An Ancient Ritual Meets Modern Precision Waxing the bowstring—an age-old ritual passed down through generations of archers. It’s often treated like a sacred rite, but is it truly necessary in the age of advanced synthetic materials? And if so, how often, how much, and what kind of wax should we use? Let’s unravel the truth about waxing and whether it’s saving your string—or smothering it. If you're uncertain, don’t worry—every archery club has at least one “string maintenance nerd” who is more than happy to share their opinions (and possibly their favourite type of wax). The Purpose of Waxing: What’s It Really For? At its core, waxing a...

Archery isn’t just about strength and precision; it’s also a symphony of scientific forces at play. In this article, we’ll explore the physics behind every shot—explained simply, so anyone can follow along and appreciate the magic behind the bow and arrow. 1. The Orchestra of Forces: What Happens When You Draw and Release When you pull back the bowstring, you’re storing energy in the bow’s limbs like stretching a rubber band. This stored energy is called potential energy. The moment you release the string, that energy begins to transform into kinetic energy, sending the arrow flying. Push and pull in harmony: When you draw the bowstring,...

When it comes to competitive sports, athletes constantly seek ways to enhance their performance, endurance, and recovery. While proper nutrition forms the foundation of athletic success, dietary supplements often appear as an enticing shortcut to faster results. However, the world of supplements comes with its own set of challenges and risks, especially in the competitive arena. This article explores the role of supplements, their potential benefits, and the dangers athletes face when competing. The Role of Nutrition in Competitive Sports For any athlete, nutrition is paramount. A well-balanced diet tailored to the demands of their sport...

Whether you’re running, lifting weights, or honing your aim with archery, the food you eat plays a vital role in powering your performance, supporting development, and aiding recovery. The Swedish Plate Model, combined with national dietary guidelines, provides an excellent framework to ensure your body gets everything it needs. Here’s how you can adapt this method to support an active lifestyle. The Swedish Plate Model: A Guide to Balance The Swedish Plate Model is a simple principle that divides your meal into three sections: Protein-rich foods: Sources like chicken, fish, eggs, legumes, or dairy products fill one-third of the plate....

Its now in the middle of january and it's time to start with some physical training. The holidays are over and a whole new year filled with archery awaits.  The Bow Beyond the Range Training for archery is about more than just improving your aim or pulling a heavier bowstring. It’s a practice that strengthens not only your muscles but also your connection to your body and the world around you. Archery demands a unique combination of strength, balance, and focus—qualities that resonate far beyond the target. When you engage in physical training tailored to archery, you’re not just preparing for the next shot; you’re cultivating a sense of...

At first glance, archery and ballet seem worlds apart. One conjures images of a taut bowstring and the steely gaze of an archer; the other evokes visions of graceful leaps and twirls on a stage. But beneath the surface lies a shared language of discipline, balance, and artistry. Both pursuits demand not just skill but also an unyielding dedication to form, focus, and the flow of energy. Could an archer learn from a ballerina? Absolutely—and the lessons are as surprising as they are enlightening. Lesson 1: Mastery of Balance Ballet is a study in balance. Dancers cultivate an almost superhuman ability to control their centre of gravity,...

As the snow settles and the Christmas lights twinkle, we hope this list of archery-themed marvels has brought a hearty chuckle to your day. From glow-in-the-dark arrows to Sasquatch targets, hoverboards, and Viking longships, it’s safe to say that we’ve ventured boldly into the absurd, with a quiver full of imagination and a bow strung with whimsy. But before you rush to pre-order your Gucci archery glove or Viking ship, let us assure you: none of these products actually exist (yet). While the world may not yet be ready for a hot tub shaped like a target, we believe that dreaming big is what the spirit of archery—and the holidays—is all...

When you’re learning archery, it’s easy to think there’s one “right” way to do everything. Many coaches teach specific systems, like the National Training System or the Korean style, and they often insist you stick to just one. While these systems can be helpful, here’s a little secret: you don’t have to follow just one to become an amazing archer. In fact, the best archers often mix and match different techniques to find what works for them. Why? Because every archer is unique! Your body, your mindset, and even the way you think about aiming and shooting are different from anyone else’s. Let’s explore why finding your own style is the key...

