On EA and general archery

Frequently asked questions

We hear the following questions from you so often that we thought we’d answer them all at once. The FAQ section is divided into two parts: one for frequently asked questions about the EA movement, and another separate section for questions about archery. The latter is specifically aimed at beginners who want to learn about their first steps.

Extrem Archery

Do you have questions about our movement? Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions.

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General Archery

Are you curious about archery and looking for good tips to get started? You’ve come to the right place.

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Questions about Extreme Archery

EA stands for Extreme Archery.

We’re a movement dedicated to archery, representing all bow classes and bringing passionate archers together under one banner.

Want to learn more about our goals, values, and vision? You’ll find all the details right here.

No — EA is not a registered club or association.

EA is a movement and a community for archers who share the same passion and mindset. We bring people together across all bow classes, but we’re not set up as a traditional sports club with memberships, statutes, or league obligations.

It’s about connection, shared values, and living the spirit of archery — with fun and performance.

Statement on Monster Bows or Bows with Excessively High Draw Weights:

  • What every experienced and advanced archer knows!
  • WHAT is completely obvious!
  • WHAT every bow manufacturer recommends.
  • WHAT every archery coach and every pro shop recommends.
  • What we do NOT need to discuss for the hundredth time.

EA does NOT recommend shooting unnecessarily high draw weights over the long term! Thomas Brugger has been doing this for 15 years now because:

He can inspire many people for our sport this way! Unfortunately, only a few people care about titles… or who actually knows the top shooters or European champions – even in the most common bow styles? But as soon as someone shoots a bow over 100 lbs, THEN suddenly people pay attention. Sadly, that’s just how it is… We are ALL like that, and we use THAT for OUR sport. Otherwise, even years from now, there will still be more spectators watching a local football match than one of our European Championships.

  • Thomas enjoys it
  • Because he can do it and still hits the target. (He also hits with 30 lbs.)
  • Because he has been involved in competitive sports his entire life.
  • Because he has prepared for it consistently and knows what he can handle.
  • Because he tests materials and construction methods in the most extreme ways.

For bowyers – for you!

In the end, EVERYONE benefits from the new developments that can withstand this. EVERYONE should enjoy archery and protect their health. No matter how much draw weight, which brand or which style. AND STICK TOGETHER! That is the most important thing!!

Your EA Team

Behind EA stands a group of guys and girls who are completely hooked on archery.

There are founding members, YouTube content creators, and a core team that helps guide and shape everything EA does.

Since we’re not a club or formal association, there’s no membership in the traditional sense. Being part of EA can mean different things:

  • Loving and living archery — in whatever form you shoot — and sharing that passion with others.
  • Joining an existing chapter and helping spread the excitement for archery even further.
  • Or starting a new chapter in your region and actively helping to live and grow our mission.

There isn’t just one definition of “extreme.” Not even in the context of EA.

If you ask Thomas Brugger, he’ll probably give you an answer based on the draw weights he shoots. Ask someone else, and you’ll get a completely different take.

That’s exactly why we created a section on our website dedicated to these different “forms of extreme.” It’s a place where anyone who wants to can share their own version of what “extreme” means — and post it as their personal xTreme.

Short answer: yes.

You’ll find a link to the shop right here.

There’s a wide range of offers provided by members of the EA community. Thomas offers coaching sessions, for example.

You’ll find an overview of his services — and others — right here. 

No. EA is not a club and therefore does not charge any membership fees. However, founding a chapter does involve a small investment. This covers the production and purchase of EA shirts printed with your chapter name. You can find more details about this topic right here.

If you’d like to support us, the best way is simple: help spread the idea and the joy of archery out into the world. 

You can do that by wearing our merch, supporting the movement, or even founding a chapter to help our community grow. If that sounds interesting, check out the “Start a Chapter” section on our website.

And if you’ve got other ideas in mind, feel free to reach out to the core team through the contact form. We’re always open to new impulses and support.

None at all. Chapter members simply purchase a T-shirt that’s customized for your chapter. You could see that as the only “commitment.” But in return, you get a high-quality shirt in EA colors and logos — with your name and your chapter’s name on it.

Beyond that, there are no obligations. Our annual gatherings are completely voluntary, and regular activities usually happen naturally with your fellow chapter members (which you’d probably do anyway, even without a chapter).

If you have any further questions or concerns, just reach out to our chapter coordinator.

General questions on archery

That depends on how you get started. Many archery shops offer rental equipment, and in some cases, long-term rentals can even be credited toward a later purchase.

Jumping straight into the sport with your own Olympic recurve or compound setup is definitely one of the more expensive ways to begin. Renting equipment, on the other hand, is usually the most affordable way to get started.

Definitely talk to someone who’s been doing this for a while. There are plenty of Facebook groups where beginners can get helpful advice. Local clubs can guide you through your first steps, and your nearby archery shop can also support you when getting started. Whether it’s an initial conversation or a trial session — the main thing is to begin.

And trust us: once you start, you won’t want to stop. 

Not necessarily from the very beginning. Renting equipment from a local pro shop is probably the most affordable way to get started. Once you’re sure you want to stick with it, you can invest in your own gear.

Keep in mind, though, that the entry price depends heavily on your expectations — and on the style of shooting you choose. A beginner traditional bow setup is usually far less expensive than a full Olympic recurve setup, which can quickly become a bigger investment. 

The best tip — without going into too much detail — is to talk to an experienced archer or visit a specialized archery shop.

It also makes a lot of sense to watch some YouTube videos beforehand to get an overview of the different types of bows. That way, you can narrow down what appeals to you or what looks like it might be the most fun. This helps the specialist in the pro shop guide you much more precisely toward the right setup.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that. A good starting point, though, is to ask yourself: “How technical do I want this to be?”

