Archery
2007
225991013
2008-07-16T10:23:52Z
Richard Keatinge
1179038
/* Types of bows */ slight cleanup of style and spelling
'''Archery''' is the practice of using a bow to shoot [[arrow]]s. Archery has historically been used in [[hunting]] and [[combat]] and has become a [[precision]] [[sport]]. A person practicing archery is called an ''archer'', and one who is fond of or an expert at archery is sometimes called a ''toxophilite''.
[[Image:Brazilarcher.jpg|A [[Rikbaktsa]] archer competes at Brazil's Indigenous Games|thumb|300px]]
==History==
[[Image:Rollinghooparcher.png|thumb|right|200px|Hoops rolled with sticks, such as this, were widely used as targets by indigenous archers in North America.]]
{{main|History of archery}}
The bow seems to have been invented in the late [[Paleolithic]] or early [[Mesolithic]]. The oldest indication for its use in Europe comes from the [[Stellmoor]] in the [[Ahrensburg valley]] north of [[Hamburg]], Germany and date from the late [[Paleolithic]] [[Hamburgian culture]] (9000-8000 BC). The arrows were made of [[pine]] and consisted of a mainshaft and a 15-20 [[centimetre]] (6-8 [[inch]]es) long foreshaft with a [[flint]] point. There are no known definite earlier bows; previous pointed shafts are known, but may have been launched by [[atlatl]]s rather than bows.
The oldest bows known so far come from the [[Holmegaard|Holmegård]] swamp in [[Denmark]]. In the 1940s, two bows were found there. They are made of [[elm]] and have flat arms and a D-shaped midsection. The center section is biconvex. The complete bow is {{nowrap|1.50 m}} (5 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) long. Bows of Holmegaard-type were in use until the [[Bronze Age]]; the convexity of the midsection has decreased with time.
[[Mesolithic]] pointed shafts have been found in England, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. They were often rather long (up to {{nowrap|120 cm}} [4 ft]) and made of [[hazel]] (''[[Hazel|Corylus avellana]]''), [[Viburnum|wayfaring tree]] (''[[Viburnum|Viburnum lantana]]'') and other small woody shoots. Some still have flint arrow-heads preserved; others have blunt wooden ends for hunting birds and small game. The ends show traces of [[fletching]], which was fastened on with birch-tar.
Bows and arrows have been present in [[Egypt]]ian culture since its predynastic origins. The nine bows symbolize the various peoples that had been ruled over by the pharaoh since Egypt was united.
In the [[Levant]], artifacts which may be arrow-shaft straighteners are known from the [[Natufian culture]], (ca. 12.800-10.300 BP) onwards. The [[Khiamian]] and [[Pre-Pottery Neolithic A|PPN A]] shouldered Khiam-points may well be arrowheads.
The [[bow (weapon)|bow]] was one of the earliest forms of [[artillery]]. Bows eventually replaced the [[atlatl]] as the predominant means for launching [[projectiles]].
[[Classical antiquity|Classical]] [[civilizations]], notably the [[Persian Empire|Persians]], [[Parthia]]ns, [[History of India|Indians]], [[History of Japan|Japanese]], [[History of Korea|Koreans]], and [[History of China|Chinese]] fielded large numbers of archers in their armies. Arrows proved exceptionally destructive against massed formations, and the use of archers often proved decisive. The Sanskrit term for archery, [[dhanurveda]], came to refer to martial arts in general.
[[Image:Hungarian horse archers.jpg|thumb|250px||Horse archer presentation in [[Hungary]]]]
During the [[Middle Ages]], archery in warfare was not as prevalent and dominant in Western Europe as popular myth sometimes dictates. Archers were quite often the lowest-paid [[soldier]]s in an army or were conscripted from the [[peasantry]]. This was due to the cheap nature of the bow and arrow, as compared to the expense needed to equip a professional [[man-at-arms]] with good [[armour]] and a [[sword]]. Professional archers required a lifetime of training and expensive bows to be effective, and were thus rare in Europe (see [[English longbow]]).
Archery was highly developed in [[Asia]] and in the Islamic world. In East Asia the ancient [[History of Korea|Korean civilizations]] were well-known for their archery skills,<ref name = "KA">[http://www.turtlepress.com/info_korean_archery.asp Korean archery] at [http://www.turtlepress.com turtlepress.com]</ref><ref>[http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/grayson/koreanarchery/koreaarchery.shtml Korea archery] at [http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu anthromuseum.missouri.edu]</ref> and [[South Korea]] remains a particularly strong performer at Olympic archery competitions even to this day.<ref name = "KA">[http://www.turtlepress.com/info_korean_archery.asp Korean archery] at [http://www.turtlepress.com turtlepress.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.lycos.com/info/archery--south-korea.html Archery in South Korea] at [http://www.lycos.com/info/archery lycos.com/info/archery]</ref><ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2000/archery/news/2000/09/18/skorea_archery/ "South sweep,"] September 28, 2000 at [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com sportsillustrated.cnn.com]</ref> [[Horse archer]]s were the main military force of most of the [[Mongol military tactics and organization|Equestrian Nomads]]. Central Asian and American Plains tribesmen were extremely adept at archery on [[horseback]].
