How They Work – Compound Bows

Any time you flex a spring you cause it to store energy.  If you take a coil spring and compress it, you have put energy in.  If you release the compression, the spring will straighten back out and give up the energy.  It’s the same with the limbs on a bow.  They are simply springs…

Archer’s Paradox & Spine Stiffness

Analysis of Archer’s Paradox Due to the relatively high force of the bow string acting on the arrow, it rapidly accelerates and a high-speed camera is required to capture the motion. Also, because this large force is acting in the direction of the arrow shaft, it begins to oscillate (fishtail) back and forth. This is…

Science of Archery: Physics of the Bow and Arrow

Science of Archery: Physics of the Bow and Arrow Archery involves physics far more than is immediately evident to the eye. The amount of kinetic energy that is stored in both the bow and the arrow itself is a fairly complex calculation. While the actual numbers are useful in determining the amount of force and…

Uphill & Downhill Shots and How to Adjust

Uphill & Downhill Shots and How to Adjust There is often confusion when it comes to shooting uphill and downhill shots on how to adjust for the incline.  Do you hold high on uphill shots or low on downhill shots?  Vice versa?  Or no change at all?  The answer may surprise some people. The key to…

Archery Distance Judging: Tips and Tricks

Archery Distance Judging: Tips and Tricks If you ask any seasoned archer what their top challenges are, estimating yardage will invariably be near the top.  Of course you must also have a high level of skill in putting the sight where you want to hit and releasing so that the arrow hits the intended mark,…