Innehållsförteckning för Issue 185 från Bow International

Welcome to Issue 185, the Tuning Special. The outdoor season is almost here and there is no better time for fine-tuning than now. For some, tuning may seem a never-ending or a complex task - but it doesn’t have to be. In this issue our expert staff share their tips and knowledge on tuning conditions and gear, hopefully proving that tuning does not have to be challenging. Duncan Busby will break down the compound bow tuning process in great detail, and Felicity May will share a selection of gear that will take your recurve bow to higher level of performance. World expert coach Juan Carlos Holgado will share the wealth of knowledge in guiding you to archery release mastery, and Dr James Park will give his scientific take on the…

The event was limited to 300 archers and quickly sold out. While the scoring format, two arrows at each target with 12 for an inner kill, 10 for a kill and 8 for a wound, was shared in advance, everything else was kept a closely guarded secret. The inaugural National Field Archery Society (NFAS) indoor championships took place near Coventry on 18 and 19 January 2025. A sports hall full of archers, avoiding the winter weather, is a common sight in January. But while the archers were standing in a straight line, the targets they were shooting at were anything but. A mix of 3Ds and paper faces were scattered across the blue floor, clustered or solo, in the open and behind scenery. The original idea, to bring the experience…

Tuning is an important process in compound archery; just as you need to tune a piano or change the oil in your car, your bow also requires adjustment and fine-tuning to perform at its best. Many archers aren’t always aware what this means though, and the many hours they spend shooting arrows at a target can be wasted because their equipment isn’t accurate or efficient. Tuning your bow does not require serious technical expertise, it’s something we can all learn to do so we’re shooting at our best. So here’s a quick guide to identifying and fixing some common tuning issues without having to become a trained compound bow tech. BEFORE YOU START It’s worth noting that before you start tuning your bow you should have a basic setup; this…

In this article I offer some thoughts on what can be done if you find your wooden arrows aren’t tuned to your bow. First let’s start with defining arrow spine both static and dynamic. STATIC AND DYNAMIC SPINE: DEFINITIONS Arrow spine is the amount of flex in the shaft. Unlike carbon arrows that are rated at 300, 400, to 1300, wooden arrow shafts are rated in pounds, for example, 30-35lbs, 35-40lbs and so on. This is measured by supporting the shaft on two pins 28 inches apart, then applying a 2lb weight to the centre of the shaft. The amount the shaft bends signifies the spine rating. The more it bends the lower the spine rating is. This is called the static spine of the shaft. The dynamic spine is…

As a former Team GB archer, archery is more than just a sport for me – it’s life. But when you’re dating someone who doesn’t know what “target panic” is or why the gold isn’t called the “bullseye”, relationships can take a bit of extra effort. Fortunately, my other half and I have been together for nine years (and friends for thirteen), so he knew exactly what he was signing up for. He’s always understood that my “weekend” competitions aren’t just a couple of days they’re Friday-to-Monday, with travel to and from Jersey. Training camps are intense, and World Cups, with travel time, meant over a week away from home. It’s a full-on commitment, and luckily, he’s always supported my passion. Relationships are an important part of our support network,…

Team GB’s top recurve archers Bryony Pitman, Sarah Bettles and Alex Wise have announced their departure from the World Class Olympic Programme to pursue their careers. It does not mean that they will stop archery altogether, it simply means that these athletes have fulfilled their ambitions and are ready to move on with their lives. This announcement coincided with the departure of Archery GB’s Performance Director Tom Duggan, who will become the Performance Director for Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross at Paddle UK. All three of the GB athletes started archery in their teens and have many great memories from their subsequent journeys. Here is what they said to AGB when they were asked to comment on their departure: Pitman: “I decided to leave for a few reasons, but ultimately,…

Many readers asked about the distance to use to tune a recurve bow. It is an excellent question and is best approached by considering the aerodynamic behaviour of both fletched and unfletched arrows. I have considered that behaviour in considerable detail and have models of the dynamic behaviour both during the bow’s power stroke and then in free flight. I have tested those models against actual arrow behaviour – they match very well. Some of this is covered in my published papers which you can find in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology (https://journals.sagepub.com/home/pip). I will use my Hoyt Formula recurve bow and X10s as an example in this article. BEHAVIOUR OF AN ARROW IN FREE FLIGHT An arrow in free flight can be expected to be flexing in…