===Decline, last uses, and survival of archery===
The advent of [[Gunpowder warfare|firearm]]s eventually rendered bows obsolete in warfare. Despite the high social status, ongoing utility, and widespread pleasure of archery in England, Japan, Korea, China, Turkey, Armenia, [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|America]], Egypt, and elsewhere, almost every culture that gained access to even early firearms used them widely, to the relative neglect of archery. Early firearms were vastly inferior in rate-of-fire, and were very susceptible to wet weather. However, they had longer effective range<ref>Korean Traditional Archery. Duvernay TA, Duvernay NY. Handong Global University, 2007</ref> and were tactically superior in the common situation of soldiers shooting at each other from behind obstructions. They also required significantly less training to use properly, in particular penetrating steel armour without any need to develop special [[musculature]]. Armies equipped with guns could thus provide superior firepower by sheer weight of numbers, and highly-trained archers became obsolete on the battlefield. "Have them bring as many guns as possible, for no other equipment is needed. Give strict orders that all men, even the samurai, carry guns."<ref>Asano Yukinaga, 1598 CE, letter to his father, quoted in The Samurai, by S.R. Turnbull, Osprey, London 1977. ISBN 0 85045 097 7</ref> The sole exceptions may be the [[Comanche]]s of North America, whose [[horse archer|mounted archery]] was more effective than muzzle-loading guns. (Other Plains Indians fought mostly on foot, and usually found guns to be superior weapons when they did so.) "After... about 1800, most Comanches began to discard muskets and pistols and to rely on their older weapons."<ref>T.R. Fehrenbach. Comanches, the history of a people. Vintage Books. London, 2007. ISBN 9780099520559. First published in the USA by Alfred Knopf, 1974. Page 125.</ref> Repeating firearms, however, were superior in turn, and the Comanches adopted them when they could. Bows remained effective hunting weapons for skilled horse archers, used to some extent by all Native Americans on the Great Plains to hunt [[American Bison|buffalo]] as long as there were buffalo to hunt. The last Comanche hunt was in 1878, and it failed for lack of buffalo.<ref>T.R. Fehrenbach. Comanches, the history of a people. Vintage Books. London, 2007. ISBN 9780099520559. First published in the USA by Alfred Knopf, 1974. Page 553.</ref>
The last recorded use of bows, in an English battle, seems to have been a skirmish at [[Bridgnorth]], in October 1642, during the [[English Civil War]].<ref> "The Garrisons of Shropshire during the Civil War" refers to a letter written by a John Norton, dated [[October 5]] [[1642]] from Bridgnorth describing the incident.</ref> The most recent death in war from British archery was probably in 1940, on the retreat to Dunkirk, when a former archery champion who had brought his bows on active service "was delighted to see his arrow strike the centre German in the left of the chest and penetrate his body".<ref>The archer's craft: A sheaf of notes on certain matters concerning archers and archery, the making of archers' tackle and the art of hunting with the bow. Adrian Eliot Hodgkin. Faber 1951</ref> In Ireland, [[Geoffrey Keating]] (c. 1569 - c. 1644) mentions archery as having been practiced "down to a recent period within our own memory" <ref>Geoffrey Keating. The History of Ireland, translated into English and preface by David Comyn, Patrick S. Dinneen. http://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100054.html. Accessed 9th December 2007.</ref> Archery continued in some areas that were subject to limitations on the ownership of arms, such as the Scottish Highlands during the repression that followed the decline of the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] cause, and the [[Cherokee]]s after the Trail of Tears. The [[Tokugawa shogunate]] severely limited the import and manufacture of guns, and encouraged traditional martial skills among the samurai; towards the end of the [[Satsuma Rebellion]] in 1877, some rebels fell back on the use of bows and arrows. Archery remained an important part of the military examinations until 1894 in [[Korean bow|Korea]] and 1904 in China. Ongoing use of bows and arrows in some African conflicts has been reported in the 21st century, and the [[Sentinelese]] still use bows as part of a lifestyle scarcely touched by outside contact. A remote group in Brazil, recently photographed from the air, aimed bows at the aeroplane.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7427417.stm</ref> Bows and arrows have seen considerable use in the 2008 ethnic clashes in Kenya.
Traditional archery remained in minority use for sport and for hunting in many areas long after its military disuse. In Turkey, its last revival for this purpose took place with the encouragement of [[Mahmud II]] in the 1820s, but the art, and that of constructing composite bows, fell out of use in the later 1800s. The rest of the Middle East also lost the continuity of its archery tradition at this time. In Korea, the transformation from military training to healthy pastime was led by [[Gojong of the Korean Empire|Emperor Gojong]], and is the basis of a popular modern sport. Japanese continue to make and use their unique [[yumi|traditional equipment]]. Among the Cherokees and the British, popular use of longbows never entirely died out. In China, the revival of archery continued until the [[Cultural Revolution]], when it was suppressed; the last of the traditional Chinese bowmakers is now working again.<ref>http://www.atarn.org/chinese/juyuan/juyuan.htm Ju Yuan Hao</ref> In modern times, mounted archery continues to be practiced in some [[Asia]]n countries but is not used in international competition. Modern Hungarians have revived mounted archery as a competitive sport.<ref>[http://www.atarn.org/magyar/magyar_link.htm Magyar index<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Archery is the national sport of the [[Kingdom of Bhutan]].<ref>[http://www.atarn.org/tibet_bhutan/bhutan/bhutan01.htm Bhutanese Traditional Archery<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
=== Modern primitive archery===
After the American Civil War, two Confederate veterans, Maurice and Will Thompson, revived archery in America. The two brothers and Thomas Williams (a former slave) lived in the wild in the [[Okefenokee Swamp]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As ex-[[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] soldiers they were not allowed to own guns, so they needed other ways to hunt for food. For some reason, Thomas Williams knew something about English-style Archery (using a longbow) and showed Maurice and Will. Later, Maurice wrote a book, "The Witchery of Archery," which became a best seller and enthused people about the sport of archery. In 1879 the National Archery Association was formed. However, public interest in archery soon subsided.
