Archery Glossary: Archery Terms Every Archer Should Know
- 26 min reading time
A
Anchor point: The fixed reference point on the face or jaw where the string hand or string comes to rest at full draw. A consistent anchor point is the foundation of repeatable accuracy and one of the first things taught in our archery lessons.
Archer: A person who shoots a bow and arrow. An archer who hunts is also called a bowhunter.
Archer's paradox: The way an arrow flexes around the riser as it leaves the bow rather than flying in a straight line off the string. The archer's paradox is why arrow spine matters so much for finger shooters.
Arm guard: A leather or synthetic guard worn on the bow arm to protect the forearm from string slap. A standard piece of safety gear for beginners and anyone shooting a traditional bow.
Arrow: The projectile shot from a bow, consisting of a shaft, fletching, nock, and point. Adventures Archery stocks a wide range of arrows and components in our arrow components collection.
Arrow nock: The plastic device on the back end of an arrow that snaps onto the bow string. The arrow nock indexes the arrow on the string the same way every shot, which is why nock alignment matters during bow tuning.
Arrow plate: A small piece of material, sometimes leather or horn, set into the arrow shelf of a traditional bow to protect the wood from arrow wear.
Arrow rest: The component mounted on the riser that holds the arrow during the draw and shot. Rest design varies by discipline, from drop-away rests for compound hunting setups to spring-loaded plungers for Olympic recurves.
Arrow shaft: The main body of the arrow, made from carbon, aluminum, or wood. Carbon is the most common arrow shaft material today, and we carry shafts and finished arrows from Easton and other major arrow brands.
Arrow shelf: The small ledge on the riser where the arrow sits on a recurve or longbow with no separate rest installed. Shooting off the arrow shelf is the traditional method used by most longbow archers.
Arrow spine: The stiffness of an arrow shaft, expressed as a deflection number. A correctly spined arrow flexes the right amount when it leaves the bow. The wrong spine causes left and right misses no amount of practice will fix.
ATA (Archery Trade Association): The Archery Trade Association, the trade organization for the archery and bowhunting industry. ATA publishes technical guidelines and organizes the ATA Trade Show. It replaced the former AMO name in the early 2000s.
B
Back of bow: The face of the bow that faces away from the archer when the bow is drawn. Opposite of the belly.
Barebow: A recurve archery style shot without a sight. Barebow archers typically use finger release and may use aiming methods such as string walking, face walking, or point of aim, depending on the ruleset.
Belly: The face of the bow that faces the archer when the bow is drawn. Opposite of the back of bow.
Berger button: Also called a plunger or pressure button. A spring-loaded device installed in the riser that supports the arrow laterally and helps fine-tune arrow flight.
Bodkin point: A narrow, pointed arrowhead originally designed to punch through armor. Still used today in some traditional archery applications.
Bow: A weapon or sporting tool made of a flexible limb under tension, used to launch an arrow. Modern bow types include compound, recurve, longbow, and crossbow.
Bow arm: The arm holding the bow at the grip. For a right-handed archer, the bow arm is the left arm. Bow arm position drives consistency, and proper bow arm form is covered in every beginner lesson at Adventures Archery.
Bow grip: The portion of the riser that the archer holds. Bow grip design and hand placement at the pivot point of the grip controls torque and shot consistency.
Bow press: A mechanical device used to flex the limbs of a compound bow and take tension off the string and cables. Required for string changes, cam timing, and most major service work. Our techs run bow presses for every major brand as part of our pro shop services.
Bow sight: An aiming device mounted on the riser. A bow sight has one or more pins (single or multi-pin) or a moveable scope housing. We carry bow sights from TruGlo, Trophy Ridge, and other major sight manufacturers.
Bow square: A T-shaped tool that clips onto the string and measures brace height, nocking point location, and string-to-rest alignment.
Bow string: The string that connects the two ends of the bow and transfers stored energy to the arrow on release. Modern bow string materials are synthetic, typically Dacron, Fast Flight, or BCY 8125 and similar high-performance blends. Replacement strings are available in our bow accessories collection.
Bow tuning: The process of adjusting a bow so it shoots arrows with consistent flight. Bow tuning covers rest position, nocking point, cam timing, center shot, and arrow spine matching. Tuning is one of the most-requested services in our Tampa and Lakeland pro shops.
Bowfishing: Hunting fish with archery gear, typically with a reel-mounted bow and a barbed point on a heavy line. We carry bowfishing gear in our bowfishing collection, including products from Muzzy.
Bowhunter: A person who hunts with a bow and arrow. Bowhunting is one of the most popular archery disciplines in the United States.
