Modern archery equipment is made from wood, fiberglass and graphite or carbon composites. Technological advances have led to the introduction of high-tech add-ons designed to boost the archer's accuracy, but, the Archery Techniques website advises, you should always choose equipment based on what you will be using it for, "not how it looks."
Considerations
The type of equipment you need is governed first and foremost by the type of archery you intend to practice. Further choices then revolve around your technical ability, physical build and whether you are a right-handed or left-handed archer. The range of equipment available is vast, so it's advisable to seek the advice of experts through a local archery club or specialist retailer to help determine the most suitable choices for you.
Sport
There are two main competitive forms of archery: target archery and field archery.
Target archery is the Olympic form of the sport, the Archery GB website explains, and involves shooting a set number of arrows at targets positioned at set distances. Field archery takes place on a course of targets set out in rough terrain or in woodland. The target distances are generally unmarked, so this form of archery requires an element of judgment and instinct.
Essentials
The basic equipment requirements to get started in archery are a bow, some arrows and a quiver to keep them in. In Olympic competition, the only permitted style of bow is the recurve, according to the Archery World website; there are no style restrictions in field archery, with archers free to use recurve, compound or traditional styles of bow. The recurve bow is the most commonly used, with options available to suit all abilities and budgets. Compound bows are the newest style of bow, designed with cams to make drawing the bow easier; traditional bows include English longbows, American flatbows and Japanese Kyudo bows, representing archery in its simplest form. The style of bow you use dictates the style of arrow you need. The arrows designed for use with recurve bows are made of aluminum or carbon graphite; arrows for traditional bows are made from wood.
Sizing
Bows come in different lengths; your height will determine the correct size of bow for you. Bow retailers use standardized charts as a guide; for example, if you are under 5 feet, 6 inches, you will need a 64-inch bow, while if you are over 6 feet, you will need a 68-inch bow. Arrows also come in a variety of lengths, and the size you need depends on your bow size and your draw weight. There are no set methods of measuring your draw weight, as this is determined by technique more than strength --- meaning an element of trial and error is required. For your own safety, assessing your current draw weight is best done in a club environment.
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