Whilst stringing the bows Martin explained the importance of bracing height. This is the distance between the bowstring and the hole in the arrow rest, and should be set to particular distance for each bow. The distance is changed by twisting (increase bracing height) or untwisting the bowstring (decrease bracing height), and measured using a bracing gauge, which clips to the string and is marked like a ruler. Of course, if the string is removed from the bow - to transport it, for instance - it is very easy to lose twists in the string, thus affecting the bracing height. To avoid this, you can use a string saver, which is a simple plastic clip that holds the two ends of the bowstring together. Another bow tuning aspect that came up was the nocking point, which is the point on the string at which the arrow is clipped, and is usually marked by wrapping lengths of fine string (dental floss is a good substitute, fixed with superglue) or attaching metal clips at the correct points. The standard nocking point is 4mm above the arrow rest, and is once again measured using the bracing gauge.
After a warm-up (again led by the students) we had a quick review of signals and range safety, and were promised an incident requiring a call of 'fast'. We started at the 15m line, using the 122cm target faces we had used in previous weeks, and were encouraged to make our own assessments on each of our shots, identifying why something went wrong (or even right). Martin and S both observed us shooting and offered advice where it was required. We shot a couple of ends of four arrows and looked at where they grouped on the target, before adjusting our sights (remembering to move the sight the right way!). I did fairly well in this session, with the inevitable wayward shots, which could be explained by a number of faults, including:
- not anchoring right hand under the jaw before release
- snatched rather than smooth release
- drawing elbow too low
- incorrect hand position on bow handle
- bowstring catching on armguard
Half time tea break came very quickly but was very welcome; although the outside temperature had risen into double figures (deg. C) it was still very chilly inside the unheated building! While downing our hot drinks, Martin got out his compound bow and showed us how it differs from the recurve bows we are using. The most obvious difference is that the bow has two cables and pulleys, as well as a string. The pulleys are cam-shaped so that the amount of force required to draw the string quickly reaches a peak before dropping off at full draw. This puts a lot of stored energy into the bow, but allows the archer to hold it at full draw with a relatively low draw weight ( about 20#/20lbs in this case). Instead of holding the string, the archer uses a release aid, which is clipped onto the string and held in the palm of the hand. Some release aids have a trigger to release the string, but the one Martin uses releases at a set draw weight (after releasing a safety catch). This means that he must use his back to pull back through the "draw stop" on the bow to trigger the release, but he does not know exactly when this will happen. Aiming is via a magnified sight, assisted by a peep, which is set into the string and must be lined up with the sight.
Martin shot a set of arrows at each of two Vegas targets, and the accuracy was phenomenal at 20yds (although these targets are usually shot at 18m). He explained that the targets are used in a worldwide competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, which had only just finished this year. The ladies compound competition was won by an archer from Woking who shoots at a club in Woking. S tells me that her bow was tuned by one of our club's members who was currently restringing his compound bow after the string broke mid-round last week. The compound bow generates much more energy than a compound bow, so targets are often fixed to Danage or doubled straw bosses. A 20m, four out of six of the arrows (fatter than the ones we use) penetrated right through the boss to depth of about 15 inches. I had a go at pulling a couple and almost burst a blood vessel! An arrow puller is an absolute essential! Martin told us it is not unusual for two or more people to be needed to pull one arrow.
After the break the target faces were changed from the large, 122cm to smaller, 80cm faces, and while we were at the target end of the range, Martin explained the scoring systems in use in UK target archery (there are other types of archery including clout, field and popinjay, not to mention hunting - which is illegal in the UK). Target archery rounds can be divided into two classes: Imperial (or GNAS) rounds and Metric (or FITA) rounds. Not surprisingly the Imperial rounds are shot at distances measured in yards, whilst the Metric rounds are measured in metres. Metric scoring uses all ten scoring zones on a standard target face, as follows:
- X (10 points) : circle within inner gold
- 10 points : inner Gold
- 9 points : outer gold
- 8 points : inner red
- 7 points : outer red
- 6 points : inner blue
- 5 points : outer blue
- 4 points : inner black
- 3 points : outer black
- 2 points : inner white
- 1 point : outer white
- Miss (0 points) - anywhere outside the outer white
The X zone scores the same ten points as the inner gold, but is noted as X on the scoresheet, and is used in a count back situation where scores are equal.
Scoring for Imperial rounds uses only five scoring zones as follows:
9 points : gold
7 points : red
5 points : blue
3 points : black
1 point : white
Miss (0 points) - anywhere outside the white
With both scoring systems, any arrows that cut or touch the line between two scoring areas will score the higher of the two. If archers cannot decide on a marginal score, the decision is left to the Field Captain (or other official) and that decision is final. A magnifying glass may be required!
Usually each archer shoots six arrows per 'end', and scores are called to the scorer in groups of three arrows, highest to lowest. The scorer should repeat back every group of three as the score is written on the scoresheet. For example, a metric end with two arrows in the inner gold, two in the outer gold and one in each of the red rings would be scored as:
Archer : ten, ten, nine
Scorer : ten, ten, nine
Archer : nine, eight, seven
Scorer : nine, eight, seven
Although the targets were two-thirds the size, it is amazing how quickly we adapted to the smaller objective, although our accuracy didn't magically improve to match. Shooting from the 15m line, we scored our ends with alternate metric and imperial scoring. After a few ends, we were moved back to the 20yd line, which meant we were almost shooting a genuine round. As you might expect, our accuracy was not quite as good at 20m as it had been at 15m, but we all put in some creditable shots. Once again we scored our shots and had a fair few line-cutters.
The session concluded with warm-down stretches and packing away the equipment ready to be taken back to the clubhouse. Next week will be our last session, where we are all hoping to have proven to the coaches that we are both safe and competent archers. They must be fairly confident as we were reminded to complete our club membership applications!
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