Brace height: The distance from the deepest part of the bow grip (the throat of the grip) to the bow string when the bow is at rest. Brace height affects bow forgiveness and arrow speed: a longer brace height is more forgiving, a shorter brace height is faster.
Broadhead: A bladed hunting arrow point used for big game. Two main categories: fixed-blade and mechanical (expandable). Selection depends on draw weight, arrow speed, and game.
Bullet point: A target arrow point with a rounded nose. Used for practice and target shooting, but not legal for hunting big game.
C
Cable guard: The rod that holds the compound bow's cables out of the path of the arrow.
Cam: The eccentric wheel at the end of a compound bow's limb. Cams store energy on the draw and create let-off at full draw. Modern compound cams come in single, hybrid, twin, and binary configurations.
Cant: The intentional or unintentional tilt of the bow to the left or right when at full draw. Many traditional archers cant the bow naturally; target shooters keep the bow vertical.
Carbon arrow: An arrow shaft made from carbon fiber. Carbon arrows are popular for hunting and target archery because they offer a strong balance of speed, durability, and consistency.
Center shot: The lateral position of the arrow rest relative to the bow string. Setting center shot correctly is one of the first steps in bow tuning.
Chest guard: A protective garment worn across the chest to keep clothing and the archer’s body clear of the string path. Common in Olympic recurve, barebow, and target archery.
Clicker: A small spring-loaded blade on an Olympic recurve riser that drops past the arrow point at exactly the right draw length, giving the archer an audible click to release on.
Clout archery: A target archery discipline where archers shoot at a flag or marker set in the ground at long distance. Distances vary by ruleset, age group, bow type, and organization.
Cock feather: Also called the index feather. The differently colored fletching on the arrow, set at a right angle to the nock so the archer can index the arrow on the string consistently every shot.
Compound bow: A modern bow that uses cams and cables to store more energy than a recurve and to provide let-off at full draw. The compound bow is the most popular bow type in North American bowhunting. We carry compound bows from Mathews, Hoyt, PSE, Elite, Bear, Bowtech, and Mission. New 2026 compound bows are available in our new bows collection.
Crest: The painted decorative bands near the back of an arrow, used for identification and personalization.
Crossbow: A horizontal bow mounted on a stock and fired like a rifle. Modern crossbows are extremely fast and used widely for hunting. We stock crossbows from TenPoint, Ravin, and Excalibur.
D
Decock: The process of safely removing stored energy from a cocked crossbow, either through a built-in decocking system or by using the manufacturer’s recommended discharge method.
Diameter: The outside measurement of an arrow shaft. Smaller diameter arrows are more wind-resistant and used by target archers; larger diameter arrows catch more line on target faces and are used in indoor target competition.
D-loop: A short piece of string tied to the bow string above and below the nocking point, used as an attachment point for a mechanical release.
Draw cycle: The feel of pulling a compound bow back from rest to full draw. A smooth draw cycle ramps up to peak weight and then drops cleanly into let-off.
Draw length: The measured distance of an archer’s full draw, commonly based on the distance from the grip’s pivot point to the nocking point plus a standard measurement allowance, depending on the measurement method.
Draw weight: The force in pounds required to pull a bow to full draw. Compound bow draw weights are measured at peak weight; recurve and longbow draw weights are measured at a fixed draw length, usually 28 inches.
Dry fire: Releasing a bow with no arrow nocked. Dry firing can damage or destroy a bow and voids most warranties.
E
Easton Sports Development Foundation: The nonprofit foundation behind much of the youth archery infrastructure in the United States. The Easton Sports Development Foundation funds JOAD clubs, NASP programs, and the Easton Foundations archery centers across the country. Easton is also a primary arrow shaft manufacturer, and we stock Easton arrows in our Easton collection.
Eccentric: Another name for the cam on a compound bow.
End: A group of arrows shot in sequence before scoring and retrieving. A typical target archery end is three to six arrows.
Expandable broadhead: A broadhead with blades that open on impact. Also called a mechanical broadhead. Larger cutting diameter than fixed-blade, but requires sufficient arrow speed and kinetic energy to deploy reliably.
Eye dominance: The eye that delivers stronger visual input to the brain. Most archers shoot bows matched to their dominant eye, regardless of hand dominance. Eye dominance testing is part of our beginner archery lessons.
F
Face walking: A barebow aiming method where the archer changes the anchor point on the face for different distances.
Fast Flight: A trade name for a high-performance synthetic bow string material. Often used as shorthand for any high-performance non-Dacron string.
