Dacron is a polyester material commonly used for bowstrings, especially on traditional bows.

Characteristics:

• Relatively stretchy
• Gentle on older or more delicate bows, such as wooden bows
• Durable and long-lasting

Because Dacron stretches more than modern high-performance fibers, it is somewhat slower, but it also places less stress on the limbs.

In short: Dacron is a classic bowstring material with higher stretch, making it ideal for traditional or older bows.

A dampener is an element, usually made of rubber or special plastic, that reduces vibrations and noise after a shot. It can be attached to the limbs, string (e.g., string silencer), riser, or stabilizer.

Purpose:

• Reduces hand shock
• Quieter shot
• More comfortable shooting experience

In hunting and 3D archery, dampeners are especially popular because they make the bow significantly quieter.

In short:
A dampener reduces vibrations and noise after the shot, resulting in a smoother and calmer shooting experience.

The DBSV is a German archery association with a strong focus on recreational archery and competitive events across various disciplines. It organizes indoor championships, field and 3D tournaments, and German championships in multiple bow classes.

The Deutscher Bogensport-Verband is internationally connected to World Archery, but in some areas it uses its own competition formats and organizational structures.

Special features:

• Open to many bow classes, including recurve, compound, barebow, longbow, and others
• Strong focus on national competitions
• Its own championship structure

In short: The Deutscher Bogensport-Verband is a German archery organization offering a wide range of competitions with connections to international structures.

Deflex describes a bow shape in which the limbs initially curve away from the archer (forward) when unstrung. This is the opposite of reflex, where the limbs curve toward the archer.

Effects of Deflex:

• Smoother, more forgiving shooting behavior
• Less aggressive energy buildup
• Often more comfortable draw feeling

Summary:
Deflex bows are generally considered user-friendly and forgiving, while strongly reflexed bows tend to be performance-oriented and faster.

The German Field Archery Association (DFBV) is a German archery organization with a focus on field and 3D archery. It is the official German member association of the International Field Archery Association and organizes competitions in Germany according to IFAA rules.

The tasks of the Deutscher Feldbogen Sportverband include:

• Organizing national IFAA tournaments
• Running German championships under IFAA rules
• Sending archers to European and World Championships of the International Field Archery Association

Main focus:

• 3D courses
• Field archery
• Bowhunter disciplines

In short: The Deutscher Feldbogen Sportverband is Germany’s IFAA association for field and 3D archery and the main point of contact for international IFAA competitions.

In archery, there are various disciplines that differ in target type, terrain, distances, and rules.

🎯 Target Archery

• Shooting at standardized target faces
• Fixed distances
• Typical for the Olympics (Recurve)
• Indoors (18 m) or outdoors (up to 70 m)

🌲 Field Archery

• Course set up in natural terrain
• Varying distances
• Targets often have multiple faces
• Combines technique with distance estimation

🦌 3D Archery

• Shooting at life-size animal replicas
• Courses in forests or natural terrain
• Distances usually unknown
• Popular for both recreational and competitive archers

🏹 Bowhunting / Hunter Style

• Focus on hunting-like scenarios (without actual hunting)
• Similar to 3D, often with special rulesets

DK Bowfactory is a German bow manufacturer that specializes in traditional bows.

What distinguishes DK Bowfactory?

• Handcrafted bows
• Focus on traditional recurves and longbows
• Combination of modern materials with classic aesthetics
• Individual designs and high-quality workmanship

Their bows are particularly popular in 3D and traditional archery, catering to archers who value craftsmanship and character.

The dominant eye is the eye your brain prefers to use for aiming and target acquisition. It takes the lead when you aim and determines how you perceive an object spatially.

Why is this important? In archery, the dominant eye influences:

• The choice of shooting side (right-handed or left-handed bow)
• The aiming technique
• The point of impact

Example:

A right-handed person with a dominant left eye has what is called “cross-dominance.” In this case, the archer must decide whether to switch shooting sides or compensate with technique, such as closing or covering the dominant eye.

The drawing hand is the hand the archer uses to pull the string. Whether an archer is left- or right-handed is determined by the drawing hand, not the bow hand. A right-handed archer pulls the string with the right hand.

The draw length is the distance you pull the bow from its brace position to your anchor point. It is one of the most important personal measurements in archery because it affects:

• The correct cam setting on a compound bow
• Your effective draw weight
• Arrow length
• The arrow’s spine value
• The appropriate bow length

The draw length can be estimated using a simple formula: wingspan (distance from fingertip to fingertip with arms stretched out sideways) divided by 2.5. It can also be measured more precisely using a measuring arrow.

The draw weight is the force required to pull the bow to a standard draw length of 28 inches. The actual draw weight, which is relevant for shooting the arrow and arrow tuning, depends on the individual archer and may vary up or down depending on their personal draw length. Draw weight is measured in pounds (lbs).

A dry fire is the release of a bow without an arrow. In this case, the energy stored during the draw is not transferred to an arrow but remains almost entirely in the bow itself, causing extreme stress.

Consequences of a dry fire:

• Damage or breakage of the limbs
• String breakage
• Damage to cams (in compound bows)
• Risk of injury

A dry fire can instantly and irreparably destroy a bow.

See “dry fire.”

The DSB is Germany’s largest umbrella organization for sport shooting and is also responsible for Olympic archery in Germany.

Deutscher Schützenbund organizes and oversees:

• National championships (indoor and outdoor)
• The archery Bundesliga
• The German national team
• Germany’s connection to World Archery

Its main focus in archery includes:

• Olympic recurve
• Compound
• Barebow
• League and competition archery

The Deutscher Schützenbund is the association through which German archers participate in official World Archery and Olympic competitions.