Archery, explained properly
Archery Insider publishes research-based guides on choosing equipment, building consistent form, and understanding the specifications that actually matter. No hype, no invented testing, and a clear line between fact and opinion.
Find your style
Archery is several sports in one. Each discipline has its own bows, distances and rules, so the right equipment starts with knowing which one you want to shoot.
OlympicThe bow of the Olympic Games: a recurve with sight, stabilisers and clicker, shot with the fingers.
PrecisionCams, let-off, a magnifying scope and a release aid. Joins the Olympic programme at LA28 as a mixed team event.
InstinctiveRecurves with no sight or stabilisers, longbows and horsebows. Aim by the arrow point, string walking or instinct.
OutdoorsCourses through woods and hills at marked and unmarked distances, at printed faces or life-size foam animals.
ParalympicRecurve open, compound open and W1 classes, contested at the Paralympic Games and World Para Championships.
Field craftEthical hunting with compound, recurve or traditional bows, with broadheads, realistic practice and local regulations.
Featured
ReviewsResearch-based Bear Cruzer G3 review: 14–30 in draw, up to 70 lb, 75% let-off. Published specs, who it suits, and how it compares with the Diamond Infinite 305.
Archery Insider Editorial Team · Updated July 10, 2025 · 4 min read
ComparisonsCompound vs recurve bow compared: how each works, let-off and holding weight, aiming systems, competition formats, maintenance, hunting, and which suits you.
February 6, 2025 · 8 min read
ReviewsResearch-based Samick Sage review: the 62-inch takedown recurve's published specs, 25–60 lb limbs, who it suits, its limits, and how it compares with the.
Updated May 21, 2025 · 5 min read
GuidesHow to choose a first recurve bow: takedown vs one-piece, draw weight, bow length for your draw length, riser types, eye dominance, and essential accessories.
Updated February 6, 2025 · 11 min read
On the calendar
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Target · Para · Recurve & Compound
Lima, Peru
Target · Para · Recurve & Compound
Dakar, Senegal
Target · Youth · Recurve
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Target · Youth · Recurve & Compound
New to archery?
Work through these in order and you will avoid the mistakes that cost most beginners money: the wrong bow type, the wrong draw length, too much draw weight.
Recurve and compound suit different goals. Knowing the difference saves you from buying the wrong bow.
Compound vs recurve →Two minutes with a tape measure. It decides your bow length, arrow length and real draw weight.
How to measure draw length →Takedown or one-piece, draw weight, bow length and the accessories you actually need.
First recurve bow guide →Stance, anchor and release. Consistency beats draw weight every time.
The 11 steps of a good shot →Browse by equipment
Equipment hubs in five groups, from bows and arrows to targets and bowhunting gear. Each hub collects our guides, comparisons and product reviews for that piece of kit.
Recurve, compound, traditional, crossbow and youth bows.
Browse bows →
Sights, rests, stabilisers, strings, releases, quivers, cases.
Browse bow accessories →
Shafts, spine, fletching, nocks, points and broadheads.
Browse arrows & points →
Arm guards, tabs, gloves, chest guards and every type of target.
Browse protection & targets →
Bowhunting, bowfishing, tools and maintenance.
Browse hunting & specialty →Decide with confidence
Side-by-side explanations of the decisions that matter, built on published specifications rather than sales copy. Opinion is always labelled.
ComparisonsCrossbow vs compound bow compared: how each works, speed and energy, weight, holding and follow-up shots, accuracy, learning curve, hunting rules and costs.
August 12, 2026 · 5 min read
ReviewsResearch-based TruFire Edge Buckle Foldback review: caliper jaws, adjustable trigger travel and length, 360-degree head rotation, 4.8 oz, and who this.
July 8, 2026 · 4 min read
ReviewsBee Stinger Sport Hunter Xtreme review: 6, 8 and 10-inch carbon rods, Sims dampener, removable 1 oz weights, how to choose length and weight, and who it suits.
June 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Shoot better
TrainingA structured archery practice plan: arrows per session, warm-ups, 10 proven drills from blank bale to pressure games, weekly routines and a practice log.
March 20, 2025 · 7 min read
TrainingTarget panic explained: symptoms like freezing off target and snap shooting, what causes it, a self-test, and a step-by-step recovery plan for any bow.
February 19, 2025 · 8 min read
TrainingHow to string and unstring a recurve bow with a stringer, why step-through stringing twists limbs, post-stringing checks, brace height and string care.
Updated February 1, 2025 · 8 min read
Browse by type
Step-by-step archery guides for beginners: choosing a first bow, understanding draw weight and draw length, safety basics, and what gear you actually need.
6 articles
Archery technique and training articles covering stance, anchor point, release, aiming methods, practice routines, and fixing common form problems.
5 articles
Plain-English explanations of archery equipment: bows, arrows, sights, rests, stabilizers, releases, and accessories, and how to pick the right specifications.
0 articles
Research-based archery product reviews and buying guides that explain specifications, intended use, and trade-offs, clearly separating facts from opinion.
15 articles
Side-by-side archery comparisons: compound vs recurve, carbon vs aluminum arrows, and other decisions explained with the key differences that actually matter.
7 articles
Archery news and updates: competitions, rule changes, notable equipment releases, and developments in the sport.
22 articlesRecently published
News2026 Asian Games archery results from Okazaki: India won five golds including a first women's recurve team title and all three compound team events.
October 3, 2026 · 3 min read
NewsYankton 2026 World Field Championships results: Unruh, Kaufhold, Fullerton, Gibson and Italy's barebow archers won gold after heavy rain hit the courses.
Updated October 3, 2026 · 2 min read
NewsSaltillo 2026 World Cup Final results: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Marie Horáčková, Nico Wiener and Alexis Ruiz all won first titles; firsts for Austria and Czechia.
September 13, 2026 · 2 min read
NewsAntalya 2026 European Archery Championships results: Willem Bakker won recurve men; Emircan Haney and Hazal Burun won both compound titles for Türkiye.
May 24, 2026 · 2 min read
ComparisonsLongbow vs recurve compared: limb shape, draw feel, hand shock, speed, length, accessories, competition rules, hunting and which traditional bow suits you.
Updated September 30, 2026 · 6 min read
NewsJames 'Jimmy' Lutz shot 719 of 720 at the 2026 Gator Cup in Florida on 18 April 2026, beating Braden Gellenthien's 2016 compound world record of 718.
April 18, 2026 · 2 min read