Archery Glossary

Accent Stripes: Thin colored laminations that run through the riser section of the bow.

Anchor or Anchor Point: The position of the drawing hand at full draw. At high anchor the drawing hand touches the cheek. At low anchor the drawing hand is placed under the jaw bone.

Armguard: A piece of stiff material used to protest the bow arm from the bow string upon release. An armguard is usually made of leather and is worn on the inside of the forearm holding the bow.

Arrow Plate: Material attached on the side of the sight window to protect it and quiet the arrow as it is drawn and shot.

Arrow Point: The metal tip of an arrow.

Arrowrest: A horizontal projection on the bow upon which the arrow lies. This device keeps the arrow on the bow and in shooting position.

Arrow Shaft: Main body of the arrow, not including the nock or point end, made from a variety of materials.

Arrow Shelf: Area of bow directly above the handle or grip section where arrows are placed to be "shot off the shelf".

Back of bow: The outer surface or backside of the bow; the side facing the target.

Backset, handle: bow design that has just the handle or grip setting behind the limbs

Backset, riser: bow design that has the entire riser setting behind the limbs

Banana shape: feather fletching with a half moon shape also called magnum shape

Barebow: a conventional bow with no sights, stabilizers or draw checks

Bare shaft: a blank arrow without nocks, inserts, points, feathers, stain or paint.

Barreled shaft: shaft that is tapered smaller on each end than it is in the center section of the shaft

Belly of bow: side closest to you when you correctly hold the strung bow

Bolts: The short arrows used in a crossbow

Bow: A device made of flexible material with a string connected at two ends. The string, when drawn and released, propels an arrow

Bow arm: the arm or hand which holds the bow

Bow glass: fiberglass laminations put on the back and belly of a laminated bow during construction

Bow notches: grooves at either end of a bow that keep the bowstring secured

Bow rack: a rack used to hold archery bows when they are not in use. A bow rack make a safe storage place and protects bows from damage

Bow sight: A mechanical device placed on a bow which the archer uses for aiming at the target. This device is not allowed in certain types of archery competition

Bow sling: A strap fastened to either the bow or the archer's bow hand that keeps the bow from falling after the release. It is especially useful if the archer shoots with a relaxed bow hand

Bow square: T-shaped tool used to determine where to place string nock, also can be used to measure brace height and tiller

Bow string: strands of material served and twisted together to form a string used to propel an arrow

Bowstringer: a device used to safely and effectively string a bow

Boyer: one who makes or repairs bows

Brace: the stringing of a bow

Brace height: distance, generally measured from the string nock to the deepest part of the handle / grip

Butt: Any backstop to which a target face is attached

Cam: an egg shaped wheel / pulley on a limb(s) of compound bows used to store energy and provide let-off

Cast: The ability of the bow to propel an arrow a given distance

Centershot: when the bow's sight window is cut to the imaginary centerline that runs down the belly of the bow

Chest Protector: a piece of nylon mesh or leather worn across the chest to keep the bow string from catching on the archer's clothing

Classification: division of archers according to age and gender

Clicker: A tool attached to the back of the bow which clicks when you are at your desired anchor point 

Cock feather: odd colored or marked feather, on an arrow with three feathers

Composite Bow: a bow manufactured by combining different types of materials

Compound bow, double cam: an archery bow with two cams, one each limb to store energy and provide let-off

Compound bow, single cam: an archery bow with one cam (perimeter weighted and bottom limb mounted) and one wheel providing a very fast and smooth shot

Creeping: A fault in shooting form in which the archer lets the move, or creep, forward just before releasing the draw. This fault should be corrected as it weakens the shot, reducing both speed and distance.

Crest: bands of paint used as decoration on an arrow, usually placed to give a clean edge on the crown dip

Crester: spins the arrow shaft so that cresting can be applied

Cresting brush: brush used to apply cresting paint to arrow shaft

Crossbow: a mechanically drawn bow, held, sighted and shot like a rifle

Crossbow Bolt: what the projectile fired from the crossbow is called

Crown dip: is color (paint or stain) applied to the back 8-12" (nock end) of the arrow

Cut off center: a bow having a sight window not cut to the centerline of the bowbelly (the bow's an 1/8" off center)

Cut past center: a bow having it's sight window cut a certain amount past the imaginary centerline of the bow's belly

