Innehållsförteckning för Issue 187 från Bow International

Welcome to Issue 187, The Ultimate Gear. Inspired by the recent IOC decision to include compound in the Olympics we start off with a selection of gear that will take your compound precision to the max – you too could be going to the Olympics! This is complemented by a thought-provoking “Opinions” column where world experts express their views on compound’s inclusion in LA28. We put together a high-end beginner-intermediate recurve kit to last, and feature two standout product spotlights: WIAWIS MXT-XT limbs and LCA’s Draw Board and Bow Holder combo. Dr James Park talks bow length selection, and Sophie Meering explores the uses of the eye-blinder; she also reports from Antalya Spring Arrows. We highlight the 10th anniversary of Archery Fit, UK’s most successful indoor archery club, and feature…

Over the last few outdoor seasons compound scores have been getting higher and higher with ever tighter margins between archers; even a single point can mean the difference between a win or going out in the first round. While this level of performance is largely down to the skill and dedication of the competitors, even the best in the world will struggle to perform with poorly set and inaccurate equipment. Now more than ever it’s vital that your bow is set up correctly in order to squeeze out every possible point; luckily there is a wealth of kit and technology available to help you drive your scores to the maximum. LAST CHANCE VANE MASTER PRO FLETCHING JIG Fletching arrows can become a bit of a chore at the best of…

One of the joys of arriving at a National Field Archery Society (NFAS) shoot is seeing the variety of ways in which people go beyond the practical necessities to express their personalities while enjoying their hobby. You could be spending the day with someone in a kilt, showing an archery tattoo, or with a quirky mascot dangling from their quiver. It’s a far cry from my early experience of archery. THE BURDEN OF COMPULSORY UNIFORM Back in 1999, I tried a beginners’ course at a target club. The introduction was enjoyable and I signed up, getting involved in everything the club could offer. When I entered my first competition, a club official explained what to expect. In order to compete, I had to adhere to the Grand National Archery Society…

Have you ever felt nervous about doing something in front of other people? Maybe you felt apprehensive or restless before stepping on to the shooting line? Or perhaps you recall going ‘blank’ or feeling hesitant and shaky in the middle of your match? You may also recall having similar experiences during a job interview, school or work presentation; getting sweaty and flustered, your heart going at a hundred miles, as if “jumping out of your chest”, your thoughts racing. If the idea of doing something in front of other people gives you a sense of dread, it could be performance anxiety. WHAT IS PERFORMANCE ANXIETY? The term ‘performance anxiety’ is used to describe fear or anxiety about doing something (or the prospect of doing something) whilst being watched. The ‘performance’…

DEFINITIONS, DESCRIPTIONS AND FUNCTIONS Last Chance are known for their quality and product innovation. The company works to resolve archers’ tuning issues, releasing several new products every year; they always listen and respond to their customers, especially when it comes to product improvements. The two items mentioned in this piece are the latest upgrades from LCA. A draw board is an essential tool for any compound archer; it is a specialised tool that allows them to precisely measure and tune the bow’s draw length, draw weight, cam timing, and more. It mechanically draws the bowstring back, enabling the archer to make adjustments and observe the bow’s performance at various points in the draw cycle. A draw board allows the archer to tune their compound bow safely and independently, and it…

World Cup season is back, starting with a Stage 1 World ranking event in Central Florida, USA, the first-time host. The event took place in Auburndale city, from April 8 to 13th. Great Britain’s Penny Healey started the outdoor season with a bang, taking the women’s recurve champion title against the veteran Alejandra Valencia of Mexico, thus booking the finals spot to be held later this year in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China, on October 17 – 19. The 20-year-old had represented GB at Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, however this has not been the success young Penny had hoped for: “When I came home from Paris, I was really disappointed with myself, because I was shooting really well before, but I just had a little blip which threw me…