Feather fletching: Natural turkey or goose feather vanes glued to the back of an arrow shaft. Feathers forgive contact with rests and shelves better than plastic vanes, which is why traditional shooters favor them.
Field point: A non-bladed practice arrow point with a streamlined profile. The standard practice point for both target and 3D archery.
Finger tab: A piece of leather or synthetic material worn on the string hand to protect the fingers and provide a clean release. Standard equipment for Olympic recurve, barebow, and most traditional archers.
FITA: The former name of World Archery, the international governing body for target archery and Olympic competition.
Fixed-blade broadhead: A broadhead with rigid, non-moving blades. Strong, reliable, and durable, with no mechanical parts that can fail.
Fletching: The vanes or feathers attached near the back of an arrow shaft that stabilize arrow flight. Modern arrows usually have three fletchings, but four-fletch setups are common in target archery.
Follow-through: The portion of the shot sequence that happens after release. A clean follow-through keeps the bow arm steady and the release hand relaxed against the face.
Full draw: The position where the archer has pulled the bow string to its full draw length and anchored. Full draw is the launch position for every shot. Holding solid at full draw without creep is one of the most important parts of a repeatable shot, and full draw form is covered in every lesson we run.
G
Grain: The unit of weight used for arrow components and total arrow weight (7,000 grains equals one pound). Arrow points, inserts, and finished arrows are all measured in grains.
Group: The cluster of arrows on a target face. Tight groups indicate consistent form, even when the group is off-center.
H
Hand shock: The vibration felt in the bow hand on release. Modern compounds and many recurves are designed to minimize hand shock with limb dampeners and string suppressors.
Hen feathers: The two fletchings on an arrow that are not the cock feather. Usually the same color.
Hurricane Cup Series: Florida's signature 3D and indoor archery tournament series, hosted by Adventures Archery. The Hurricane Cup brings together archers from across the southeast for multiple stops throughout the year. Tournament details and registration are on our Hurricane Cup Series page.
Hybrid cam: A compound bow cam system using two slightly different cams (one control, one power) that work together. Hybrid cams are forgiving and offer good arrow speed.
I
IBO speed: A speed rating standard used by bow manufacturers, measured at 70 pounds draw weight, 30 inches draw length, and 350-grain arrow. The IBO number is a useful comparison tool but is not what most archers actually shoot.
Idler wheel: The non-cam wheel on a single-cam compound bow. The idler wheel turns freely as the cam does the work.
ILF (International Limb Fitting): A standard limb-to-riser mounting system used on most Olympic recurve bows and some hunting recurves. ILF lets the archer mix limbs and risers across compatible brands.
Index feather: Another name for the cock feather. Set at a right angle to the nock and colored differently from the other fletchings so the archer can index the arrow on the string the same way every shot.
Insert: A small aluminum or stainless steel sleeve glued into the front of an arrow shaft that accepts points and broadheads. Inserts are sold by grain weight and are stocked alongside other components in our arrow components collection.
Instinctive shooting: A traditional archery aiming method where the archer looks at the target and shoots without conscious aiming. Used by many longbow and traditional recurve shooters.
J
JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development): USA Archery's youth development program for archers ages 8 to 20, designed to teach Olympic-style recurve and compound archery. JOAD clubs operate across the United States with support from the Easton Sports Development Foundation. Adventures Archery is a JOAD-sanctioned club with national-champion coaches on staff. Program details and enrollment are on our JOAD program page.
K
Kinetic energy: The energy a moving arrow carries to the target, measured in foot-pounds. Bowhunters use kinetic energy to evaluate whether a setup has enough downrange punch for a given species.
Kisser button: A small bead or disc attached to the bow string that contacts a fixed reference point on the archer's lips at full draw, used as a secondary anchor check.
L
Lakeland Range: Adventures Archery's Lakeland, Florida location features a 12-lane indoor range and a full pro shop. Hours, address, and range details are on our Lakeland page.
Let-off: The percentage of peak draw weight reduced at full draw by the cams of a compound bow. A 70-pound bow with 80% let-off holds at 14 pounds at full draw. Let-off lets archers hold longer and aim more steadily.
Limb: The flexible upper or lower section of the bow that stores and releases energy on the shot. Limbs are made from laminated wood, carbon, fiberglass, or different materials in combination.
Limb bolt: The bolt at the riser-limb junction on a compound bow that adjusts draw weight. Backing the limb bolts out reduces poundage in a controlled range.
Longbow: A long, straight-limbed traditional bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The historical English longbow is the archetype.
Loose: A traditional archery term for the release of the bow string. Now used mostly by traditional archers.
