Archery equipment differs depending on the type of archery practiced. Archers may participate in classical archery or traditional archery. Archery clubs practice one or more forms of archery, including field, target and 3-D archery. The equipment differs among the various forms and different countries have more variations in archery equipment. Organizations such as USA Archery, the National Field Archery Association and the International Archery Federation designate official equipment for use in tournaments.
Bows
Bow types include recurve bows, longbows and compound bows. Bows include the bowstrings, servings and accessories such as stabilizers, string guides, quivers, sights and levels. One classical archery form uses a straight wooden bow that is unstrung when not in use to prevent damage, according to Tennessee Technological University. Target archery bows are made of elastic materials -- such as laminated wood or fiberglass -- and held drawn and bent by an attached bowstring.
Arrows
Arrows include the shaft, head, fletching and nock. Rigid metal-tipped arrows used in traditional archery are made of wood decorated with colored rings to indicate the owner, according to the Georgia 3-H Club. Target archery arrows are made of carbon or aluminum carbon compound. Fletches, which are attached to the arrows, are feathers made of plastic or they may be real feathers.
Shooting Accessories
Most shooting accessories or aids are used for protection. Shooting gloves and tabs are used on the archer's string hand to prevent pinching and other injuries. Gloves also are worn on the bow hand. Other protective equipment includes bow slings, arm guards and chest protectors. Release aids are used in some competitions.
Target
The targets used in different archery forms vary. The FITA round target, which is the official target of the International Archery Federation, has 10 equal scoring rings painted on its face. The rings are scored 10 to one, beginning with the innermost ring and moving outwards, according to the Georgia 4-H Club. Archers who participate in the 3-D form of the sport must wear special visual aids to see the scoring areas on the targets. The field archery round target varies depending on the size of the course.
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