Archery Disciplines:

If you've been to one of our open days, or maybe seen someone shooting elsewhere, you may have noticed an array of equipment being used.  This page aims to inform you of the various types of bow and shooting styles available to you.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, but covers the main disciplines shot within the Crawley Club.

Barebow:

As the title infers, archers may only use a bow that is 'bare' of other equipment.  This therefore excludes a sight and the rods used for stabalisation.  The only items allowed on the bow are the arrow rest, and the button.

In Field Archery, there is also the TRADITIONAL style.  Very similar to BAREBOW, but the archer is not permitted to use a button.

With no sight permitted, archers use methods called String Walking, Face walking and Gapping, in order to get their arrows on the variously distant targets.  British Barebow archers are some of the best in the world, and regularly have scores that exceed those of less able archers WITH sights.

Recurve:

Also referred to as 'Olympic Style', as this is the only style of archery to be competed for within the Olympics.  The term 'Recurve' is descriptive of the shape of the upper and lower limbs which, having curved back, then curve forward at the tips.  The distinctive rods that stick out at various angles are there to 'stabalise' the bow as the arrow is released.  Pin sights are allowed, as is a piece of leather to draw the bow back.  Called a TAB, this little piece of equipment can also have a small platform on it that is brought up to the chin in an effort to make every shot as similar to the last as possible.

Longbow:

The Longbow, as used in the 10th century.  String material will have changed (so difficult to get cat-gut now a days!) but the bow itself is just as God intended.

Compound:

The latest pedigry of the Archery Technology, the compound uses the Pulley in order to harness power into the bow.  Archers can experience a 60% release of energy at full draw through the use of cleverly designed 'cams' at the end of each limb.  By also using a trigger device, a peep sight and optics in the sight, Compounds Archers can greately improve on the precision of each shot.

 If you'd like to add to this page, please send your additions to Adam Smith