That all changed when [[Ishi]] came out of hiding in California in 1911. Ishi was the last of the Yahi Indian tribe. Once he came out of hiding, he was extensively studied and then lived at the University of California at Berkeley Anthropology Museum.<ref>Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America (Paperback)
by Theodora Kroeber. Republished University of California Press 2004. ISBN-10: 0520240375 ISBN-13: 978-0520240377</ref> His medical caretaker, Dr. Saxton Pope, was an instructor of surgery at the school. Dr. Pope was very interested in Ishi and his culture, especially archery. Ishi willingly taught Dr. Pope about his culture, how to make tools the way the Yahi did, and how to hunt using a bow and arrow. Soon, Dr. Pope was joined by archery-enthusiast Arthur Young.
Ishi's time was short however, and he died in 1916 of tuberculosis. Dr. Pope and Mr. Young did not lose interest in archery, and set about proving that archery could be used to bag large game.<ref>Saxton POPE. Hunting with the bow and arrow. New York. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1925.</ref> They hunted in Alaska and Africa and took several large game animals.<ref>Saxton POPE.
Adventurous bowmen. Field Notes On African Archery. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 1926.</ref>
Because Dr. Pope and Mr. Young demonstrated to Western society that archery was effective on not only small game, but large game as well, archery did not lose public interest so easily. Many methods that Ishi taught Dr. Pope are still used today by primitive archers. From the 1920s, professional engineers took an interest in archery, previously the exclusive field of traditional craft experts.<ref>Hickman, C.N., Forrest Nagler and Paul E. Klopsteg. Archery: The Technical Side. A compilation of scientific and technical articles on theory, construction, use and performance of bows and arrows, reprinted from journals of science and of archery. National Field Archery Association 1947</ref> They led the commercial development of new forms of bow including the modern [[recurve bow|recurve]] and [[compound bow]]. These modern forms are now dominant in modern Western archery; traditional bows are in a minority. In the 1980s, the skills of traditional archery were revived by American enthusiasts, and combined with the new scientific understanding. Much of this expertise is available in the "Traditional Bowyer's Bible" (see bibliography).
===Mythology===
Archers and archery play a role in several mythologies, including Greek [[Artemis]] and [[Apollo]], Germanic [[Agilaz]], continued in legends like those of [[William Tell]], [[Palnetoke]], or [[Robin Hood]]. Armenian [[Hayk]] and Babylonian [[Marduk]], Indian [[Arjuna]] and Persian [[Arash (mythology)|Arash]], were all archers. Earlier Greek representations of [[Heracles]] normally depict him as an archer. Yi the archer features in several early Chinese myths,<ref> Chinese Archery. Stephen Selby. Hong Kong University Press, 2000. ISBN-10: 9622095011 ISBN-13: 978-9622095014</ref> and the historical character of [[Zhou Tong (archer)|Zhou Tong]] features in many fictional forms. [[Cupid]], the Roman god of love, is always depicted as an archer.
==Equipment==
===Types of bows===
{{main|Bow (weapon)}}
While there is great variety in the construction details of bows (both historic and modern) all bows consist of a string attached to elastic limbs that store mechanical energy imparted by the user drawing the string.
Bows may be broadly split into those drawn by pulling the string directly and those that use a mechanism to pull the string.
Directly drawn bows may be further divided based upon differences in limb construction. Bows with relatively straight limbs include the [[longbow]], a tall bow with narrow limbs that are D-shaped in cross section, and the [[flatbow]], with flat wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. Bows with curved limbs can be classified based upon the [[Bow types|bow shape]] resulting from this curvature.
A [[compound bow]] is a simply drawn bow designed to reduce the force required to hold the string taut. Most compound designs use cams or elliptical wheels on the ends of the limbs.
Mechanically drawn bows typically have a stock or other mounting, such as the [[crossbow]]. As the limitations of a human archer's strength are avoided, bows of this type can include larger varieties used as [[siege engine]]s.
===Types of arrows and fletching===
{{main|Arrow}}
A normal arrow consists of shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other. Shafts are usually made of solid [[wood]], [[fiberglass]], [[aluminum alloy]], carbon/alloy composite or [[carbon fiber]]. Wooden arrows are prone to warping. Fiberglass arrows are brittle, but are more easily produced to uniform specifications. Aluminum shafts were a very popular high-performance choice in the later half of the 20th century due to their straightness, lighter weight, and subsequently higher speed and flatter trajectories. Carbon fiber arrows became popular in the 1990s and are very light, flying even faster and flatter than aluminum arrows. Today carbon/alloy arrows are the most popular tournament arrows at Olympic Events, especially the [[Easton (company)|Easton]] X10 and A/C/E.