Dacron: nylon type material used to make bowstrings

Deflex: section of the limb and or riser that bends toward the bowstring

Distance markers: markers placed on the field to indicate the distance from the shooting line to the target

Draw a bow: the act of pulling the string on a bow

Draw length: distance a person draws a bow, generally measured from the bottom of the arrow nock (throat) to the back (side facing farthest away from you) of a correctly held bow

Draw loop: attached on the string, over the string nock, used with a release to pull the string with no pinch

Draw weight: actual amount of weight taken to pull a bow a certain distance; usually measured at 28" (50lbs @ 28")

Elevated rest: arrow rest that is attached to the sight window or installed through the riser, to "elevate" the arrow above the shelf

End: A predetermined number of arrows that are shot before going to the target to score and retrieve them

Endless loop: simple bowstring with a loop on both ends

Fadeouts: the very ends of the riser where the riser "fades out" into the limbs

Fast flight: relatively new lightweight material that has little stretch and is very strong, used to make modern bowstrings

Feathers: fletching made of common turkey feathers

Feather, full length: a 10" - 12" long uncut feather that can be used for making a flu arrow or be cut or burned to a particular shape

Feather, die cut: a feather that has been cut to a particular shape like a parabolic, shield or magnum shapes

Feather splice: taking two or more different colored feathers, cutting out sections and "splicing" them back together to form a
uniquely colored feather then gluing the one piece on the arrow

Field points: round, sharp ended arrow points made from steel used for target practice

Finger pinch: describes having your finger pinched against the arrow nock by the bow string when pulling the string back

Fistmele: see brace height

FITA: International Federation of Target Archers

Flat bow: a short longbow with a wide limb design

Flemished string: short for flemish twist string it consist of two separate bundles of string hand twisted together

Fletching: material used to stabilize an arrow in flight made either from natural feathers or plastic (preferably feathers)

Fletching clamp: clamp fletching is inserted into, then clamp is attached to fletching jig, in order to apply fletching to shaft

Fletching jig: tool used to hold the fletching clamp which will apply fletching to arrow shaft

Flipper rest: simple elevated rest attached to the riser / sight window

Flu flu: an arrow with large unshaped feathers to limit the distance in which it flies: commonly used to shoot such things as aerial targets and small game hunting

Follow through: behavior of the body, especially the drawing hand and arm, after release of the string

Forgiveness: ability of a bow to be shot in many different positions without any noticeable affects on accuracy

Forward set: describes a bow that has the handle and/or the riser setting in front of the limbs ("has a forward set riser")

Full draw: the position of the archer when the bow string has been drawn and the draw hand is at the anchor point

Glove: Three leather fingers worn on the drawing hand to protect the skin

Grain weight: refers to the actual weight of an arrow or arrow accessories in terms of grains

Grip: section of the bow riser where you place your hand to shoot the bow

Group: the pattern of arrows in a target face; to shoot arrows in a pattern

Handicap: points an archer legally receives to adjust his or her score in a tournament, thereby making the tournament more competitive

Handle riser: the thick portion of the bow from which the limbs extend

Hand shock: the felt vibration produced by a bow after it has been shot

Hen feather: two feathers of the same color on an arrow which has three feathers

Judo point: a flat ended arrow point, used like a blunt point but with spring arms which grab and keep the arrow from skipping or completely penetrating the target

Kisser button: a string accessory used at full draw to hold your anchor point consistently in the same position

Lamination taper: amount of taper from the butt to the tip of the limb lamination (example: lamination taper is .030 per inch)

Laminations: thin strips of material that run the length of a laminated bow, both in the limb and riser section

Let-Off: the amount in percent, a bows holding weight is reduced from its pulling weight

Limb: the upper and lower parts of the bow above and below the handle riser. Energy is thus stored in the limbs prior to release. This storing and releasing of energy is what gives an arrow flight

Limb core: laminations sandwiched between the two layers of bow glass; makes up the "core" of the limbs

Limb taper: amount that the limb width tapers from the fade outs to the tips (example: limb tapers from 1 3/4" to 3/4")

Limb tips: end of the limbs where the string groves / nocks are

Limb wedges: wedge shaped piece between the limb laminations at the base of the limbs this term is generally used in reference to a take down bow's limbs

Longbow: is a non-compound archery bow having two limbs of any cross section connected by a handle, either one piece or takedown, so when strung at the manufacturer's recommended brace height the bowstring does not touch the limb at any point other than the string nocks.