How many movies have you seen that feature some form of archery? Chances are, quite a few! And admit it—haven’t you sometimes wondered if those incredible shots are actually possible, or if they’re just Hollywood magic? How realistic are those scenes, and do they hold up under scrutiny? The YouTube channel Insider has put together a fascinating video featuring instinctive archer Grizzly Jim, who breaks down a wide variety of archery scenes from popular films. If you’re into archery, you’ve probably come across Grizzly Jim in one of Merlin Archery’s many instructional videos. Now, you can check out his own channel by clicking here. Don’t...

How important is the bowstring to your bow? Without a string, a bow simply doesn’t work. It is the most vital part of your bow. Perhaps that’s why there’s so much to ask and learn about it. When it comes to bowstrings, there are many common questions that arise from both beginners and experienced archers. Instead of writing a lengthy and detailed explanation about everything related to a bowstring, we’ll focus on answering the most frequently asked questions here. We also want to mention that for this article, we’ve excluded the compound bow, as it is more complicated and requires additional expertise to repair or replace the string. We...

If someone were to claim that archery is not a gear sport, we would likely have to disagree. In our world, there are countless more or less essential items, and we’re always looking for new and better things. Our bow cases often overflow with more or less useful items. Everything from pure survival gear to food, furniture, tools, and spare parts. A few archers only bring their protection gear, quiver, bow, and arrows when heading out, at best, and often have to ask for help from others. Meeting in the middle would probably be the ideal. That’s why we’re starting with a list of 10 things that can be invaluable. Of course, there are more...

That Sweden is a leading nation in Biathlon is no news to anyone. We have long been incredibly successful, with big names in the sport today, such as Hanna Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson, or historically, of course, Björn Ferry and Magdalena Forsberg. So why don’t we also participate in the sport of Ski Archery? And, most importantly, what is it? Ski Archery is much older than traditional biathlon with rifles. The earliest depictions we can find of ski archery come from Scandinavia, specifically Norway. Paintings by the artist Claus Magnus show several ski archers carrying and shooting with short recurve bows. The work is from the 1540s and...

It's a question that many ask, and just as many take for granted that all that's needed is to stand on the shooting line and shoot a few arrows. Because it's pretty easy, right? No, it's not, and it's not so easy to answer the question simply either. Of course, it depends on whether you are a competitive archer or a recreational archer. To begin with, the weight you pull when training is quite substantial. It does depend a little on whether you shoot indoors or outdoors, sometimes, depending on the bow strength. Often, archers reason that indoors you don't need as heavy a bow. But quite a few who compete at an elite level also often use the...

Now that not only competitions are canceled, but even indoor training, it can be nice to have something to do. Make some of your own gear with paracord. A few years ago, it became trendy to make bracelets out of paracord. It was both fun and creative, and you didn’t need an engineering degree to manage it. It's an art that has somewhat fallen out of style. But if we mix archery into it today, there are plenty of fun things you can learn to make. If you don’t feel like making them yourself, Miranda sells handmade straps, bands, and slings via arcrez: https://www.arcrez.se/sale.php However, if you feel like crafting a bit yourself, we really...

If there's anyone who understands physical training, it's the British Olympic medalist and diver Tom Daley. Tom Daley blogs and shares incredibly generously about his life as an elite athlete and serves as a role model for juniors and even seniors around the world. He has two Olympic medals and numerous World Championship medals. To date, he has won a total of 46 championship golds, both nationally and internationally. He is now 26 years old and is training for his fourth Olympics. On his YouTube channel, he regularly posts everything from diaries and training videos to cooking tips and insights into his life as an elite athlete and parent...

Since many clubs in the country now have canceled training sessions, it often means the bow gets to rest on the shelf. However, that doesn’t mean archery itself has to sit next to it on the shelf. When you can no longer stand on the shooting line chatting with friends and practicing technique, you can instead cozy up on the couch under a blanket with a warm cup of your favorite drink and watch plenty of archery through all the available media channels. Here, we want to share a clip of Gil Hubbs, filmed by Jim Easton and Björn Bengtsson, from the World Championships in Västerås in 1965.  

A topic that is often spoken about too quietly, ignored, or overlooked—but sometimes also discussed incorrectly. A subject that is natural, yet often misunderstood or even misinterpreted. That scary thing. The dark side of archery: "Gold Fear" or "Target Panic." Let’s take a closer look. All too often, people say, “Don’t talk about it, or you’ll get it,” but sometimes, talking about it is exactly what’s needed. The key with Gold Fear, or Target Panic, is understanding. Never say, “I’m too afraid to talk about Gold Fear or Target Panic.” Dare to talk about it, because daring to face it will lead to understanding. Incorporate it into your...