The arrowhead is the primary functional part of the arrow, and plays the largest role in determining its purpose. Some arrows may simply use a sharpened tip of the solid shaft, but it is far more common for separate arrowheads to be made, usually from metal, horn, or some other hard material. The most commonly-used forms are target points, field points, and broadheads, although there are also other types, like bodkin, judo, and blunts.
[[Image:Spliced feather 0002.jpg|thumb|150px|Feather fletches]]
[[Fletching]] is traditionally made from bird [[feather]]s, but also solid [[plastic]] '''vanes''' and thin sheetlike spin vanes are used. They are attached near the nock (rear) end of the arrow with thin double sided tape, glue, or, traditionally, sinew. The fletching is equally spaced around the shaft with one placed such that it is perpendicular to the bow when nocked on the string [though with modern equipment, variations are seen especially when using the modern spin vanes]. This fletch is called the "index fletch" or "cock feather", (the others sometimes being called the "hen feathers") and is a reference for the nocking of the arrow. Three fletches is the most common configuration, though more may be used. The fletching is sometimes attached at a slight angle, to introduce a stabilizing spin to the arrow while in flight. Oversized fletchings can be used to accentuate drag and thus limit the range of the arrow significantly; these arrows are called ''[[Flu-Flu Arrow|flu-flus]]''. Misplacement of fletchings can often change the arrow's flight path dramatically.
===Bow string===
{{main|Bow string}}
[[Dacron]] and other modern materials offer high strength for their weight and are used on most modern bows. [[Linen]] and other traditional materials are still used on traditional bows. Almost any fiber can be made into a bow string. The author of "Arab Archery" suggests the hide of a young, emaciated camel.<ref>Arab Archery. An Arabic manuscript of about A.D. 1500 "A book on the excellence of the bow & arrow" and the description thereof. Translated and edited by Nabih Amin Faris and Robert Potter Elmer. Princeton University Press 1945 http://www.sacred-archery.com/arab%20archery%20anno%20domini%201500.pdf</ref> [[Njál's saga]] famously describes the refusal of a wife, [[Hallgerd]], to cut her hair in order to make an emergency bowstring for her husband, [[Gunnar Hámundarson]], who is then killed.
===Protective equipment===
[[Image:Finger-tab hg.jpg|thumb|Finger tab]]
Most archers wear a [[bracer (archery)|bracer]] (also known as an arm-guard) to protect the inside of the bow arm and prevent clothing from catching the bow string. The [[Navajo people]] have developed highly-ornamented bracers as non-functional items of adornment.<ref>[http://www.millicentrogers.org/ketoh.htm ketoh<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Some archers also wear protection on their chests, called [[chestguards]]. Chestguards are to prevent the bowstring from being obstructed by the archer's body or clothing as it is released. They also protect the archer. Roger Ascham mentions one archer, presumably with an unusual shooting style, who wore a leather guard for his face.<ref> Toxophilus - the School of Shooting. by Roger Ascham. Read Books 2006. ISBN-10: 1846643694 ISBN-13: 978-1846643699</ref>
The drawing fingers, or thumb in the case of archers using the thumb or Mongolian draw, are normally protected by a leather [[finger tab|tab]], glove, or [[thumb ring]]. A simple tab of leather is commonly used, as is a skeleton glove. Medieval Europeans probably used a complete leather glove.<ref>The Great Warbow. Hardy R, Strickland M. Sutton Publishing 2005.
ISBN-10: 0750931671
ISBN-13: 978-0750931670</ref> Eurasiatic archers using the Mongolian draw protected their thumbs, usually with leather according to the author of "Arab Archery", but also with [[thumb ring|special rings]] of various hard materials. Many surviving Turkish and Chinese examples are works of considerable art; some are so highly ornamented that they could not have been used to loose an arrow. Presumably these were items of personal adornment. In traditional [[Kyūdō|Japanese archery]] a special [[yugake|glove]] is used, provided with a ridge which is used to draw the string.
===Release aids===
Archers using compound bows usually use a release aid to hold the string steadily and release it precisely. This attaches to the bowstring at the nocking point and permits the archer to release the string by pulling a trigger. The "trigger" may be an actual trigger lever which is depressed by a finger or thumb (or held then released) but it may also be some other mechanism. Hydraulic and mechanical time delay triggers have been used, as have "back tension" triggers which are operated by either a change in the position of the release or "true back tension"; that is to say the release triggers when a pre-determined draw weight is reached. A mechanical release aid permits a single point of contact on the string instead of three fingers. This allows less deformity in the string at full draw, as well as providing a more consistent release than can be achieved by human fingers.
==Shooting technique and form==
The bow is held in the hand opposite to the archer's [[eye dominance|dominant eye]], though holding the bow in the dominant hand side is advocated by some. This hand is referred to as the '''bow hand''' and its arm the '''bow arm'''. The opposite hand is called the '''drawing hand''' or '''string hand'''. Terms such as '''bow shoulder''' or '''string elbow''' follow the same convention. Right-eye-dominant archers hold the bow with their left hand, have their left side facing the target, sight towards the target with their right eye and handle the arrow and string with their right hand.