M
Mathews: A premium American compound bow manufacturer. Mathews bows are popular for both hunting and target archery. Browse Mathews bows at Adventures Archery.
Mechanical broadhead: See expandable broadhead.
Mechanical release: A release aid that attaches to the D-loop or bowstring and uses a trigger, hinge, thumb button, or resistance mechanism to release the string. Common types include wrist-strap, thumb-trigger, hinge, and resistance releases.
N
NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program): A school-based archery program that teaches archery in K–12 physical education settings. NASP uses standardized equipment, including the Genesis bow, for consistency and safety.
Nock: Two meanings: (1) the plastic arrow nock at the back of an arrow; (2) the act of placing the arrow on the bow string. Both meanings are common in everyday archery terms.
Nocking point: A small marker on the bow string that indexes the arrow nock position. Often a brass crimp or a wrap of serving thread. Set with a bow square during tuning.
O
Olympic recurve: A target recurve setup used in Olympic-style archery, typically including a takedown riser, recurve limbs, sight, stabilizer, clicker, and finger tab.
Overdraw: A setup that allows the arrow to sit farther back relative to the riser, often allowing a shorter arrow. It was historically used to reduce arrow weight and increase speed, but it is less common today.
P
Peep sight: A small ring installed in the bow string that the archer looks through at full draw to align with the front bow sight. Peep sights are standard on hunting and target compounds.
Pin sight: A bow sight with one or more fiber-optic pins set for specific distances. It is one of the most common sight types for bowhunting.
Pivot point: The deepest part of the bow grip, where the riser pivots in the hand on release. The pivot point is the technical reference for measuring draw length and brace height.
Plunger: Another name for the Berger button.
Point of aim: A traditional aiming method where the archer uses the tip of the arrow against a known reference point on or near the target.
PSE: PSE Archery, a major American compound bow manufacturer. Browse PSE bows at Adventures Archery.
Q
Quiver: A container for arrows. Bow-mounted quivers, hip quivers, and back quivers are the three main styles, each suited to different disciplines.
R
Range estimation: The skill of judging the distance to a target by eye. Important in 3D and field archery where distances are not posted, and standard practice on different distances on our outdoor Tampa range.
Range finder: A handheld optical device that measures the distance to a target using a laser. Standard bowhunting gear today.
Ravin: A premium crossbow manufacturer known for high-speed compact designs. Browse Ravin crossbows at Adventures Archery.
Recurve bow: A bow with limb tips that curve away from the archer when unstrung. Recurves store more energy than longbows of the same length and are the standard for Olympic competition. The recurve bow is also a popular traditional hunting choice.
Reference point: Any consistent body or equipment landmark used during the shot sequence, including the anchor point, kisser button contact, and peep sight alignment. Multiple reference points produce consistent shots.
Release aid: See mechanical release.
Riser: The rigid center section of the bow that the limbs attach to and the archer holds. Modern compound risers are machined from aluminum; traditional risers are wood, sometimes laminated with synthetic materials for stability.
Robin Hood: When an archer drives one arrow directly into the back of another already in the target, splitting or sticking into it. A Robin Hood is rare, expensive (you lose at least one arrow), and a point of pride for the archer who pulls one off.
Roving: Traditional outdoor archery practice where archers walk a course shooting at natural targets (stumps, dirt clods, leaves) at unknown distances.
S
Serving: The protective wrap of thread around the center of the bow string where the nocking point sits, and at the loops where the string meets the limbs. Serving prevents string wear in high-friction areas.
Sight: See bow sight.
Sling: A short strap on the bow that catches the bow after the shot, letting the archer hold the bow loosely without dropping it.
Spine: See arrow spine.
Stabilizer: A weighted rod that extends from the riser to dampen vibration and balance the bow. Hunting stabilizers are short and heavy; target stabilizers are long and tuned with weight stacks.
Stacking: A sharp increase in draw weight near the end of the draw cycle, most common in traditional bows drawn beyond their intended draw length.
String: Shorthand for bow string. The string is the most-replaced wear item on a bow, and replacement strings are available in our bow accessories collection.
String fingers: The fingers (usually the index, middle, and ring fingers) that hook the string for the draw. Different finger placements (split-finger or three-under) are used for different disciplines.
String silencer: A piece of rubber, yarn, or whisker material attached to the bow string to reduce vibration and noise. Standard on most hunting bows.
String walking: A barebow aiming method where the archer changes the grip position on the string (closer to or farther from the nock) for different distances.
String wax: A wax compound used to condition the bow string, prevent dryness, and extend string life. Should be applied every few weeks during regular shooting.
