A peepsight is a small aperture (similar to a “peep hole”) inserted into the string of a compound bow. When drawing the bow, the archer looks through the peepsight and aligns it with the front sight (scope), creating a precise sight line—similar to using a traditional aperture sight.

Functions:

• Ensures a consistent head position
• Provides precise sight alignment
• Increases shot repeatability

The peepsight is usually screwed into the string and adjusted to match the archer’s personal anchor point and head position.

A pin nock is a specialized type of arrow nock that attaches onto a small metal pin at the end of the arrow shaft. The pin is first inserted into the shaft and acts as an adapter for the nock.

Advantages:

• Protects the arrow shaft end from rear impacts (e.g., during a “Robin Hood”)
• Allows easy replacement of damaged nocks
• Ensures precise centering

Pin nocks are primarily used in competitive archery (Recurve & Compound).

The pivot point is the imaginary rotation point in the grip area of the bow around which the bow moves minimally during the draw and especially during the shot. It is located in the region (above) the pressure point of the bow hand—where the force is applied to the riser.

Significance:

• Reference point for tuning (e.g., Center Shot)
• Influences balance and stability
• Crucial for reproducible hand position

Many manufacturers specify measurements, such as the AMO length of a bow, with reference to the pivot point.

The pivot point is the point in the grip area of the bow around which the bow slightly “rotates” or tilts during the draw and especially during the release. It is usually located near the pressure point of the bow hand – the place where the hand applies force to the grip.

Why is the pivot point important?

• It influences the stability of the bow
• It affects the bow’s shooting behavior
• It is relevant for tuning (for example center shot and stabilizer setup)
• A clean and consistent pressure point leads to repeatable results

After the shot, the bow should ideally tip forward in a controlled manner – something that is especially visible with recurve archers using a finger sling.

The point on in archery refers to the basic or reference setting—usually on the sight. It is the distance at which the sight is adjusted so that the arrow hits the target exactly without any further correction. From this reference, other distances are then adjusted up or down on the sight.

In traditional or barebow archery, the zero point (point-on) can also refer to the farthest distance at which a string-walking shooter can still hit the intended point with the arrow tip.

Significance:

• Important for tournament preparation
• Serves as the baseline for all distance adjustments
• Facilitates reproducible and consistent sight settings

The standard weight unit in archery is the pound. One pound is approximately 450 grams.

The power stroke (also called the “draw length”) in archery refers to the distance over which the string accelerates the arrow forward during a shot. More precisely: it is the distance between the brace height (the distance from the string to the grip in the unstrung state) and the position of the string at full draw.

👉 The longer the power stroke, the longer the limbs’ force acts on the arrow—and the more energy can be transferred to it.
👉 A shorter power stroke (e.g., due to a high brace height), on the other hand, can provide a smoother shooting experience and greater forgiveness for errors.

The pressure point is the spot in the bow grip where the bow hand applies the most pressure. Ideally, this point is located in the thenar area of the hand (the fleshy part below the thumb). From there, the force is transferred cleanly and consistently into the bow.

Why is the pressure point important?

• It influences the direction of the shot
• It prevents the bow from twisting sideways
• It ensures consistent force transfer
• It is important for good repeatability

An incorrect pressure point – for example, too much pressure in the fingers or pressure applied to the side of the grip – can lead to inconsistent grouping and arrows impacting to the side.

A primitive bow is a very traditional type of bow, built as close as possible to historical or Stone Age models. It is usually made from a single piece of wood (selfbow) and avoids modern materials such as fiberglass or carbon.

Characteristics:

• Constructed from a single piece of wood
• No technical accessories
• Natural materials (wood, bowstring, natural fibers)
• Often uneven, natural shape
• Typically shot with wooden arrows

The focus is on craftsmanship, tradition, and simplicity, rather than maximum performance.