===Modern international competitive form===
To shoot an arrow, an archer first assumes the correct stance. The body should be perpendicular to the target and the shooting line, with the feet placed shoulder-width apart. As an archer progresses from beginner to a more advanced level an 'open stance' is used/developed. Each archer will have a particular preference but mostly this term indicates that the leg furthest from the shooting line will be a half to a whole foot-length in front of the other, on the ground.
To load, the bow is pointed toward the ground and the shaft of the arrow is placed on an arrow rest which is attached in the bow window. The back of the arrow is attached to the bowstring with the 'nock' (a small plastic component which is typified by a 'v' groove for this purpose). This is called ''nocking the arrow.'' Typical arrows with three vanes should be oriented such that a single vane is pointing away from the bow. In years past there was normally a vane with a different color, called "the odd vane out" or "the nocking vane". However, most modern archers tend to use same color vanes; as different dyes can give varying stiffness to vanes. This results in less precision.
The bowstring and arrow are held with three fingers. When using a sight, the index finger is placed above the arrow and the next two fingers below. The string is usually placed in either the first or second joint of the fingers.
The bow is then raised and drawn. This is often one fluid motion which tends to vary from archer to archer. The string hand is drawn towards the face, where it should rest lightly at an ''anchor point''. This point is consistent from shot to shot and is usually at the corner of the mouth or on the chin. The bow arm is held outwards toward the target. The elbow of this arm should be rotated so that the inner elbow is parallel to the ground though Archers with hyper extendable elbows tend to angle the inner elbow toward the ground as exemplified by the Korean archer [[Jang Yong Ho]].
In proper form, the archer stands erect, forming a 'T'. The archer's lower trapezius [[muscle]]s are used to pull the arrow to the anchor point. Some bows will be equipped with a mechanical device, called a clicker, which produces a clicking sound when the archer reaches the correct draw length.
The arrow is typically released by relaxing the fingers of the drawing hand(see [[Bow draw]]). An archer should pay attention to the recoil or ''follow through'' of his or her body, as it may indicate problems with form (technique).
==Aiming methods==
There are two main forms of aiming in archery: using the sight picture or not.
The sight picture includes the target and the bow, as seen at the same time by the archer. With a fixed "anchor point" (where the string is brought to, or close to, the face), and a fully extended bow arm, successive shots taken with the sight picture in the same position will fall on the same [[Predicted impact point|point]]. This allows the archer to adjust aim with successive shots in order to achieve a good standard of accuracy. It cannot be used with short bows, which by definition do not allow a full draw. Modern archery equipment usually includes [[Sight (device)|sights]] which mark the predicted impact point. Sight picture aiming is universally used with modern equipment and also by many archers who use traditional bows. It allows good accuracy to be achieved after a moderate amount of practice.
When using shortbows, or shooting from horseback, it is difficult or impossible to use the sight picture. The archer normally looks at the target but cannot include the weapon in the field of accurate view. Aiming involves the same sort of coordination between eye and motion that is used when throwing. With sufficient practice, such archers can normally achieve good practical accuracy for hunting or for war. Aiming without a sight picture may allow more rapid shooting.
'''Instinctive shooting''' is a term often used, but there is no agreed definition. Some use it to mean shooting with a sight picture but without giving it conscious attention. Others use it to mean shooting without a sight picture.
== Physics ==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
Bows function by converting [[elastic potential energy]] stored in the limbs into [[kinetic energy]] of the arrow. In this process, some energy is dissipated through [[Hysteresis#Elastic hysteresis|elastic hysteresis]], reducing the overall amount released when the bow is shot. Of the energy remaining, some is damped both by the limbs of bow and the bowstring. Depending on the elasticity of the arrows, some of the energy is also absorbed by compressing the arrow, causing it to "bow out" to one side. This results in an in-flight oscillation of the arrow in which its center protrudes out to one side and then the other repeatedly.
The straight flight of an arrow is dependent on its fletching. The arrow's manufacturer can arrange fletching to cause the arrow to rotate along its axis if desired. This improves accuracy by evening pressure buildups that would otherwise cause the arrow to slowly tilt in a random direction after shooting. If the fletching is not arranged to induce rotation, it will still improve accuracy by causing a restoring torque any time the arrow tilts away from its vector of travel.
Arrows themselves may be designed to spread or concentrate force, depending on their applications. Practice arrows, for instance, use a blunt tip that spreads the force over a wider area to reduce the risk of injury. Arrows designed to pierce armor in the middle ages would use a very narrow and sharp tip to concentrate the force. Arrows used for hunting would use a narrow tip that broadens further down the shaft to facilitate both penetration and a large wound.
{{see|archer's paradox}}
==Hunting==
{{main|bowhunting}}
Using archery to take game animals is known as '''bowhunting'''. Bowhunting differs markedly from hunting with firearms as the distances between the hunter and the game are much shorter in order to ensure a humane kill. The skills and practices of bowhunting therefore emphasize very close approach to the prey, whether by still hunting, stalking, or waiting in a blind or treestand. Throughout much of the United States, bowhunting for large and small game is legal. Bowhunters generally enjoy longer seasons than are allowed with other forms of hunting such as black powder, shotgun, or rifle. Usually, compound bows are used for large game hunting and may feature fiber optic sights and other enhancements. Using a bow and arrow to take fish is known as '''[[bowfishing]]'''.