01 The middle is called the gold, not the bullseye. Get this wrong, and you will be corrected. The gold is the centre scoring ring, 9 or 10 points, and yes, it’s a very big deal. 02 Bows come in different types, and the rivalry is real. Think of it like football clubs—Recurve (Olympic), Compound (modern with wheels - not in the Olympics), and Traditional (longbows, barebows, etc.). Archers are very loyal to their bow type. 03 Tournaments take time—a lot of time. A weekend competition is full on. And if you go along, bring snacks, a chair, and a book! 04 Yes, arrows break. No, they are not cheap. If an arrow hits something it shouldn’t, expect hysterics. And no, you can’t just glue it back together. 05 You…

In the world of recurve archery, the release is one of the most critical elements of the shooting process. While it might seem as simple as "letting go" of the string, a proper release requires an understanding of the mechanics, developing precise technique, and achieving consistent execution through proper repetition. Let’s explore what makes a good, consistent release and how to improve yours. FOUNDATIONS OF A GOOD AND EFFICIENT RELEASE Your release quality begins long before you let go of the string. It starts with establishing and maintaining a proper hook throughout the shot process. A good release is built on several key elements: A - THE PROPER HOOK The hook should be deep and stable. The middle finger is key – it must hook the string in the middle…

First time host The Great Chicago Open crowned its champions on February 14th. Canada’s representative Devaang Gupta upset the crowd favourite, Brady Ellison, by taking the Recurve Men’s gold in a gripping shoot-off against the USA’s finest in a 5-5 match tie. Devaang had only had one medal to his name, a recurve men’s team silver from the 2024 Pan American, to match the veteran Olympian Brady’s 92 World Cup, World Championships and Olympics haul, excluding countless other big wins. The Ladies’ Recurve gold went to the USA’s Casey Kaufhold, Brady’s Paris 2024 mixed team partner, who has just come off the Lancaster Classic podium with another, her third Classic win (2020, 2023, 2025). Safe to say, both the USA’s contenders will be top picks for the World Indoor Series…

The outdoor season is looming, but before we switch gear we wanted to take a quick look back and highlight some of the gear choices from our top four standout 2025 Lancaster Classic champions; Bow did a summary of key match results from the 21st instalment of the Classic in Issue 184, so be sure to check it out. The Classic, which takes place at Spooky Nook, Pennsylvania, is one of the biggest indoor tournaments, with big prize money, and one of the most exciting for the spectators, as the format is unique and a fresh departure from the standard WA18. First, the Classic makes a distinction in the gold ring scoring – here the bullseye counts as eleven points, compared to WA’s ten. Second is the additional twelve ring,…

Cutting and shaping a new tab can be a daunting prospect. Cut too much and your tab is unusable. Cut too little and you could get clearance issues. So here are a few steps to help you achieve the best results. STEP 01 Image 1: Install the new leather onto your tab. STEP 02 Image 2: Shoot your tab for a number of ends first. This will help make the leather more flexible and will create a cutting guide for your tab. In the process of shooting, the string will create scratches across the face of you tab. These can be used as a cutting guide. STEP 03 Image 3: Using the marks on your tab, look for where the scratches end. Always give yourself a few millimetres more than…

What is the main motivation behind developing new products? We try to make products that allow you to tune in to shoot the best you can. We try to make products that solve issues that different archers have. We want to make products that make you a better archer, be the most accurate you can be. You can take the best archer in the world and if he gets a bow that isn't tuned correctly, he could miss. So, we want to build products that allow archers to tune their gear, whether it be their bow, their arrows, or both. We want to eliminate issues. Paint us a picture of what the LCA’s research and development department looks like? Our R&D department was added back at the start of 2020…

Page 48 of this issue made me reflect on the topic of music and sport. The subject probably deserves more space in future issues, because in our enthusiasm for the sport we may forget how important music is to us, and the power of a few familiar notes to transport us to the memory of another time and place, good and bad. When looking at scientific evidence for the positive effects of music on sports performance one must exercise caution, but what is undeniable from robust meta-analyses is that music has the capacity to provide significant positive effects for athletes from different sports. A key consideration for those who run a club or a training facility is that certain music with repetitive rhythm has the potential to lead to improved…