Thousands of archers and their families love the sport and challenge of archery and use Olympic archery bow as their preferred tool. They can also be used in target, indoor, field, and 3D archery, besides being used in the Olympics. This article will answer all your questions about Olympic archery bows and what makes them so unique.
The Olympic history of archery
There is a long history of archery in the Olympics. It was first introduced in 1900 and was part of the 1904, 1908, and 1920 games. However, it was dropped in 1930 because the sport had too many variations. To standardize archery and get it back into the Olympics, the World Archery Organization was formed in 1931.
The tournament was won in 1972 when archery returned to the Olympics for the first time in almost 40 years. Since then, it has grown tremendously and has become one of the most recognizable Olympic events. The tournament is an elimination-style match, with archers using the correct equipment. Today, there are specific rules that must be followed.
Rules for Olympic Archery
The qualifying phase of a competition consists of 72 arrow shots. Rankings are determined by the total score of archers in the match play phase, where archers face off against each other. The competition proceeds to the next phase, during which a best-of-five format determines the winner. An arrow’s landing position on the target determines its score. Each ten-scoring ring is divided into five colors, and each target is around four feet wide. There are the most points for the inner color of gold. You get fewer points the further out you are. Ideally, it would be best to hit the target’s center.
Olympic Archery Target Distance
Olympic archery events require archers to shoot a distance of 70 meters (about 76 yards). The distance is much greater than most people realize. The highest-scoring parts of a target at this distance require a great deal of practice and skill. A recurve bow shoots more accurately than a compound bow at this range, so it is pretty impressive for athletes to do so.
Poundage of Olympic Archery Bows
The average draw weight of recurve bows used in the Olympics varies from archer to archer because of the draw length. Men have an average pull of 46 to 52 pounds, but the most popular pull is 48 to 50 pounds. Women will generally pull 26 to 35 pounds, with 33 pounds being the average.
Price of Olympic Archery Bows
In most cases, Olympic archery bows are purchased as two pieces: the riser and the limbs. Risers are priced from $150 to $1000. Prices for limbs can range from $100 to $1200. A higher price reflects a higher quality of parts and equipment, so the more you spend, the better you’ll get. It depends on your preferences whether or not an Olympic archery bow costs a lot or a little.
An Anatomy of Olympic Archery Bow
A recurve bow is used in Olympic archery competitions. The majority of bows are ILF bows. A universal riser and limb matching system allows you to match risers and limbs. Mixing and matching different risers and limbs with ILF bows is easy, which has quickly proven to be the most popular option. As a result, they can customize and improve their performance much more.
Riser Of The Bow
Each part of the bow attaches to the central portion of the riser. A riser contains essential components of the bow, such as the grip and the shelf for the arrow. Besides attachment points, it has mounting points for sights, stabilizers, and rests. In addition, the bow’s limbs are bolted to the riser on both sides. The risers of Olympic bows are generally made of high-quality aluminum.
Limbs Of The Bow
The top and bottom planks of the riser are called limbs. A bow’s arrow is propelled forward by kinetic energy stored in these elements. Bows also have limbs that determine their strength and draw weight. Swapping out limbs with ILF limbs and risers is simple and easy. Composites of fiberglass and carbon are generally used to make limbs.
Sight For The Bow
A sight is a simple device that is attached to the riser of the bow and helps the shooter in aiming. By using the sight pin as a aiming reference, archers can make more consistent shots on the target. A bow sight is often attached to the riser of a bow and is generally mounted on the front. In most cases, the sight pin can be adjusted to fit the archer’s target distance. Furthermore, the sight has an aperture that can be adjusted to block out the background of the target. In order to aim more precisely and consistently, the archer needs a sight.
The Arrow Rest
Bow risers also have arrow rests for holding arrows, which attach to the risers. Archers draw bowstrings back as they draw back their bowstrings. Metal or plastic is usually used to make them. A plunger-style rest is generally used on Olympic archery bows. The arrow rest is connected to a riser by a small cylinder. The arrow shaft makes contact with the spring and tip of the arrow. Doing so helps the arrow set the center shot and absorb flex and imperfections as it moves. Plunger-style arrow rests are the best option for bow shots without release aids and with fingers.
The Clicker
An archer uses a clicker attached to the bow’s riser to achieve a consistent draw length. Upon reaching the appropriate draw length, it passes over the end of the arrow, causing an audible “click.”. If an archer can achieve the same draw length every time, they can get more consistent shots.This is especially useful for archers who shoot multiple arrows in a short amount of time. The clicker also ensures that the archer is drawing the bowstring to their maximum draw length, which is essential for accuracy.
Stabilizer of A Bow
A stabilizer serves two purposes on a bow. The first benefit is that it absorbs the vibration and shock of a shot. In addition, it enhances bow stability while shooting, as the name implies. This component is attached to the riser and can come in various styles and components. An entire stabilizer system is typically used in Olympic bows. The set consists of a long rod, a short rod, weights, and a v-bar. For stability and balance to be achieved, these components must work together. Adding more vibration dampeners for even more excellent absorption is also possible.
The kisser button
Kisser buttons are usually attached to bowstrings. You can get more consistent shooting with them because they align between your lips. Archers may choose to use a kisser button for various reasons, and it is entirely up to them if they want to.
Dampener For Vibration
Vibration dampeners are often added to Olympic bows to reduce shock and vibrations during shooting. There are a variety of different styles of bow dampeners. There is no limit to the number of string, limb, and riser holes you can add. However, most of them are added to stabilizers.
Accessories for The Olympic Archery Bow
Tab for Finger
Leather finger tabs prevent your fingers from getting pinched while pulling on the bowstring. Additionally, they provide a smoother surface for releasing the bowstring consistently. When you shoot for long periods, finger tabs can also help you avoid fatigue and pain.
Fingers Sling
The reason Olympic archers drop their bow after shooting is often a mystery to many people. They aim to avoid hand torque and barely hold their bows when shooting. The bow moves forward at the shot and drops out of their hand. A finger sling is often used to prevent the bow from falling to the ground. It consists of a short piece of material or rope that wraps around the bow and attaches at either end to the hand. The bow is caught and prevented from falling to the ground after being shot with it.
Chest Protector
A chest protector is a piece of equipment worn by archers over their shoulders and across their chests. As their name suggests, these are designed to protect your chest while shooting. Having your chest slapped by a bowstring for the first time makes you realize how beneficial a chest protector is. In addition, they prevent loose clothing from getting in the way of the bowstring.
A Guard for the Arms
The function of an arm guard is similar to that of a chest protector. During a shot, it prevents your arm from being slapped by the bowstring. Archers may improve their accuracy by wearing long-sleeved shirts to avoid getting in front of the string.
Conclusions
Since the Olympics have been involved in archery for several decades, we have seen a considerable improvement in the quality of Olympic bows. Thanks to modern technology, there might be a few differences between now and then, but these recurve bows are still the tool of choice for thousands of archers worldwide, even though they look slightly different now. As an excellent piece of archery gear, these bows can offer some fantastic accuracy and results in archery.