer you can draw back the bow, the more speed you'll get in your arrow.

      Determining your draw length

       Make a fist with your bow hand and touch a wall, holding it straight out as if you were shooting a bow

       Then measure, or have someone else measure , the distance from the wall to the corner of your mouth--measuring parallel along your arm

       You can also measure your wingspan by spreading your arms out and measuring the distance from fingertip to fingertip

       Refer to the chart below for your proper draw length. Add or subtract a half-inch for each inch over or above the wingspans listed below.

Draw Weight
The amount of force in pounds required to draw the bow. (i.e. 40#, 50#, 70#)

How to determine Actual Peak Bow Weight for Compound Bow
To shoot properly, the maximum draw length of a compound bow must be set to your Draw Length. A compound bow reaches its maximum or peak bow weight before reaching maximum draw length and then "lets off" in draw weight 50 to 80%. This reduced weight at full draw is called the "holding weight." The Actual Peak Bow weight of your compound bow can be determined on a bow scale at your archery pro shop

Efficiency
The amount of kinetic energy of the arrow just as it leaves the bow divided by the potential energy that went into drawing it, multiplied by 100.

Fletch
The plastic vane or feather that is at the end of the arrow used to stabilize the arrows flight path.

Grain
The measure of weight usually used when weighing arrows or arrow tips. 7000 grains make a pound.

Field points

Points that are round (no blades) with a sharp point, usually used for practice.

Finger pinch

Having your finger pinched against the nock by the bow string when pulling the string back

Fletching

The feathers or vanes used to stabilize an arrow in flight.

Flipper rest

An elevated rest attached to the bow sight window. Looks like a tab or finger.

Flu flu

An arrow with large bushy feathers to limit the flight distance and used to shoot airborne targets or targets in trees.

IBO

International Bowhunting Organization

Insert

An arrow part that accepts the screw in point or the nock.

IBO Speed Rating
The International Bowhunter's Organization has a speed rating that is generally measured with a bow set at 70 pounds, 30-inch draw and shooting a 350-grain arrow. Today's fastest bows will shoot over 310fps using the IBO rating.

Judo point

A blunt point but with spring arms which grab and keep the arrow from skipping. When shooting in grass, the arrow usually tips up making them easier to find.

Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy = (arrow weight) / 450,800 x (arrow speed). Kinetic energy measures the level of penetration your arrow possesses.

Kisser
Allows you to anchor consistently by placing the kisser on the bowstring and making sure it touches the same part of your lips each draw.

Kisser button

A button placed on a bow string to hold your anchor point consistently in the same position. 

Let-Off

The percent that a bows holding weight is reduced from its pulling weight when the cams are in the valley.

Pope & Young Let-Off for Compound Bows:

1. Definition of let-off: That characteristic of a bow that results in a reduction of the force necessary to increase the draw length after the highest level of draw force has been reached. This is characteristic generally associated with, but not restricted to, compound bows.

2. The maximum let-off on a compound bow shall be measured at a point in the draw cycle after the peak draw weight has been attained. It shall be measured near the end of the draw cycle where the minimum holding force is reached. This point in the draw cycle on a compound bow is known as "the bottom of the valley."

3. Determination of the percent of let-off: The values of the peak draw force and the let-off force shall be used to calculate the percent of let-off. The peak force is the maximum force obtained during the draw cycle. The let-off force is the lowest force reached following the peak force during a single uninterrupted draw cycle. In all cases, both the highest and lowest force shall be read from a scale during a single and continual pull condition, without relaxation.   % Let-off = 100 X [(Peak Draw Force) - (Minimum Holding Force)] / (Peak Draw Force)

Limb

The ends of the bow that bend when the string is pulled back

Loop

A string in a U shape tied on the bow string around the nock point that a release aid is attached to when shooting.

Mechanical blades

An arrow point (broadhead) with two or more blades usually used for hunting, that open on impact.

Nocking loop
Loop placed around nocking point. This protects your string from being damaged by the release aid but the downside is, it reduces speed slightly.

Nock on arrow

Arrow part glued or snapped into the back of an arrow shaft that the bow string fits into. On early or very traditional arrows, the nock is cut into the shaft itself.

Peep Sight
used as the rear sight of a gun is used. The peep sight is placed on or in the bowstring and the sight pins and target are viewed through the peep. Sight pins should be centered in the peep. Small peeps help you gain accuracy but don't let a lot of light in. Hunters generally apt for larger diameter peeps.

Quiver
Holds arrows, the most popular for bowhunting is the bow-quiver which holds arrows on the bow. But some say that makes the bow too heavy and makes it harder to hold the bow steady in the wind. Other options are hip quivers and back-quivers.

Nock on bow string

A mark put on bow string to mark the nocking point of the arrow. Sometimes a simple knot in a string is used, sometimes the point is marked with a brass clip with a rubber insert to protect the string. A loop of string or a loop of metal may be used with a release aid for the string nock.

Spine
Refers to the strength of the arrow shaft and its ability to resist bending and to recover after bending or experiencing archer's paradox.

Stabilizer
Placed on a bow for the purpose of reducing torque and shock after releasing the arrow. Also, it helps level out the bow and hold it steady prior to releasing.

Tiller
To measure the tiller is to measure the perpendicular distance from the bowstring to the points where the riser and limbs meet. The tiller is the difference in these two measurements.

Torque
is to turn the bow to one side when aiming or releasing the arrow.

Valley
When at full-draw, the area between a compound's wall and the point where the let-off ceases to exist.

Wall
Term used to describe the back of the drawing motion of a bow. A solid or hard wall is when the drawing motion comes to a sudden and precise end. If the back of the drawing motion is nondescript, it is called a soft or mushy wall. A solid wall is usually preferred because it makes it easier to anchor consistently. Bowtech and Diamond bows have a solid wall draw-stop that makes the wall solid.