T
Takedown bow: A recurve or longbow that breaks down into a riser and two limbs for transport. ILF Olympic recurves and most modern traditional bows are takedown bows.
Tampa Range: Adventures Archery's Tampa location features the largest archery range in Florida: a 28-lane outdoor range with targets up to 80 yards, plus a 12-lane indoor range. Address, hours, and range specs are on our Tampa page.
Target archery: Competitive archery shot at flat target faces at known distances. Indoor target archery is typically shot at 18 or 20 yards; outdoor target archery distances range out to 70 meters for Olympic recurve.
Target face: The printed paper or plastic face attached to a target butt. Standard target face designs include the 10-ring (yellow center) face, vegas indoor faces, and 3D animal target faces.
Target panic: A psychological condition where the archer cannot hold steady on the target or cannot trigger the release cleanly. Target panic is common at every skill level and can be worked through with structured practice and coaching. We address target panic in our lessons program.
TenPoint: A leading crossbow manufacturer based in Ohio. Browse TenPoint crossbows at Adventures Archery.
Three under: A finger position where all three string fingers are placed below the arrow nock. Common in barebow and traditional archery.
Tiller: The difference between the upper and lower limb-to-string measurements on a bow. Tiller affects balance, nocking point setup, and how the limbs work together during the shot.
Tip protector: A rubber or plastic cap that covers the limb tips of a strung bow to protect both the limb tips and surrounding gear in transport.
Traditional archery: The discipline of shooting longbows, recurves, and selfbows without sights, releases, or other modern aiming aids. Many traditional archery shooters use feather fletching and shoot off the shelf.
Traditional bows: A category that includes longbows, one-piece recurves, and takedown recurves used without sights or releases. Traditional bows demand a different kind of practice than compounds and reward consistent form.
Trajectory: The curved path an arrow follows from the bow to the target. Trajectory drops more steeply at longer distances, which is why pin sights have multiple pins for different distances.
Trophy Ridge: A US-based archery accessory manufacturer known for sights, rests, and quivers. Browse Trophy Ridge accessories at Adventures Archery.
TruGlo: A major optics and sight manufacturer for both archery and firearms. Browse TruGlo products at Adventures Archery.
Tuning: See bow tuning.
U
Underspined: An arrow with a spine that is too weak for the bow's draw weight, causing it to fishtail or fly poorly off the bow.
V
Vane: A plastic fletching, as opposed to a feather. The standard for compound bow setups using drop-away rests; less popular for traditional shooters because vanes do not fold around a shelf as cleanly.
V-bar: A mount used on Olympic recurve and target compound setups that attaches two side stabilizers to the bow at a fixed angle.
W
Wax: See string wax.
Wheel: The older term for what is now called a cam or idler wheel on a compound bow.
World Archery: The international governing body for archery competition, headquartered in Switzerland. World Archery sets the rules for Olympic and international target competition.
Y
Yardage: The distance from the archer to the target, measured in yards in the US and meters internationally.
Yoke: The Y-shaped split section of a control cable on some compound bows. Yoke tuning is one method of adjusting cam lean on certain bow designs.
Archery Terms by Category
For readers learning the sport from scratch, here is the same vocabulary grouped by what it describes.
Bow types: compound bow · recurve bow · longbow · crossbow · takedown bow · Olympic recurve · barebow
Bow anatomy: riser · limb · cam · bow string · bow grip · arrow shelf · back of bow · belly · serving · brace height
Arrow anatomy: arrow shaft · fletching · arrow nock · point · insert · cock feather · index feather · crest · arrow spine
Accessories: bow sight · peep sight · arrow rest · stabilizer · mechanical release · quiver · kisser button · string silencer · Berger button
Safety and apparel: arm guard · chest guard · finger tab · tip protector
Shooting form: anchor point · full draw · draw length · draw weight · follow-through · bow arm · string fingers · reference point
Disciplines and competition: target archery · traditional archery · bowfishing · bowhunter · clout archery · 3D archery · JOAD · NASP · Hurricane Cup Series · World Archery
Service and tuning: bow tuning · center shot · tiller · nocking point · bow press · bow square
Want to See Any of This Gear in Person?
Adventures Archery is a full-service pro shop with two Florida locations: our Tampa range (28-lane outdoor and 12-lane indoor) and our Lakeland range (12-lane indoor). We stock every major bow brand, run lessons and classes for beginners and experienced shooters, host the Hurricane Cup Series, and offer factory-trained bow tuning and service for every bow we sell.
This glossary is updated as new terms and gear come into the sport. If we missed a term you want defined, stop by either location and ask one of our techs.