Archery for beginners: recurve, compound, barebow or longbow, and how to start
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Archery looks simple from the outside: pull the string back, let go, hit the middle. In practice it is a quiet, technical sport that rewards patience, and almost anyone can take it up, whatever their age or fitness. This guide explains the main kinds of bow you will meet and the sensible way to get started, which is nearly always a beginners' course at a club.
The four bow styles you will hear about
- Recurve: the bow used at the Olympics. The limb tips curve away from the archer, which stores more energy than a straight limb. A competition recurve carries a sight, a long stabiliser rod and a few other accessories, but beginners usually start with a plain, light club bow.
- Compound: a bow with wheels or cams at the ends of the limbs. The cams "let off" near full draw, so you hold far less weight than you pulled. Compound archers normally use a magnifying sight and a mechanical release aid rather than their fingers. It is very accurate and very equipment-heavy.
- Barebow: a recurve with no sight and minimal accessories. You aim using the arrow point and techniques such as string walking or face walking. Many people find it the most satisfying "instinctive" style while still being competitive.
- Longbow: a traditional single-piece bow, usually wooden, with no shelf for the arrow and no sight. It is slower and less forgiving, and people shoot it for the history and the feel as much as the score.
Most clubs teach beginners on a simple recurve because it teaches good form and is cheap for the club to supply. Once you have the basics you can move to any style; plenty of archers try several.
Why start with a course, not a bow
It is tempting to buy a bow online and practise in the garden. Please do not. A bow is a weapon that can kill, gardens are rarely safe backstops, and a missed arrow can travel a long way. Beyond safety, a course gives you:
- Equipment that fits, borrowed, so you do not buy the wrong draw weight or arrows.
- Coaching from the first arrow, before bad habits set in.
- Insurance and range access, which you would need anyway.
- A route into a club, which is where you will actually shoot week to week.
Beginners' courses in the UK
In the UK, clubs affiliated to Archery GB, the national governing body, run beginners' courses taught by qualified coaches. Archery GB's website has a club finder to locate your nearest one. Courses are usually group sessions spread over several weeks and cover the equipment, shooting technique, and safety and etiquette on the range. Equipment is normally provided and participants are insured during the sessions.
At the end of a course the club will usually invite you to join, and joining a club normally makes you a member of Archery GB as well. Popular clubs can have waiting lists, and some limit courses by age or postcode, so check the details and book early.
Elsewhere, look for your country's national archery federation; most have a club finder and a recognised beginners' programme. Short "have a go" sessions at activity centres are a fun taster, but they are not a substitute for a proper course if you want to keep shooting.
What to wear and bring
- Close-fitting clothes with no loose sleeves, hoods or drawstrings on the chest that the string could catch.
- Flat, closed-toe shoes; you will walk across grass to collect arrows.
- Tie back long hair, and remove dangly earrings or chest-pocket items on the bow side.
- A water bottle, and layers if you shoot outdoors.
The club lends the bow, arrows, arm guard, finger tab and quiver.
What progress looks like
Early on you will shoot at short distances, often around 10 to 20 metres, at large faces. Groups wander, and that is normal. Over weeks the arrows cluster, and you start to understand that archery is about repeating the same shot, not chasing the gold. Do not rush to buy kit: shoot club equipment for a while, ask your coach, and buy only when you know which style you enjoy.
Which style are you drawn to, or which club did you start at? Share your questions and first-arrow stories in the comments below.