AY Honors/Archery/Answer Key
Archery
1. Identify the parts of a bow.
Handle, riser, arrow rest, upper limb, lower limb, belly, back, window, recurve, bow nock, string loop, string, serving, kisser button, nocking point, brace height or fist mele, sight, sling.
2. Identify the parts of an arrow.
Nock, index, index or "cock" feather, hen feathers, shaft, spine, crest, point-tip-pile.
3. Name and explain the safety rules for archery.
- Don't shoot straight up.
- Never run on the archery range.
- Approach the target from the side, not the front so you dont get poked by the arrows sticking out of the target.
- Be sure your equipment is in good working order.
- Be aware of who is around you at all times.
- Don't "hide" behind the target.
- Don't walk in front of another archer.
- Don't talk on the shooting line.
- While loading your bow be sure that the arrows are always pointing toward the target.
4. Correctly and safely string a bow.
There are three basic ways of stringing and unstringing a bow.
Step through, Push Pull, Using a bow Stringer
5. Describe and show how to use the following:
a. Arm guard
Hitting your arm is one of the unpleasantries of archery. You can protect yourself with an armguard while learning how not to hit your arm. A leather or plastic armguard with elastic bands should be placed on the inside of your forearm just below your elbow. If you have a slight hyperextension to your elbow you can purchase a long armguard which will cover the inside of your entire bow arm.
b. Finger tab or glove
There are several types of finger tabs available. The "Marshall" style has one hole and the "Western" style has two holes. Either one works fine. They should be trimmed to fit the archer.
The "archers glove" covers the finger tips and secures around your wrist.
c. Quiver
A quiver by definition is "anything that holds arrows". You can have a side quiver that hangs from a belt. A back quiver. A side quiver that hooks on your pocket. A pocket quiver or a ground quiver, etc.
d. Bow sling
The purpose of a bow sling is to keep you from dropping your bow. There are two types of bow slings: the wrist sling and the finger sling.
A wrist sling is a strap that is connected to your bow for you to put your hand through while gripping your bow.
A finger sling is a 2 inch string with a loop at each end. After gripping your bow the loops go over the thumb and your index finger.
e. String kisser
The string "kisser" is a point on the string that touches your lip or corner of your mouth.
If you are using a "center draw" (see, Anchor) the string is in the middle or your chin and the middle of your nose. A "kisser" would be a small disc on the string that would touch your lip. This assures a vertical alignment of your bow.
6. Demonstrate the following shooting techniques:
a. The stance
The position of the feet and body assumed when addressing the target.
Setting your feet is the first step in setting up a good shot. A good foundation is important in anything, especially in archery.
First, lay an arrow pointing toward your target and perpendicular to the shooting line. Second, place your feet straddling the shooting line with your toes slightly touching the arrow.
Your feet should be placed approximately the same distance apart as your shoulders as a starting point. Once you find a comfortable stance it is important to remember where to put your feet each time you return to the shooting line.
b. Nocking the arrow
To place an arrow on the bowstring. The attachment to the rear of an arrow which is placed on the bowstring and holds the arrow on the string.
There are two ways to put and arrow on the string. One is right and one is wrong. The index feather or "cock" feather should point away from the bow. Doing this allows the hen feathers to gracefully clear the bow. If the "index" feather is pointed toward the bow it will kick out away from the bow as it tries to clear the bow during the shot.
Placing the fingers. The thumb and small finger should not be involved in the shot in any way or fashion. they should be relaxed and folded down as if you were saying "I'm THREE years old". After nocking the arrow, place three fingers on the string. Two under the arrow and 1 over the arrow then slide them together, lightly touching the arrow. The string should be at the first joint near the end of your fingers. This is a starting point. Competitive archers try to get the string at the very end of their fingers for a quicker release but this takes years of training.
c. The draw
This is the act of pulling the string back. The archer should start with the bow arm pointed directly at the target before pulling the string. Some young archers like to pull the string while raising their bows but this is a waste of energy and creates fatigue while shooting. Be very deliberate with little wasted motion.
d. The anchor
A combination of points to which the bowstring and/or the index finger of the drawing hand are drawn to on the face and neck.
