Archery info
A short guide to target archery: how scoring works, the rounds we shoot, and how to track your progress.
How archery works
In target archery, you shoot arrows at a round target face from a set distance. You shoot your arrows in groups called ends: usually 6 arrows outdoors and 3 indoors. After each end, everyone walks to the target together to score and collect their arrows.
Each arrow scores points depending on where it lands. The gold in the centre scores the most. Add up all your arrows and you have your score for the day.
There are four main bow types: recurve, barebow, longbow and compound. Each bow type is scored and ranked separately, so you only compete against archers with the same kind of bow.
You don't need to know any of the rest of this page to enjoy shooting. It is here for when you want to track your progress: how rounds, handicaps, classifications and badges work.
Scoring
10-zone scoring is used on metric rounds and most indoor rounds. Each ring scores from 10 (inner gold) down to 1 (outer white).
5-zone scoring is used on imperial rounds. Each colour has one score: gold 9, red 7, blue 5, black 3, white 1.
Archery rounds
A round is a fixed number of arrows shot at set distances on a set target face. These are the rounds our members shoot most often.
Portsmouth (indoor)
60 arrows at 20 yards on a 60 cm face, with 10-zone scoring. The maximum score is 600. This is the round for Portsmouth badges.
National (outdoor, imperial)
4 dozen arrows at 60 yards, then 2 dozen at 50 yards, on a 122 cm face with 5-zone scoring. The maximum score is 648.
Western (outdoor, imperial)
4 dozen arrows at 60 yards, then 4 dozen at 50 yards, on a 122 cm face with 5-zone scoring. The maximum score is 864.
National and Western rounds also come in shorter versions:
| Round | Distances |
|---|---|
| Long National, Long Western | 80 and 60 yards |
| National, Western | 60 and 50 yards |
| National 50, Western 50 | 50 and 40 yards |
| National 40, Western 40 | 40 and 30 yards |
| National 30, Western 30 | 30 and 20 yards |
Metric rounds (outdoor)
3 dozen arrows at each of four distances, 144 arrows in total, with 10-zone scoring. The two longer distances are shot on a 122 cm face and the two shorter distances on an 80 cm face. The maximum score is 1440.
| Round | Distances |
|---|---|
| Metric I | 70, 60, 50 and 30 metres |
| Metric II | 60, 50, 40 and 30 metres |
| Metric III | 50, 40, 30 and 20 metres |
| Metric IV | 40, 30, 20 and 10 metres |
| Metric V | 30, 20, 15 and 10 metres |
How handicaps work
Your handicap is a measure of how well you've shot, regardless of the round, the distances or the number of arrows. It runs from 0 (the best) to 150 (just getting started). It's a logarithmic scale: each 1-point reduction means shooting about 3.5% more accurately.
Every archer gets a handicap, much like in golf. It starts as the average of your first three rounds, rounded down to a whole number. After that, if you shoot better than your handicap it's lowered to the midpoint between your current handicap and the round just shot (rounded down); if you shoot worse, it stays the same. Scores count for handicaps when they are shot at a club target day or a competition. There are separate handicaps for indoors and outdoors, and for each bow type.
At the end of each season, your handicap is reset to the average of your three best handicaps that season, rounded down. This can be higher or lower than the handicap you finished the season with. The outdoor season ends on 31 December and the indoor season on 30 June.
Handicaps are used in some competitions so everyone has an equal chance of winning. In a handicap event, an adjustment based on your handicap is added to your score, and higher (worse) handicaps get a larger adjustment. Shoot a round at exactly your current handicap and you'll finish on 1440.
Classifications
Classifications begin at Archer tier (3rd, 2nd and 1st class), progress to Bowman tier (3rd, 2nd and 1st class), and finish in the Master Bowman tier: Master Bowman (MB), then Grand Master Bowman (GMB), and outdoors only, Elite Master Bowman (EMB). Indoor classifications use the same names with "Indoor" in front, for example Indoor Bowman 2nd Class.
To earn a classification, you need qualifying scores in one season from rounds that add up to a set number of arrows. Outdoors, that is 12 dozen arrows for Archer tier, 18 dozen for Bowman tier and 36 dozen for Master Bowman tier. Indoors, it is 10 dozen for Archer tier and 15 dozen for the Bowman and Master Bowman tiers.
Archer tier scores can come from practice. Bowman tier scores must be shot at a club target day or a competition. Master Bowman tier scores must be shot at a UK record-status competition or an event run by Archery GB or World Archery.
Scores are based on handicap levels, so a given classification takes the same skill whatever round you shoot. Scores differ for bow types, ages and genders.
Classification tables (ArcheryGeekery)Badges
Badges are awarded for classifications, both indoors and outdoors. Archer and Bowman tier badges are awarded at club level. Master Bowman tier badges are awarded by Archery GB outdoors, and at club level indoors.
Portsmouth badges (indoor)
Start at a score of 500 for seniors, and 300 for juniors, longbows and barebows. One qualifying score on a Portsmouth round earns the badge. They then rise in 25-point steps to 575, and in 5-point steps to the maximum score of 600.
252 badges (outdoor, or indoor at 20 yards)
You need a qualifying score twice, on different days, using imperial 5-zone scoring on a 122 cm face, with the day's first 3 dozen arrows shot at the chosen distance. Distances range from 20 to 100 yards. The qualifying score is 252 for recurve, 189 for barebow, 164 for longbow and 280 for compound. These arrows can be part of a normal round. For example, shoot a National 50 to go for the 50-yard badge.
If you shoot a 252, highlight it on your score sheet for your first and second scores, and let the records officer know.
Progress awards
Archery GB's Progress Awards Scheme is a good first goal after your beginner's course. It is open to archers of all ages and bow types. There are five badges to earn, white, black, blue, red and gold, with separate badges for indoors and outdoors. You can earn them in any order.
For each badge you need three qualifying scores. Each score is 36 arrows shot in one session, after six sighter arrows. The distance and score you need depend on your age group and the badge colour. Ask a committee member or another archer to countersign your score sheet.
Archery GB Progress Awards SchemeClub scores & records
Members can view recorded scores, handicaps and club records on our scores site.
View club scores