==Modern competitive archery==
Competitive archery involves shooting arrows at a target for accuracy from a set distance or distances. This is the most popular form of archery worldwide and is called [[target archery]]. A form particularly popular in [[Europe]] and [[Americas|America]] is [[field archery]], shot at targets generally set at various distances in a wooded setting. There are also several other lesser-known and historical forms, as well as archery novelty games.
Note the tournament rules vary from organization to organization. [[International Archery Federation|FITA]] rules are often considered normative, but large non-FITA-affiliated archery organizations do exist with different rules.
===Target Archery===
{{main|Target archery}}
[[Image:Archery competition.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Outdoor target competition.]]
Modern competitive target archery is often governed by the [[International Archery Federation]], abbreviated FITA (Fédération Internationale de Tir à l'Arc). Olympic rules are derived from FITA rules.
Target archery competitions may be held indoors or outdoors. Indoor distances are {{nowrap|18 m}} and {{nowrap|25 m}}. Outdoor distances range from {{nowrap|30 m}} to {{nowrap|90 m}}. Competition is divided into ''ends'' of 3 or 6 arrows. After each end, the competitors walk to the target to score and retrieve their arrows. Archers have a set time limit in which to shoot their arrows.
[[Image:Archery Target 80cm.svg|thumb|125px|An official FITA target]]
Targets are marked with 10 evenly spaced concentric rings, which have score values from 1 through 10 assigned to them. In addition, there is an inner 10 ring, sometimes called the X ring. This becomes the 10 ring at indoor compound competitions. Outdoors, it serves as a tiebreaker with the archer scoring the most X's winning. Archers score each end by summing the scores for their arrows. Line breakers, an arrow just touching a scoring boundary line, will be awarded the higher score.
Different rounds and distances use different size target faces. These range from {{nowrap|40 cm}} ({{nowrap|18 m}} FITA Indoor) to {{nowrap|122 cm}} ({{nowrap|70 m}} and {{nowrap|90 m}} FITA, used in Olympic competition).
===Field Archery===
{{main|Field archery}}
[[Image:Field archery freestyle recurve.jpg|thumb|200px|left|A field archer shooting freestyle recurve at 60 metres.]]
Field archery involves shooting at targets of varying (and sometimes unmarked) distance, often in rough terrain.
Three common types of rounds (in the [[National Field Archery Association|NFAA]]) are the field, hunter, and animal. A round consists of 28 targets in two units of 14. '''Field rounds''' are at 'even' distances up to 80 yards (some of the shortest are measured in feet instead), using targets with a black bullseye (5 points), a white center (4) ring, and black outer (3) ring. '''Hunter rounds''' use 'uneven' distances up to 70 yards, and although scoring is identical to a field round, the target has an all-black face with a white bullseye. Children and youth positions for these two rounds are closer, no more than 30 and 50 yards, respectively. '''Animal rounds''' use life-size 2D animal targets with 'uneven' distances reminiscent of the hunter round. The rules and scoring are also significantly different. The archer begins at the first station of the target and shoots his first arrow. If it hits, he does not have to shoot again. If it misses, he advances to station two and shoots a second arrow, then to station three for a third if needed. Scoring areas are vital (20, 16, or 12) and nonvital (18, 14, or 10) with points awarded depending on which arrow scored first. Again, children and youth shoot from reduced range.
One goal of field archery is to improve the technique and required for bowhunting in a more realistic outdoor setting, but without introducing the complication and guesswork of unknown distances. As with [[golf]], fatigue can be an issue as the athlete walks the distance between targets across sometimes rough terrain.
[[Image:DFRArcheryTarget.jpg|thumb|A home-made Archery target]]
===Other modern competitions===
The following are listed on the [[International Archery Federation|FITA]] website. These competitions are not as popular as the two listed above, but they are competed internationally.
====3D Archery====
3D archery is a subset of field archery focusing on shooting at life-size models of game and is popular with hunters. It is most common to see unmarked distances in 3D archery, as the goal is to accurately recreate a hunting environment for competition.
On these animals there are 4 rings, only 3 of these are used in ASA shoots. The one that isn't used very often is the 14 ring. This can only be scored if you call it before you shoot, and even then it may not be allowed. Next is the 12 ring inside of the 10 ring, inside of the 8 ring. Anything on the target that is outside of the 8, 10, 12, or 14 rings is a 5. If you miss the target, you score a zero.
Though the goal is hunting practice, hunting tips (broadheads) are not used, as they would tear up the foam targets too much. Normal target or field tips, of the same weight as the intended broadhead, are used instead.
In the uk the NFAS score by having a first arrow kill or a first arrow wound then a second and third arrow if you missed.
====Clout Archery (G.N.A.S. rules in the United Kingdom)====
{{main|Clout archery}}
[[Image:Clout archery shooting line.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Archers shooting clout.]]
Similar to target archery, except that the archer attempts to drop arrows at long range (180 yards / {{nowrap|165 m}} for the men and 140 yards / {{nowrap|128 m}} for women; there are shorter distances for juniors depending on age) into a group of concentric circular scoring zones on the ground surrounding a marker flag. The flag is 12 inches ({{nowrap|30 cm}}) square and is fixed to a stick. The flag should be as near to the ground as is practicable. Archers shoot 'ends' of six arrows then, when given the signal to do so, archers proceed to the target area. A Clout round usually consists of 36 arrows. Clout tournaments are usually a 'Double Clout' round (36 arrows shot twice). They can be shot in one direction (one way) or both directions (two way). All bow types may compete (longbows, recurve, barebow and compound).