There are multiple ways of "Anchoring" the string after you have drawn the bow. I will give you the two most common ones.
The Side Draw: Hunter or Field Style - Pull the string back so the index finger of your string hand touchs the corner of your mouth. This places the arrow directly beneath the eye that you are aiming with. This is recommended for all beginners. As archers continue to progress and put an aiming device on their bow they can progress to the next one.
The Center Draw : Target or Olympic Style - Pull the string hand under your jaw so the string is in the middle and in front of the chin. The string should also touch the nose. The string hand is in line with and directly under the jaw bone.
Remember that anchoring in the same place and the same way EVERY time is critical no matter how you choose to anchor.
e. The hold and aim
To superimpose a sight pin on the center of a target or, when not using a sight, the placement of the tip of the arrow on a particular point for a given distance.
Hold means to get everything locked into place and be sure that you are ready to release the arrow.
Aim is the process of deciding when to let go of the string. An archer without a sight uses an "instinctive" method or guessing how high or low to aim.
A sight is a reference point for aiming but is only useful if the archers shoots the same way every time.
An archer without a sight can use a sighting method called "point of aim". Contact me at West's Archery and I can teach you how to use this.
f. The release
The release is the act of allowing the string to leave the fingers.
The release is the most important part of the shot. It is when everything comes together in a fraction of a second. The best way to perform the release is to just relax the fingers. As the arrow goes toward the target, the string hand should go in exactly the opposite direction.
g. The follow-through
Movement of the drawing hand and arm after the release.
Once the archer has released the arrow, NOTHING should move. The archer must give the arrow time to clear the bow. To insure this, have the archers wait until the arrow hits the target before moving at all.
7. Why is it necessary to have an arrow "nocking point" properly positioned on the bow string?
If the nocking point is too high, the arrow will be pointed "down" and come out of the bow low.
If the nocking point is too low, the arrow will be pointed "up" and come out of the bow high.
Nock rings can be placed on the bow to allow for consistancy. A bow square and nock pliers can be used to set the nocking point properly.
8. Using a standard (Olympic bow) score one of the following:
- a. Indoors: 30 arrows (5 rounds) at 70.8 feet (18 meters) score 50 points on a 23.5 inch (60 cm) target.
- b. Outdoors: 30 arrows (5 rounds) at 98 feet (25 meters) score 170 points on a 48 inch (122 cm) target.
First of all, a standard "Olympic Bow" is a recurve (not compound) bow with no more than 3 stabilizer extensions, a sight, and a clicker. An archer must use fingers and not a mechanical release and may not have a string peep sight or magnified aiming device.
We have recommended that the NAD waive the scoring requirements for the "Beginning" archery honor. Everyone should be able to get this honor regardless of athletic skills. We have been given approval to to grant the honors this way. That is what allowed us to teach over 1,000 pathfinders this honor at the Faith on Fire Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2004.
9. Know and practice the archery safety rules.
- Don't shoot straight up.
- Never run on the archery range.
- Approach the target from the side, not the front so you dont get poked by the arrows sticking out of the target.
- Be sure your equipment is in good working order.
- Be aware of who is around you at all times.
- Don't "hide" behind the target.
- Don't walk in front of another archer.
- Don't talk on the shooting line.
- While loading your bow be sure that the arrows are always pointing toward the target.
About the Author
The material for this chapter was provided by Mark West, owner and operator of West's Archery which was established in 1937 by his grandfather. Mark's father, Bill was a National Champion and 2-time World Champion. Mark has been an archer since 1969 and an instructor since 1973. He competed in the Olympics in 1972 and was the U.S. National Champion and 3-time California State Champion. He has travelled the world teaching archery skills and performing in programs with his "Gospel Archery" sharpshooting team. In 2004 at the Faith on Fire Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Mark not only set a Guinness World Record by shooting a single arrow through eleven "handheld" balloons, but he and the West family also taught the Archery honor to over 1000 Pathfinders.