Nock, arrow: plastic part glued or pressed into the back of an arrow that accepts the bowstring

Nock, bow: a term sometimes used to describe the string groves on each end of the bow

Nock, cushion: used as a barrier between the string nock and a release to lessen the pinch at full draw

Nock, self: grove that is manually cut in the back of primitive arrows to accept the bowstring

Nock, string: various material put on bow string to permanently mark the nocking point

Nocking pliers: used to put on brass string nocks

Nocking point: exact spot on bowstring where the arrow is placed before being shot

Off the shelf: refer to arrow shelf

Over-bowed: term used to describe someone shooting a bow which they cannot physically control

Overlays: laminations used in the grip and limb tip areas to beautify and strengthen those areas

Parabolic Shape: feather that has a round back shape

Parrell shaft: an arrow shaft the same diameter from one end to the othe

Quiver: a device that holds arrows

Quiver, back: arrow holding device worn on ones back, tube shape or quiet backpack style

Quiver, bow: arrow holding device that is attached to the bows riser or limbs

Quiver, hip: quiver attached to a belt and worn on the hip; usually keeps arrows divided

Quiver, pocket: small pouch worn inside the pants pocket where a few arrows may be carried

Quiver, tube: round "tube" shaped quiver worn on the hip

Recurve bow: a non-compound archery bow having two limbs of any cross section connected by a handle, either one piece or takedown, so when strung at the manufacturer's recommended brace height the string contacts the limbs after it leaves the string nocks

Reflex: section of the limb and or riser that bends away from the bowstring

Release: the act of releasing the bowstring when shooting; also see Release, mechanical

Release, Mechanical: a tool attached to the string providing Archers smooth consistent string releases when used properly

Riser: middle section of bow that includes the grip, shelf, sight window and can include misc. screw-in inserts

Round: units of shooting in an archery contest

Roving quiver: cross between a hip quiver and a tube quiver; worn on the hip

Self bow: is a non-compound archery bow made from wood with no glass backing in either the Longbow or Recurve styles.

Serving: thread like material applied to the middle of the bow string to increase wear resistance also applied in the loops of an "endless loop" string

Serving jig: small tool used to apply serving to bowstring

Shaft: the arrow, excluding the point, nock, and fletching

Shield cut: feather having a concave shape in the rear

Shooting glove: leather glove used to protect the fingers while shooting

Shooting line: the line where the archers stand to shoot. The shooting line runs parallel to the targets

Shooting position: the placement of the body when ready to shoot

Shooting, Tab: small piece of leather material placed between fingers and string to protect the fingers while shooting

Sight window: area of the bow directly above the arrow shelf

Sight, peep: a rear sight placed in the string, allowing the shooter to look through the string aligning front and rear sights 

Smoothness: describes the way a bow feels when drawn: the ability of a bow to be drawn back without any felt "catches"

Snapping: a fault in which the archer releases wihtout first sighting and aiming carefully

Spine: describes the stiffness of an arrow shaft

Spine tester: tool used to determine the spine of a shaft

Spine weight: refers to the strength of an arrow in terms of poundage or a range of poundage (50#-55# spine)

Stability: describes the stiffness of the bow limbs when draw, in relation to their twisting side to side

Stabilizer: attaches to the back of the bow extending forward used to dampen vibration

Stance: one element of an archer's shooting form; the way in which an archer stands at the shooting line

String grove: groves at the end of the bow limbs: where the bow string is held in place

Tab: a flat piece of material which protects the fingers of the drawing hand

Tackle: an inclusive term for archery equipment

Take down bow: bow that can be taken apart for ease of transportation, bows typically consist of either 2 or 3 pieces

Tapered shaft: shaft which has the back 10-12" tapered down to a smaller diameter typically from 23/64" to 5/16"

Target archery: a form of archery competition in which contestants shoot at large targets from known distances on cleared, level terrain

Throat of grip: deepest spot of the grip / handle

Tiller: the amount that one limb is weakened compared to the other limb in order for the two limbs to be in time

Tip wedge: wedge shaped piece put between limb lamination in the tip area

Tuning: adjusting the various pieces of tackle - specifically bowstring, arrow rest, and nocking point - to achieve maximum efficiency for an individual's shooting style