* '''Scoring.''' A 'rope' with a loop on the end is placed over the flag stick. This rope is divided into the scoring zones of the target: Gold (5 points), Red (4 points), Blue (3 points), Black (2 points) and White (1 point). The rope is 'walked' around the target area and arrows falling within a particular scoring zone are withdrawn and, on completion of the full circle, are laid out on the rope on the corresponding colours. The designated scorer would then call out the archers' names and the archers would (in turn) call out their scores as they pick up their arrows. The scores must be called in descending order as with target archery.
====Flight Archery====
Flight Archery can only take place where space permits usually in a protected area such as an aerodrome, subject to approval and access, since archers compete by shooting for maximum distances. Flight Archers shoot in various classes and weights and shoot six arrows at each "end" and then search for all of them marking the one which has been shot the furthest parallel to the datum line then marking this furthest one with an identifiable marker, the arrows can then be drawn from their landing sites. Alternative bows may be shot on subsequent "ends" and also marked as above with their bow types and weights. Only four ends are usual in one shoot (as per UK rules - in the US only one end is permitted). At the end of the shoot, archers stand or sit by their furthest arrows while judges and their assistants measure the distances they were shot. There are many bow classes and bow weights that one can shoot in. The archer who shoots the furthest in their class is the winner. Flight archery relies on the finest in performance equipment and the search for better flight archery equipment has led to many developments in archery equipment in general, such as the development of carbon arrows.<ref>[http://www.archery.org/content.asp?id=347&me_id=483 FITA Flight Archery official description]</ref>
====Ski archery====
An event very similar to the sport of [[biathlon]] except a recurve bow is used in place of a gun. The athletes ski around a cross-country track and there are two stances in which the athlete must shoot the targets: kneeling and standing. During competition the skis must not be removed at any time. The athlete may unfasten the ski when shooting in the kneeling position but must keep the foot in contact with the ski. The shooting distance is 18 meters and the targets {{nowrap|16 cm}} in diameter. In certain events, for every missed target, the athlete must ski one penalty loop. The loop is 150 meters long.
=== Traditional competitions ===
The following are not listed on the FITA website but are competitions that have a long tradition in their respective countries.
====Beursault====
A traditional northern French and Belgian archery contest. Archers teams shoot alternately at two targets facing each other, 50 meters away. A perpendicular array of wooden walls secures a path parallel to the shooting range. After each round, the archers take their own arrow and shoot directly in the opposite direction (thus having opposite windage). One shoots always the same arrow, supposedly the best built, as it was difficult in medieval times to have constant arrow quality. The round black-and-white target mimics the size of a soldier: its diameter is shoulder-wide, the center is heart-sized.
====Popinjay (or Papingo)====
{{main|Popinjay (sport)}}
A form of archery originally derived from shooting birds on church steeples. [[Popinjay (sport)|Popinjay]] is popular in [[Belgium]], and in Belgian Clubs internationally but little known elsewhere. Traditionally, archers stand within {{nowrap|12 feet}} ({{nowrap|3.7 m}}) of the bottom of a {{nowrap|90 ft}} ({{nowrap|27 m}}) mast and shoot almost vertically upwards with 'blunts' (arrows with rubber caps on the front instead of a pile), the object being to dislodge any one of a number of wooden 'birds'. These birds must be one Cock, four Hens, and a minimum of twenty-four Chicks. A Cock scores 5 points when hit and knocked off its perch; a Hen, 3; and a Chick, 1 point. A [[Popinjay (sport)#Horizontal|horizontal variation]] with [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] origins also exists and is also practiced in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]]
A Papingo is also hosted during the summer in Scotland by the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers. The archers shoot at a wooden bird suspended from the steeple of Kilwinning Abbey. Here only one bird is the target, and the archers take it in turn to shoot with a longbow until the "bird" is shot down.
====Roving Marks====
The oldest form of competitive archery, as practiced by Henry VIII. The archers will shoot to a "mark" then shoot from that mark to another mark. A mark is a post or flag to be aimed at. As with clout a rope or ribbon is used to score the arrows. In the Finsbury Mark the scoring system is 20 for hitting the mark, 12 for within ~3ft, 7 points for within the next ~6ft and 3 points for within the next ~9ft. "Hoyles" are marks are chosen at the time from the variety of debris, conspicuous weeds, and so on found in most outdoor areas. As the distances have to be estimated this is good practice for bowhunting, and it requires minimal equipment.
====Wand shoot====
A Traditional English archery contest. Archers take turns shooting at a vertical strip of wood, the wand, usually about six feet high and three to six inches wide. Points are awarded for hitting the strip. As the target is a long vertical strip this competition allows for more errors in elevation, however since no points are awarded for near misses the archers [[windage]] accuracy becomes more important.
===Other competitions===
{{main|archery games}}
Archers often enjoy adding variety to their sport by shooting under unusual conditions or by imposing other special restrictions or rules on the event. These competitions are often less formalized and are more or less considered as games. Some forms include the broadhead round, bionic and running bucks, darts, archery golf, night shooting, and turkey tester.
