For beginners and advanced archers...

Technical archery terms

Arrow Puller

An arrow puller is a rubberized tool designed to help remove arrows from a target.

Purpose:

  • Provides a better grip on the arrow shaft
  • Reduces the amount of force needed
  • Protects the hands
  • Makes extracting arrows from firm or dense targets easier

It is simply placed around the shaft or gripped with the hand, giving extra traction—especially useful for deeply stuck or wet arrows.

Arrow Rest

Depending on the type of bow, the arrow rest can mean different things. On a primitive bow, it may simply be the back of the hand. On a longbow, it is often the bow window. On a recurve bow, the arrow may rest on the bow window itself or on an additional stick-on or screw-on arrow rest that can be adjusted.

ASA

The ASA (Archery Shooters Association) is a U.S.-based archery organization that focuses primarily on 3D archery. It was founded in 1993 and is particularly well known for bowhunter and 3D tournaments.

ATA

“Archery Trade Organization” – the new name of the AMO.

Back Muscles

The back muscles play a central role in archery. A clean, controlled shot is driven primarily by the shoulder and back muscles, not the arms.

Key muscle groups:

  • Latissimus dorsi (broad back muscle)
  • Trapezius
  • Rhomboids (between the shoulder blades)
  • Posterior deltoids (rear shoulder muscles)

Importance:

  • Stable full draw
  • Steady anchor point
  • Controlled release
  • Prevents arm overuse

Archers who “draw from the back” shoot more consistently and fatigue more slowly.

Barebow

A barebow is one of the many archery bow classes. It typically refers to a “sport bow” with a metal or carbon riser and limbs (often ILF) with only minimal technical accessories.

Under common competition rules, the complete bow with all attachments must fit through a ring with a diameter of 12.2 cm.

Not allowed in the barebow class are:

  • Clickers
  • Stabilizer systems
  • Technical aiming devices such as sights

Allowed are:

  • Plunger buttons
  • Arrow rests
  • Additional weights
  • Dampers

Barebow is a recognized competition class under organizations such as World Archery and the International Field Archery Association.

Bareshaft

A bare shaft is an arrow shaft that has all components attached (point, nock, etc.) except for the fletchings. It is used for bare shaft testing, which is intended to fine-tune the arrow and bow setup.

Bareshaft/Blankshaft Test

The bare shaft test – also called the blank shaft test – is a method used to check arrow tuning (spine) and overall setup. A bare (un-fletched) arrow is shot alongside fletched arrows at the same distance.

Evaluation:

  • Bare shaft lands close to the fletched arrows → setup is correct
  • Bare shaft lands to the side → check the spine
  • Bare shaft lands higher or lower → check nocking point height

Since the bare shaft lacks the stabilizing effect of the fletching, it clearly shows whether the arrow is leaving the bow cleanly.

BB

BareBow class according to IFAA: Can be either Compound (BB-C) or Recurve (BB-R).

BB-C

BareBow Compound: A bow class according to IFAA rules. This class (not present in WA competitions) uses a compound bow without a sight or release aid.

BB-R

Barebow Recurve (BBR) is a bow class defined by the International Field Archery Association. It refers to a recurve bow shot without a sight, stabilizers beyond the permitted limits, or other technical aiming aids, in accordance with IFAA rules.

Beiter

German company that manufactures high-quality archery accessories. See the Beiter website for more information.

Berger Test

Advanced tuning method for fine adjustment of the plunger button. For more details, see here. Essentially, it involves testing the lateral deviation of the arrow at different distances to draw conclusions about the correct button setting.

BH

Bowhunter: A bow class according to IFAA rules.

BH-R

Bowhunter Recurve (BHR) is a bow class defined by the International Field Archery Association. It generally refers to recurve bows shot in a more traditional style, often without magnifying sights and with limited technical accessories, according to IFAA rules.