Archery Glossary
Comprehensive reference for archery terminology
FOC (Front of Center)
The percentage of an arrow's weight that is in the front half
Arrow Spine
The stiffness rating of an arrow shaft, measured in deflection
Shaft
The main tube of an arrow, typically carbon, aluminum, or hybrid
Fletching
The fins or vanes attached to the rear of an arrow for stabilization
Vanes
Plastic or rubber fletching material, as opposed to feathers
Nock
The component at the rear of an arrow that clips onto the bowstring
Insert
A threaded component glued inside the front of an arrow shaft
Broadhead
A sharp-bladed arrow point designed for hunting
Field Point
A bullet-shaped practice point that matches broadhead weight
Arrow Wrap
A vinyl wrap applied to the shaft for visibility and fletching adhesion
Bushing
A component that adapts arrow shaft inner diameter for different inserts
Outsert
A collar that fits over the outside of an arrow shaft's front end
ASA Archery
The largest 3D archery organization in the United States — known for its twin 12-ring scoring zones, where the upper 12 counts only when called, and a 14-ring for special events.
IBO Archery
International Bowhunting Organization — runs nationwide 3D tournaments with concentric ring scoring (11 inner spot / 10 / 8 vital / body) and color-coded stake distances.
WA 3D Archery
World Archery 3D — the international 3D format used in continental and world championships. Same four scoring zones as IBO, with a miss explicitly scored as zero.
IFAA Archery
International Field Archery Association — runs field, hunter, animal and 3-D rounds. The Animal Round scores kill or wound, with values that drop with each arrow; the 3-D rounds add a vital zone between them.
Scoring Rings
The concentric scoring zones drawn on a target face that translate arrow placement into points. Zone count, shape, and value vary by federation.
Vital Area
The boundary on a 3D archery target that simulates a lethal shot placement on real quarry — typically the 8-ring on most formats.
Paper Tuning
Shooting through paper to read tear patterns and adjust rest/nock.
Bare-Shaft Tuning
Comparing unfletched vs fletched arrow groups to expose dynamic spine issues.
Walk-Back Tuning
Vertical line target at increasing distances to fine-tune rest alignment.
French Tuning
Near-and-far vertical-stacking micro-tuning method.
Group Tuning
Comparing groups across single-variable changes to find the optimal setup.
Nock Height
Vertical position of the nocking point relative to the arrow rest.
Center Shot
Horizontal alignment of the arrow with the bow's centerline.
Cam Timing
Synchronization of top and bottom cams on a compound bow.
Tiller
Distance from string to limb pocket at top vs bottom — ties to nock travel.
Micro-Adjustments
Small final tweaks (0.001"–0.005" rest, half-twist string) to lock in best group.
Yoke Tuning
Adjusting the cable yoke on a compound bow to time cams and align nock travel.
Arrow Rest Alignment
Physical alignment of the rest — height, horizontal, sometimes elevation.
Dynamic Spine
Actual flex behavior on release — distinct from the printed static spine number.
Bow Press
Mechanical tool that compresses limbs so string and cables can be removed for service.
Effective Range
The farthest distance you can reliably place a lethal, well-aimed shot under real hunting conditions.
Kinetic Energy
The energy a moving arrow carries — from its weight and speed — that drives penetration on impact.
Mechanical Broadhead
An expandable hunting head whose blades fold in flight and deploy on impact for a wide wound channel.
Fixed-Blade Broadhead
A hunting head with permanently exposed blades — maximum reliability and penetration on a tuned bow.
Blood Trail
The blood an animal leaves after the hit — the bowhunter's primary tool for tracking and recovery.
Pass-Through
When the arrow fully exits the animal, leaving two holes for a faster, easier-to-follow blood trail.
Quartering Shot
A shot on an angled animal — quartering-away is ideal; quartering-toward is usually best passed.
Tree Stand Shooting
Shooting from an elevated stand, where the downward angle changes your aim and demands a harness.
Spot-and-Stalk
Spotting game from a distance, then stalking within bow range — a mobile alternative to stand hunting.
Bow Sight
An aiming device on the riser — pins, scope or ring — that gives a fixed reference to align with the target.
Single-Pin Sight
One pin on a slider dialled to the exact distance with a sight tape — clean picture, adjust before each shot.
Multi-Pin Sight
Several fixed pins, each set for a distance — the fast, no-adjustment standard for hunting and 3D.
Sight Tape
A distance-marked strip on a slider sight whose spacing matches your arrow’s drop curve.
Peep Sight
A small ring in the bowstring you look through to the pin — the rear reference that makes a compound sight repeatable.
Kisser Button
A bead on the string that touches the lips at full draw — a tactile check that the anchor height is the same every shot.
Scope
The round housing on a target sight holding the reticle and usually a magnifying lens.
Fiber-Optic Pin
A sight pin whose glowing tip is the end of a light-gathering optical fibre; diameter sets the aiming dot size.
Second Axis
The sight’s roll about the line of sight — set so the bubble reads level when the bow is truly vertical.
Third Axis
The sight housing’s fore-aft tilt — calibrated so the bubble stays truthful on steep uphill and downhill shots.
X-Ring
The innermost ring of a target face, counted separately to break ties
Ten-Ring
The innermost scoring ring of a target face, worth 10 points
Vegas Face
A three-spot indoor target face shot at 20 yards in the Vegas round
NFAA Indoor Round
The NFAA's 60-arrow, 300-point indoor round shot at 20 yards
End
The group of arrows shot before archers go forward to score them
Round
A fixed format of arrows, distances and target faces with a known maximum score
WA Target Face
The World Archery ten-zone target face in five colours, from 40 to 122 cm
Barebow
Shooting a bow without a sight, aiming with the arrow itself
Traditional Archery
Shooting longbows and traditional recurves with the fingers and no sight
Indoor League
Weekly indoor competition nights where scores and standings build over a season
Target Panic
A learned breakdown of aiming and release where the shot fires early, freezes or will not go
Anchor Point
The fixed spot on the face where the drawing hand or string settles at full draw
Back Tension
Using the upper back muscles to hold and finish the draw, and the release aids named after it