===Historical reenactment===
[[Image:Historicalreenactors.jpg|thumb|280px|Four reenactors practice Tudor-style 'Skirmish' archery]]
Archery is popularly used in [[historical reenactment]] events. This sort of event usually combines education of the audience of aspects of archery (such as the bow, arrows, and practice drill), combined with a demonstration or competition of archery in the style most favored by the period on display, generally in period costume.
===Archery education===
A relatively new program has developed in U.S. schools called the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). In this students use Genesis bows (a compound-style bow without a let-off). This is similar to a physical education programmes, and students who want to can also go to state and national shoots to compete against other schools. Though started in the United States, it has begun to spread to other countries.
Many sportsman's clubs and similar establishments throughout the US and other countries offer archery education programs for those under 18. These programs are commonly referred to as Junior Olympic Archery Development Programs, or simply JOAD. There are over 250 JOAD Clubs recognized by the National Archery Association.<ref name=JOAD>[http://www.usarchery.org/usarchery/html/JOAD.html National Archery Association's page on JOAD programs.]</ref>
==Archery as an entertainment art==
{{main|Impalement arts}}
Demonstrations of archery skill are sometimes featured as entertainment in [[circus]]es or [[Wild West Shows|wild west shows]]. Sometimes these acts feature a performer acting as a human "target" (strictly speaking they are not the target as the objective of the archer is to narrowly miss them, however they are frequently referred to as human targets). Archery in this context is sometimes known as one of the "[[impalement arts]]", a category which also includes [[knife throwing]] and sharpshooting demonstrations.
It is important to note the strict separation between archery practised as a competitive sport and archery as an impalement art. For example, organising bodies for competitive archery prohibit activity that involves deliberate shooting in the general direction of a human being.<ref>For example, impalement arts contravene rules 101(b) and 102(a) of the UK Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) Rules of Shooting (see {{cite web
|url = http://www.berkshirearchery.co.uk/pdf/rs.pdf
|title = Copy of Rules of Shooting
|publisher = Berkshire Archery Association website
|format = PDF
|accessdate = 2007-02-11
}}) and represent "substantial" or "intolerable" risk under GNAS Archery range health and safety policy (see {{cite web
|url = http://www.sportfocus.com/reguser/dynabizinfo/download.cfm?number=2902
|title = Copy of health and safety policy from SportFocus website
|format = PDF
|accessdate = 2007-02-11
}})</ref> The separation between the worlds of competition archery and the impalement arts is more marked than that between, for example, knife throwing as a sport and as an entertainment. While some competition knife throwers have also performed circus acts and there are official organisations that embrace both worlds, there is little or no evidence of such crossover in archery.
Archery involving a person in the vicinity of the target is a particularly dangerous practice and, even with very experienced performers, there have been cases of very serious injury.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1120219.stm
|title = "Artist 'undeterred' by crossbow accident"
|publisher = ''BBC News''
|date = 2001-01-16
|accessdate = 2007-03-27
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010117/world.htm
|title = Circus act turns into horror
|publisher = ''The Tribune'' (copy from Reuters)
|date = [[17 January]] [[2001]]
|accessdate = 2007-03-27}}</ref>
Another situation where archery features as an entertainment is in its portrayal in movies. [[Howard Hill]] used his extraordinary accuracy for the archery in the movie ''[[The Adventures of Robin Hood (film)|The Adventures of Robin Hood]]'' (1938) starring Errol Flynn. He used a heavy hunting bow to hit small reinforced target areas on the chests of actors in motion. Hill also performed stunts such as shooting an apple held by a volunteer and shooting a stone as it was thrown in the air. Some of his stunts can be seen in the short film ''Cavalcade of Archery'' (1946).<ref>{{imdb title|id=0350692|title = Cavalcade of archery}}</ref>
== See also ==
*[[Bow draw]]
*[[Bowhunting]]
*[[Sagittarii]]
*[[List of archery terms]]
*[[List of notable archers]]
*[[List of notable archery civilizations]]
*[[Gungdo]] practicing [[Kuk Gung]],<ref name = "KA">[http://www.turtlepress.com/info_korean_archery.asp Korean archery] at [http://www.turtlepress.com turtlepress.com]</ref> or ancient Korean Archery
*[[Kyūdō]], the Japanese art of archery
*[[Horse archer]]
*[[Grand National Archery Society]]
*[[FITA]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
<ref>{{Citations
| last =Bear
| first =Fred
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =[[The Archer's Bible]]
| publisher =[[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]
| date =1980
| location =Garden city
| pages =36-43
| url =
| doi =
| id = <ref>{{Citations
| last =Becker
| first =Lou
| author-link =
| last2 =
| first2 =
| author2-link =
| title =The Roots of Primitive Archery
| journal =Primitive Archer
| volume =15
| issue =1
| pages =42-48
| date =Feb./Mar.
| year =2007
| url =
| doi =
| id = }}</ref>
==References==
* (1992) ''The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1''. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-085-3
* (1992) ''The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 2''. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-086-1
* (1994) ''The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 3''. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-087-X
* (2008) ''The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 4''. The Lyons Press.
==External links==
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