Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| A | |
|---|---|
| Anchor Point | Consistent position of drawing hand when the bow is at full draw |
| Arbalist | An archer who shoots crossbow |
| Arrow Plate | Protection, just above the bow handle, where the arrow passes |
| Arrow shelf | Flat horizontal area cut into the bow just above the bow handle |
| Archers Paradox | Flexing of the arrow as it passes the bow |
| Ascham | A tall narrow cupboard for bows and arrows. Named after Roger Ascham |
| Ascham, Roger | Tutor/Coach to the Royal Family and Author of Toxophilus 1544 |
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| B | |
| Back of the Bow | Face of the bow on the opposite side to the string |
| Barebow | Class of shooting where sights are not permitted |
| Belly of the bow | Face of the bow on the same side as the string |
| Best gold | Award given to the archer in a competition who’s arrow is nearest the centre of the gold. |
| Blunt | Flat headed pile used in popinjay shooting |
| Boss | Name for the target |
| Bouncer | An arrow that hits the target and rebounds from it |
| Bow arm | The arm attached to the bow hand |
| Bow Hand | The hand in which the bow is held |
| Bowman | Third highest classification of GNAS |
| Bow sling | Strap which stops the bow jumping from the hand on release |
| Bow Window | Cut out in the riser above the handle, allows the arrow to rest centre shot |
| Bracer | Shield, known as an arm guard, protects the forearm of the bow arm |
| Bracing Height | Distance between the string and a specified point on the bow (usually the throat of the handle) |
| Butt | Target or Boss, original a mound of earth to shoot at |
| Button | Adjustable spring loaded contact for the arrow above the rest |
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| C | |
| Cast | The efficiency and power of the bow which is passed into the arrow |
| Centre Shot | The position of the arrow when it is on the arrow rest and perpendicular to the string and the centre line of the bow |
| Clicker | An audible indicator fixed to the bow to assist with a consistent arrow draw length |
| Clout Shooting | Competition where archers shoot at a flag (Clout) on the ground, up to 180 yards |
| Cock Feather | The fletching fixed on the arrow at right angles to the nock slot |
| Composite Bow | A bow with limbs laminated from several materials |
| Compound bow | A bow with eccentric wheels/cams on the ends of the limbs for cables |
| Creeping | Allowing the arrow to move forward from full draw prior to loose |
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| D | |
| Dominant Eye | The stronger eye, usually the aiming eye |
| Draw | To pull or draw the bow string |
| Draw Force Line | A straight line from the bow hand pressure point (on the bow), through the fingers, forearm and elbow of the drawing arm |
| Draw Length | The length of arrow draw by an individual archer |
| Draw Reference Point | The position of the hand and string relative to the face at full draw. (see Anchor Point) |
| Draw Weight | The force required to pull a bow to full draw length, measured in pounds |
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| E | |
| End | The number of arrows shot before scoring and retrieving, usually 3 or 6 arrows. |
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| F | |
| Fast | Warning shout to stop shooting in an emergency |
| Field Captain | Person controlling the shooting |
| F.I.T.A. | Federation Internationale de Tir a l'Arc, Archery's international governing body. The name is also used for a number of specific shooting Rounds |
| FITA Star | A tournament where archers can gain awards (stars) for specified scores |
| Fletching | The flights fixed to the arrow, usually made from feather or from various types of plastic |
| Fletching Jig | A device use to position fletchings on arrows in the correct positions |
| Flight Shooting | Shooting for the longest distance |
| Follow Through | The movement which take place in the archer and equipment immediately following the loose |
| Foot Markers | Small discussed to mark archers foot positions on the shooting line |
| Freestyle | Recurve bow, using sight/draw length check/button and stabilisers |
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| G | |
| GMB | Grand Master Bowman, the highest GNAS classification |
| GNAM | Grand National Archery Meeting, premier tournament since 1844 |
| G.N.A.S. | Grand National Archery Society, Archery's national governing body |
| Gonfalon | Banner of a club, county or group of archers |
| Grip | The part of the bow held in the bow hand |
| Group | The area covered by an archer's arrows in the target face. |
| Grouping | Having arrows land within an area of the target face. |
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| H | |
| Hanger | Arrow that does not penetrate the boss, but hangs down the face of the target |
| Heeling | The practice of applying bow hand pressure low on the bow grip |
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| K | |
| Kisser | A small disc or device fitted to the string and drawn to the lips as a draw length check |
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| L | |
| Lady Paramount | Traditionally appointed to preside at tournaments and to present awards |
| Loose | The action of releasing the bow string when shooting |
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| M | |
| MB | Master Bowman, second highest GNAS Classification |
| Mono Filament | Single strand or thread, normally used for serving on bow strings |
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| N | |
| Nock (1) | The slot on the fletched end of the arrow used to position the arrow on the bow string |
| Nock (2) | The grooves at the end of the bow limbs into which the string sits |
| Nocking Point | The place on the bow string where the arrow is placed |
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| O | |
| Over Bowed | Term used to indicate the bow weight is too great for the archer |
| Overdraw | To draw the pile of the arrow beyond the arrow rest |
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| P | |
| Petticoat | The outer edge of the target for which there is no score |
| Pile | The metal point of an arrow |
| Pinching | Gripping the nock of the arrow between the fingers |
| Pin-Hole | The exact centre of the target face, usually marked with a cross |
| Popinjay | Shooting at artificial birds on perches on top of a 90 foot mast |
| Pressure Button | See Button |
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| R | |
| Release Aid | Device used with a compound bow acting as a trigger to release the string |
| Riser | Rigid centre section of a bow to which the limbs are attached |
| Round | Formal standard number of arrows shot at one or more distances in competitions |
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| S | |
| Serving | Thread wound around the bow string at nocking point, end the loops |
| Serving Tool | Device used to apply serving to the bow string |
| Shooting Line | The line which archers stand astride whilst shooting |
| Sighters | Arrows allowed at the start of a shoot to enable sight adjustments |
| Spin Wings | A curved type of plastic fletching |
| Spine | The measure of an arrows flexibility |
| Stabilisers | Rods and weights fitted to a bow to reduce bow movement |
| Stacking | Steep increase in bow draw weight at or near the end of the draw |
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| T | |
| Tackle | Collective word used to describe an archers equipment |
| Take Down | A type of bow which has removable limbs |
| Target Captain | Person in charge of archers on a target, especially when scoring |
| Target Face | Paper or fabric coloured target with scoring areas, fixed to a the front of a boss |
| Target Stand | The support for the boss or target |
| T.F.C. | Torque Flight Compensators, flexible couplings for stabilisers |
| Tiller (1) | Bowyers process to balance forces applied to limbs when the bow is strung |
| Tiller (2) | The difference in the measurements between the sting and the limbs just above and just below the riser |
| Torque | A turning force applied to the bow at full draw |
| Trajectory | The flight path of an arrow |
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| U | |
| Under-Bowed | Term used to indicate the bow weight is too light for the archer |
| Unit Aiming | Maintaining the relative position of the arms, head and shoulders by aiming using movements at the waist |
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| V | |
| Vane | Another name for plastic fletchings |
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| W | |
| Waiting Line | A line behind (usually 5m) the shooting line where archers wait to shoot and retire behind after shooting an end |
| Wax | Used to seal a bow string and bind the strands together |
| Worst White | Award given to the archer whose arrow hits the outermost scoring area of the target |
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