To fulfil whatever potential they have, beginners need good quality basic gear. By “beginners” we don’t mean absolute beginners, but archers learning their skills during their first one or two years. As these archers begin their journeys, developing technique, building strength, getting a feeling for things, learning to tune, gaining outdoor experience, shooting longer distances, and competing, they may not need the Pro grade gear at this stage, but well-made, durable equipment which will see them through their apprenticeships without failing will pay dividends, providing them with the consistency to build confidence and develop their own techniques. The basic items - riser, limbs, plunger, sight, stabilisers, tab, arrows, quiver, and so on need to be of reasonable quality. RISER HOYT RCRV PODIUM RECURVE RISER Spending a bit more on a…

WHAT IS AN EYE BLINDER Ever noticed a small flap or patch covering one of the archer’s eyes? This small piece of gear is known as an eye blinder. The flap is often attached to the brim of a hat or to shooting glasses, blocking the non-dominant eye from seeing the target, but allowing the archer to keep both eyes open, solely focussing on aiming with the dominant eye. While it may look unusual, the blinder serves as a practical tool to improve focus, aim consistency, and accuracy. The size of the eye blinder is a matter of personal preference, and some archers will have a complete black and solid patch, while others may opt for a transparent and blurred-out shield. EYE BLINDER USES Eye blinders are used for two…

The recurve bow, the only equipment style used in Olympic archery, made its debut at the Olympic Games in 1972, following a 52-year break from the programme; longbows were a bow of choice in the early days of the Olympic Games. Compound bow was first used at the World Archery championships in 1995; but the Olympics was always the goal, and many petitions for its inclusion in the programme have failed since - until now. On April 9th, the Olympic Committee announced the addition of the compound mixed team event to the programme in LA28, bringing the Olympic archery medal tally to six. Sixteen compound mixed team quotas will be allotted, with the world’s best doubles fighting for the one medal. As expected, the first global reactions were nothing short…

Archery Fit, the indoor archery club in Greenwich, London, known for being open every day of the week, was founded by Roman and Kate Godkin (former, Zalyubovskaya), and was highlighted by World Archery as a unique indoor archery club: “Archery Fit, is something new. It’s a fresh, exciting take on the traditional club, and it’s making the sport available in a way that simply appeals.” (07.11.2016, Andrea Vasquez, World Archery News). Since its foundation the club has been going from strength to strength, with an impressive members list, and other clubs may learn lessons from this innovative and popular venture. From opening its doors in 2015 to now, AF boasts remarkable statistics: 150,000+ classes and session participants; 30,000+ unique customers (98% positive Google feedback!); 5,000+ unique customers in 2024 (13…

Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Dartfish or OnForm? To each their own, but when it comes to choosing a product, we are creatures of habit: some will return to it because it tastes better, whilst others stick to it with an undying sense of loyalty to the brand, even if it no longer serves them well. Choosing and committing to using just the one app can be difficult, not only because we pay for it and have a limited budget, but also because we may feel we are obliged to march in time with technological advancements if we want to stay one step ahead of the game. Today’s market is saturated with sports video analysis apps, and it has been the case for a long time; Dartfish was founded in 1999, OnForm…

The 2025 edition of the Antalya Spring Arrows was held from April 22 to 27 and it was my first international target competition. Whilst I have previously shot at a European Grand Prix, that was a held at Lilleshall in 2023, this was my first time shooting target for Great Britain - and what an experience! MORE THAN JUST A COMPETITION The Antalya Spring Arrows Archery Competition, also called the Kahraman Bagatir Spring Arrows Tournament, held annually in sunny Antalya, Türkiye, is a staple in the outdoor archery season. Besides the Florida World Cup stage 1, this year the Spring Arrows was one of the first big chances in the season for top archers from around the world to test their skills and make an early mark on the rankings.…

The Stage 2 of the Archery World Cup saw the dominant Korea sweep up all five recurve gold medals in Shanghai, China. The 2025 dream Team came back together to represent South Korea at this World stage, and amongst them we saw the return of the titan, An San, who hasn’t been seen much since her triumph at Tokyo 2020. This specific 2025 Team featured not one, but three triple Olympic gold medallists, An San (Tokyo 2020), Lim Sihyeon (Paris 2024), Kim Woojin (Paris 2024); each respective athlete has won an individual, team by gender and the mixed team event at a single Games. An San took the historic first mixed gold with her partner Kim Je-deok in Tokyo, where the event was first introduced at the delayed games programme…