Where do i fit in?
Recurve
Recurve or "Freestyle" Recurve is the shot with a combination of sights and stabilisers. It is only this style that is eligible for inclusion in the summer Olympic Games, so if the Olympic stage is your goal this is the class for you.
Compound
Compound or "Freestyle" Compound, like recurve is shot with sights and stabilisers but also permitted is the use of a mechanical release aid and a magnified sight lens and rear peep sight. A fiercely competitive class world over.
Barebow Recurve
The bow must be bare, except for the arrow rest, and free from sight marks, marks or blemishes or laminated pieces (within the bow window area) which could be of use in aiming. The un-braced bow, complete with permitted accessories must be capable of passing through a hole or ring of 12.2cm inside diameter
Crossbow
Although heavily regulated in Australia, periodically competitions and championships are held in Australia, through the Crossbow Committee or Archery Australia. Shot in either "Target" or "Sporting" configurations.
Ever wonder where you’ll fit in on the archery range when you first join your club? It is a little daunting isn’t it, the neatly dressed, middle-aged woman with a bow that looks like it belongs at the Olympics or the youngish bloke whose bow has more attachments, wheels, rods than the latest Transformers movie.
What if your bow doesn’t look like either of theirs? Never mind, chances are there is classification just for your style. Target archers are fortunate there are only 6 style classes Archery Australia recognises, unlike our friends at 3DAAA, you could be in any one of 12 different classifications (hence the reason for a two part article).
In this issue we will give you a brief rundown on which party to join and where you might end up should you buy yourself something a little different a few years down the track.
For a full breakdown, check Archery Australia's website for a full set of rules and regulations.
6 Paper&Rubber Magazine / February, 2013
Target Archery
Longbow
Think Robin Hood. The traditional understanding of a longbow suggest when strung, the string may not touch any other part of the bow except for the string nocks. In Australia, wooden and aluminium arrows are permitted, but no carbon.
Barebow Compound
As the name suggest, the bow is shot without sights or a release device. One short stabiliser is permitted. Arrows rest must be basic, typically the same that is used on a recurve bow. Barebow Compound is a class that is only recognised in Australia.