Archery Targets: Measuring Your Aiming Skills

Archery is one of the oldest albeit more popular target-hitting games. In recent history, the game has evolved to include several variations. Among these variations is a 3D game wherein participants aim at virtual targets.

An Offshoot from Man’s Hunting Days

The basic equipments in archery are the bows and arrows, although recent experience showed the waves of additional equipments such as bow holders and others. The main purpose is to ensure proper care for the different equipments used in the game. The game itself is an offshoot of man’s earliest practice of hunting food for survival, although the concept of the game does not involve live targets anymore.

Archery Targets

One of the more important equipments in archery is archery targets. Without archery targets, there would be no means by which one’s performance will be gauged. As such, different archery targets are fashioned to mirror the demands of the type of game played.

Archery Targets Based on Game Format

In modern archery competitions, different types of archery targets are used.

In common sporting competitions like the Olympics, archery targets are normally made of hardwood. The target is set on a stand at some distance from the archer. Depending on the competition, the distance ranges from 30-90 meters. The target board is marked with 10 equally spaced concentric rings with their assigned points. Depending on the competition format, although most utilize a format wherein the outer ring gains 1 point, the point progresses towards the center ring which is worth ten points. This target ring is sometimes called the x ring, and it serves as tiebreaker in case competitors tally the same scores. The archer with the most x rings wins.

In field archery, different targets are utilized. In archery competitions that mimic actual hunting trips, archery targets come in the form of animals. These “animals” are usually of canvas and cotton construction. The sides are painted with rings to mark as target, in a fashion similar to the one described above. In this type of competition, distances are uneven, aside from the fact that the terrain is also uneven, making aiming a complicated task. In some instances, the “animal” is painted black and the target is painted white.

Making Your Own Archery Target

For playing archery at home or in your neighborhood, you can also fashion your own archery targets. Doing so will give you a target that suits your liking, not to mention that it will save you a lot of money in the process. When you make your own archery targets, all you need are the following:

1. A rectangular target board that measure about 1m x 1.5m.

Depending on the range you want to hit archery targets, a larger board may be needed as the distance increases, although it is a good challenge to use smaller target boards.

2. A good and reliable stand for your target board.

Remember that archery targets are constantly bombarded by arrows flying at considerable speed. Therefore, it is a must that the support for the target board is sturdy.

3. Cloth, cotton, or canvas.

This will soften the impact arrows make on archery targets, making them withstand continuous usage. In so doing, cloth or cotton is placed on top of the board and wrapped in canvas. Then the rings are painted on the canvas to complete the archery targets.