The range goes from not technical at all (primitive bow / traditional recurve / longbow), to moderately technical (barebow), all the way to highly technical (compound).

What you’ll enjoy most often comes down to personal taste — sometimes it’s simply about looks, and sometimes it’s about how many (or how few) technical aids you want to support your shot process. 

A lower draw weight is always better when you’re starting out. It allows you to focus on your shooting form and helps prevent strain in muscle groups you’re not used to using.

Here, too, a visit to a specialized archery shop can really help. As a very rough guideline, you might consider something like this:

  • Athletic man (strong shoulders and arms): 20–25 lbs
  • Average man / athletic woman: 15–20 lbs
  • Woman: 10–15 lbs
  • Children: around 10 lbs

Keep in mind, though, that these are only general starting points — individual strength, fitness level, and shooting style always matter.

A solid approach for determining a “comfortably manageable draw weight” as a trained archer (not a beginner) is the “50% of maximum strength” principle.

The idea is to figure out the maximum force you can generate — ideally using a movement that closely matches the typical archery draw. About 50% of that maximum strength is a good reference point for your draw weight.

You can measure this, for example, by pulling on a luggage scale attached to a rope (important: pull in the same direction as your normal archery draw movement).

Note: If you measure your strength in kilograms, keep in mind that draw weight in archery is usually given in pounds (lbs).

There is also a 7/7/2 test which means that you draw your bow and hold it for 7 seconds at full draw. Two seconds break, another round. Repeat seven times. If you can do that easily more often then seven times, you might go up a bit in draw weight.

Choosing the right arrow depends on a lot of different factors. These include:

  • The draw weight of your bow
  • Your personal draw length (which depends on your arm length)
  • The type of bow you’re shooting
  • The way you shoot (3D, target, field, etc.)

The best advice here is the same as before: talk to an experienced archer or your local pro shop. They can help you find the setup that truly fits you.

Once again, the standard answer applies: your local pro shop is the best place to get proper advice.

That said, there are a few general principles that help you understand what bow length depends on.

Primarily, it’s about your height and your draw length. A bow needs to allow you to draw comfortably and far enough. A bow that’s too large might not be drawn efficiently to load the system properly, while a bow that’s too short can “stack” early and may prevent you from reaching your proper shooting position (anchor point, etc.).

There are also some special cases. Horsebows are generally quite short. Compound bows are also compact in design. Longbows, on the other hand, tend to be longer. Modern sport bows (usually with metal or carbon risers) and some traditional recurves often use an ILF system, which offers flexibility when it comes to limb choice and adjustments.

ILF bows and take-down bows (bows that can be disassembled) can, to a certain extent, “grow” with the archer by allowing limb changes as your needs develop.

Other important factors include string angle, draw length, and (for compound bows) the back wall.

More than you might think. Here are the main ones:

  • Limbs
  • Riser
  • String
  • Nocking point
  • Arrow rest
  • Button (plunger)
  • Dampers
  • Sight
  • Weights
  • Stabilizers
  • Arrow
  • Clicker
  • More (especially wiht Compound bows)

More than you might think. Here are the main parts:

  • Shaft (wood, aluminum, carbon, or hybrid materials)
  • Insert (for screw-in points)
  • Points (tips)
  • Protector ring
  • Insert / bushing (for push-in nocks)
  • Nocks
  • Fletching (plastic vanes or natural feathers)
  • Fletching protection
  • Cresting (wraps or decals for design options)

A bow (this does not apply to a crossbow) is not classified as a weapon under German weapons law, but as sporting equipment. That does not mean you can simply start shooting in a public park. The police would likely consider that a threat to public safety and public order.

However, being classified as sports equipment means that basically anyone interested can purchase, own, and carry a bow. No firearms license — neither small nor large — is required. Just like with a frisbee disc.

(This answer does not constitute legally binding advice, but reflects the informed opinion of the EA team.)

Theoretically, yes — a bow is considered a piece of sports equipment, so in that sense it’s comparable to something like a frisbee.

In practice, however, especially with inexperienced archers, there can be significant risks to people nearby. Arrows can be released unintentionally, deflect, or completely miss the target. And arrows are capable of causing serious — even fatal — injuries.

That’s why police and bystanders would most likely step in if someone were shooting in a public place (like a park). Even official ranges are subject to strict safety regulations designed to control the risks of stray arrows.

So it’s always better to shoot at a club or in a properly secured environment at home — helping ensure that the bow continues to be recognized and respected as a piece of sporting equipment in the future.

Yes. The earlier you learn proper technique, the better. A club can also be a very knowledgeable advisor when it comes to equipment.

Many clubs offer trial sessions, which are a great way to get your bearings and see what feels right.

So a club is definitely a good first point of contact.

You might want to think about what you expect from archery. Do you want to approach it in a very technical way, with lots of gadgets and fine-tuning? Or would you rather shoot out in nature? What types of bows appeal to you? (Just check out a few YouTube videos to get a feel for the different styles.)

Otherwise, simply get started — visit a pro shop or book a trial session with a course provider — and see where it takes you.

The nocking point is the spot on the string (on the center serving) where the arrow is clipped onto the string.

To prevent the arrow from sliding, it is held in place from above (and/or below) by a nocking point locator. This locator is typically made of brass (crimped/clamped onto the string) or tied from serving thread and wrapped into place.

Whether you choose brass or thread is partly a technical decision and partly personal preference. Some archers don’t like the additional weight of brass nock sets. Others prefer the convenience of brass because they don’t want to tie their own. Brass nock sets are quicker to install and adjust, but depending on your shooting style, they can wear down your tab or glove over time.

As you gain experience, you’ll develop your own opinion and preference. Most advanced archers tend to prefer tied (served) nocking points.