Does your bow make a lot of noise when you release an arrow? There are countless reasons why a bow might be noisy, and, more importantly, there are different solutions depending on the type of bow you have. If you’re planning to compete, there are also several rules to consider. Competition Rules: Longbow: String silencers are allowed but must not be placed closer than 30 cm from the nocking point. Limb dampeners are not allowed. Instinctive: String silencers are allowed but must not be placed closer than 30 cm from the nocking point. Limb dampeners are allowed. Barebow: The string may only have a center serving and two nocking points—no...

Many archers know what the "T-position" is, but many forget that it's not just the top part that should be aligned during upright shooting. People often overlook the middle of the "T" and either lean forward or backward during the draw and anchor. World Archery, with the help of Sjef van den Berg, has published a short and simple video showing what a balanced basic stance can look like.  

When it comes to archery competitions, many questions arise. Sure, you could refer to the rulebook, which spans hundreds of pages, but that’s not very practical or helpful for beginners. Instead, we’ve compiled answers to some frequently asked questions. Can anyone compete? Absolutely! The only requirement is a competition license, which you can obtain through your archery club. However, some competitions, like “Korren,” don’t require a license. What is a competition license? A competition license is a type of course offered by your club. It teaches you basic rules, shooting signals, and safety guidelines. The cost of a license varies...

Since this web page is in English, but it's written by a Swedish person you might want to know what we call different things here in Sweden. The list below shows the most common words from the archery world in Swedish, with the english translation beside it.    A Ankarpunkt - Anchor point Armskydd - Arm-guard eller Bracer Att försöka skjuta så långt man kan - Flight shooting Att släppa pilen - Release eller Loose Att sätta strängen på en båge - Bracing B Blanspunkten i en pil med spets - F.O.C (Front of center) Barebow - Barebow Barskaft - Bare shaft Bröstskydd - Chest guard Butt - Butt eller Boss Bågmakare - Bowyer Bågsträng - Bow...

As you can see, we occasionally shoot at flying targets using our machine from ArcTrap. However, it works just as well to have someone act as a thrower during shooting sessions without a machine. Regardless of whether you have a machine or a friend throwing the targets, you need one more thing: arrows that don’t travel too far. When shooting at flying targets, your bow is angled in such a way that it’s entirely possible for a regular arrow to travel about 200 meters. This can create numerous issues. Firstly, it’s a hassle to retrieve the arrows (although they are usually easy to find as they almost always stick straight up out of the...

Something you'll quickly learn as an archer is that bowstrings are consumable items. They wear out in various ways, such as in the string itself, the string ends, and the serving (the middle wrapping). The serving is something you'll likely replace more often than the entire string, but here we’ll focus on constructing the string itself. A Flemish string, which has a braided appearance, is often used for longbows and hunting recurves. The type with looped ends is called an endless-loop string and is commonly used for bows like barebows. To make your own Flemish string, you'll need a string jig. You can easily build one yourself (they are...

Sometimes we forget to have fun. The seriousness of the sport we’re involved in can take over, turning it into a chore, a necessary evil filled with performance demands that no one can sustain. It’s at these moments that we need to step back and reconnect with the child within us. We need to rediscover the joy and excitement that led us to pick up a bow and arrow in the first place. The key is finding balance. We need to blend seriousness, a competitive spirit, a love for the sport, and most importantly, fun. If we want to improve, we can’t neglect any of these aspects. The mix may differ from person to person, but one thing is constant:...

Learning to shoot instinctively with precision is probably one of the most challenging skills to master. It requires a lot of practice, and you’ll need to shoot countless arrows before you truly excel. However, the reward is immense. When you reach that level, being able to simply look at your target, let your body do what it needs to do, and succeed—it’s an incredible feeling. The process is all about repetition, training your body so thoroughly that it starts to act automatically. Of course, you still need to stay focused and practice consistently to maintain your form, but the key is to focus solely on the target and let your body handle...

There are many different ways to set up nocking points, but the method used by Dutch national team archer Steve Wijler is genuinely simple. Many members of our club use this technique for their nocking points, and it works perfectly. While they aren't adjustable, they also don't shift over time as adjustable ones sometimes can. Check out the video from the "Triple Trouble" channel to see how it's done.