Innehållsförteckning för Issue 186 från Bow International

It’s that time of the year – time for our annual Barebow Special. As always, the issue was put together with all archers in mind. I hope that barebow archers find a few interesting nuggets for themselves, and archers from other divisions and disciplines learn or discover something new. After all, we are all archers, doing the same thing, yet all doing it a little differently. In this Special we start off with the big Vegas Special report, which is swiftly followed by a wonderful letter by Roy Rose, and an exclusive interview with Oliver Øchkenholt, the barebow archer who was the talk of the town this year. Right after that we have the Unusual Suspects with the latest barebow-specific gear releases. We also have features on barebow tabs, weights…

Stringwalking has become a fundamental skill for the fast-growing and highly competitive barebow class. Top performers from across all barebow competition formats choose to master stringwalking for its practicality, which, above all, affords a repeatable aiming picture. The key beneficiaries of this are Field and 3D athletes, whose fieldcraft is tested at a range of marked and unmarked distances – here gap-shooting alone will not work! Stringwalking helps achieve greater target accuracy; however, the journey to that point of mastery requires an archer to be patient, and, most important, methodical. This piece will present a two-step process, derived from personal and professional experience, but is by no means the only way of approaching the subject. However, I feel that a developing barebow beginner, or a coach, stand to benefit most…

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TAB Writing with the most comfortable pen, eating with the most comfortable fork, or cutting with the most comfortable knife – a familiar feeling that extends to the most comfortable finger tab, and the one with the snuggest fit. Archers seek to find and modify a tab so it serves as an extension of their hand, and does not impede the anchor or the release, whilst providing protection for the fingers. It is particularly important for barebow archers, whose hands come closer to the face at anchor. A good tab must feel custom-fitted, the perfect weight, and secure. Today, almost every barebow archer you see on a marked or unmarked Field or a 3D course will stringwalk to find their aim at a range…

Why shoot barebow? I have been shooting barebow for over 10 years now and often get asked why I made that choice. As a coach and an archer I like all bows and each offers something to the shooter. I do not like to single out any particular discipline of archery, and therefore comparison in terms of superiority is not valid. An archer chooses the bow based on the feel – it just feels right. I see any implement in the hands of someone skilled in a particular discipline to a musical instrument; you are essentially playing the same instrument as your colleague, be it guitar, violin, or whatever; but each one will have its distinctive feel and idiosyncrasies. Some go for a Gretsch, some for the Ibanez, some go…

The 2025 Vegas Shoot marked a significant milestone in the world of archery, not only for the high-level performances witnessed but also for its relocation to a new venue that definitely had pros and cons, (as you’d expect with anything new), in regard to the overall experience for participants and spectators alike. A NEW ERA AT HORSESHOE AND PARIS After twelve years hosted at the South Point Hotel and Casino, the 2025 Vegas Shoot, held from March 5-9, transferred to the Horseshoe, Paris and Planet Holiday complex on the Las Vegas Strip. This strategic move aimed to accommodate the event’s growing popularity and provide a more centralised location for those attending. The new venue offers over 315,000 square feet of event space and thousands of hotel rooms, ensuring ample accommodation…

Oliver Øchkenholt comes from a small Danish town of Bjæverskov in Køge. The 32-year-old’s archery journey began around the age of 25, when, inspired by his late uncle, he picked up a compound bow. He then moved onto the traditional hunting-style bows, which eventually led him to barebow. Though he has only been shooting barebow for 3 years, Oliver has already made waves in the archery community, winning the individual gold at World Archery 3D Championships in Slovenia (2024), individual gold at the World Indoor Series in Nimes (2024), and capturing the Lancaster 2025 Barebow Men’s champion title. Now a community support worker for the adolescents, this father of two is a former police officer with 9 years of service, a former personal trainer and a retired professional football player.…

There are many different styles of arrow rest on the market. From the plastic stick-on to the wrap-around and the full metal magnetic type. At first glance, you might assume that any standard recurve arrow rest would suit a barebow archer, but is that the case? THE STICK-ON PLASTIC REST This is the absolute basic and cheapest kind available; it will set you back by under £2. The basic plastic rest, like the great little Hoyt Super Arrow Rest, is the kind you would usually find initially supplied with your bow. However, it is considered reliable for a skilled archer, and there are even some Olympic archers that still use this type of rest at big international tournaments. Though easy to replace, this rest wears quickly and will be too…

This edition of the Unusual Suspects will look at a few highlights, some recently released items, and some that we at Bow really like and recommend. It’s always exciting to come across new gear, given advances in technology and the ways manufacturers always manage to find answers to the knottiest problems. There’s no particular theme to the selection of barebow gear in this feature, apart from technological innovation and improvement. We hope you enjoy reading it, and find something to inspire you and make you start thinking about shopping for the summer season. DAMPENED BAREBOW WEIGHT KAMINSKI ARCHERY Barebow weights help improve bow balance and the feel of the bow. Lately we have seen several integrated weight solutions from various archery brands like Hoyt, Kinetic and Mybo, to name but…

Recurve archery is a precision sport that requires consistency and control, and archers rely on their fingers to draw and release the bowstring accurately. While finger tabs are essential for protecting the fingers and ensuring a smooth release, some archers add an extra layer of vet wrap (a stretchy, self-adhering bandage) under their tabs for additional protection and comfort. Here are some of the key reasons why vet wrap is used. EASY APPLICATION AND REMOVAL Vet wrap is popular because it is lightweight, breathable, and easy to apply and remove. Unlike adhesive bandages, vet wrap doesn’t stick to the skin, making it painless and easy to remove at the end of a shooting session. Its self-adhesive properties ensure it stays securely in place while in use, but it won’t leave…

Humans are curious by nature. We want to know what our counterparts are doing, how they are doing it, and what works for them. But why is that? Most of us know that every archer is unique and individual, and many say that barebow archers in particular are the most unique individuals of them all, technically and otherwise. The purpose of this piece is not to provide the “secrets of success”, or examples for imitation. On the contrary, this piece is about a collective of competitively successful barebow archers and their professional reflections and insights, the purpose of which is to make your archery life easier so you can focus on what truly matters most – your individual journey and enjoyment of the sport. In sports, as is true of…