17 Types of Archery: a Comprehensive Overview

You might be surprised of how many types of archery exist, and that the sport itself is multifaceted and complex. Archery can have many styles, it can be serious, or, just for fun. It could be competitive, meditative, or even used for survival. The style of archery that you do will dictate the equipment that you need.

If you are interested in trying any of these types of archery, be reassured that they are all beginner-friendly. However, some types of archery are easier and require less expense to get into as a beginner than others. If you’ve been curious to find out more about the different types of archery, read on for archery style descriptions and recommendations on how to get started.

Most common types of archery

This list is in no particular order.

Target Archery

This is the starting place for many archers as it is the most common type of archery. I started with target archery during my university days. It involves setting up and then shooting at stationary circular targets at measured distances. It can be indoors or outdoors and very fun. It’s relatively easy to set up and it doesn’t require an excessive amount of equipment to begin, which makes it accessible to most.

It might be simple to start but there are many nuances to target archery—making it the type of archery competed in at the Olympics. So, it’s not just for beginners.

Any bow can be used in target archery, specially if you are just practicing and learning. The most popular types include the compound, recurve, and traditional bows. For competitions, there will be less options as clubs and organizations decide which types of bows they will allow . For example only the recurve bow is allowed for target archery at the Olympics. The arrows you should use depend on the kind of bow you are using. Read this other article about arrows (LINK) to find the ideals ones for your bow and archery style.

Equipment needed: Compound, recurve, crossbow or traditional bow, arrows, targets

Running Archery

Athletes compete at this style of archery in the Olympics. Archers must run a race that has archery targets at different stations. It is less common than target archery since it requires more physical space.

What is needed: light and comfortable to carry bow like a compound or recurve bow, arrows, mobile quiver, targets and an area for running.

Ski Archery

This type is similar to running archery but instead of running, the competitors must cross-country ski with their bows in their backs and shoot at various targets, like biathalon, but with a bow instead of a rifle. It is even less common than running archery since this is an outdoor winter sport.

Equipment needed: Same as running archery, plus cross-country skiing equipment.

Clout Archery

Clout archery is unique because the target is horizontal instead of vertical. The short colorful flag (1.5 feet or less) sticks from the ground. To score you must measure the distance from your arrow to the clout center (the flag) using the concentric circles around it – reminiscent of bullseye targets. Clout archery challenges participants to shoot their arrow in an arc trying to have it come down vertically as close to the flag as possible. Clout archery is a fun and challenging way to perfect your skill set, or build on your target archery abilities.

Archers can use a recurve bow, traditional recurve, longbow, compound bow or crossbow — World Archery only allows recurve and compound bow, so some clubs will go with that.

Equipment needed: any type of bow (for fun) or check what bows are allowed if going to competitions, arrows, flags, measuring tape and a big outdoors area

Field Archery

Field archery is like target archery, in that it involves using a bow and arrows to shoot at stationary targets. However, you must walk along a course in the woods and shoot these targets.  Enthusiasts must overcome the challenge of shooting on and over uneven terrain since targets can be at odd angles, on hillsides and behind natural objects. It gives an interesting and natural taste to target archery. This environment also lends well to instinctive shooting which is done by not using any sights.

Equipment needed: compound, recurve, crossbow or traditional bows, arrows and a mobile quiver.

3D Archery

Just beyond field archery is 3D Archery.  Similarly, archers shoot at targets along a course. But this time—instead of traditional circular, colorful targets, they are typically animal-shaped, and like the name suggests—three dimensional. Ideal to transition to bowhunting, as it gives its participants the ability to envision targeting real animals making it a good lead up to bowhunting.

Equipment needed: Compound or recurve bows are most often used, but some prefer the feel of a longbow here, too. Archers might be able to use a crossbow, depending on the regulations of the location’s authorities.

Bowhunting

If you are a hunting enthusiast, bowhunting may be the type of archery for you. Just like regular hunting in blinds, bowhunters must set up their equipment and then wait for their prey—deer, or rabbit, most often—to come into their sight line. The ability to remain quiet for long periods of time can be a skill as difficult to master as managing the bow and arrows. And, if you prefer the water to the woods—an offshoot of bowhunting on the water is known as Bow Fishing.

Equipment needed: compound and recurve bows are the most popular but you can also shoot a crossbow if it’s legal, depending on the location there might be minimum draw weight or arrow length , Check here for USA states, sight, bow string silencer and arrows.

Flight Archery

In flight archery the aim is to shoot as far as possible, nothing more. The archer shoots from behind the starting line and then measures the distance from that line to the arrow in a straight line.  This type of archery is the simplest of them all, yet is not the most popular.

Equipment needed: There are specialized flight bows and foot bows that are commonly used. However other bows (recurve, longbows, flatbows, and compound bows) may also be adequate.

Traditional Archery

Traditional archery is as it sounds—all the fun and skill needed for using a bow and arrows, but without any modern gear. Participants here eschew stabilizers, or other technological advances. Instead, the focus is solely on the basics and fundamentals of archery. Archers practice this type of archery while doing bowhunting, for target archery, for flight archery, 3D archery, and clout archery. It is also done while practicing the less common traditional archery styles listed below.

Equipment needed: traditional bow, what is a traditional bow?

 

Less Common: Traditional or historical types of archery

Pole Archery (aka papingo or popinjay)

Pole Archery is about shooting down a “bird” that is sitting on a pole. In the traditional version, archers shoot a padded tip arrow upwards towards the bird or birds. The birds have color feathers attached to them and are perched on one or several horizontal wooden pegs. The aim is to make the birds fall. There is another version where the birds are not high up, so the shooting is horizontal, much like target archery.

In the past people would play this game in a very  often.  Back in the day the targets were probably real birds. It is still played passionately in parts of Europe including France, England and Scotland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Germany but it is not very common.

Equipment needed: For the bow:

• Longbow for the Papingo (the name for pole archery in Scotland) as well as the Popinjay (England);
• A recurve bow for “tire a la perche verticale” (in France) or
• a crossbow in Germany.

You will also need blunted arrows, pole strucure, “birds” and adversaries.

Roving Marks

This type of archery is not very common nowadays. It was originally popular in England in the late 15th century. It is similar to field and clout archery where the marks are posts or flags placed on the field. The difference is that the archer will be going from mark to mark. So you can think of it as archery golf.  The marks can be predetermined, or they can be random like when using features of the field or randomly decided by throwing a portable target like this one around.

Equipment needed: traditional bow, arrows, mobile quiver, optional: flags or throw-able target.

Beursault

Another 15th century classic type of target archery from France and Belgium. It is practiced in a narrow (5 and a half feet) and almost 55 yards (50 meters) long beursault garden. There is one target at each end placed facing each other. Archers shoot one arrow each from one end, go retrieve their arrow and shoot back to the other end. The trees in the garden provide different light and shadows which increase the difficulty. These instructions will guide anyone who is interested in recreating a beursault garden in their archery range.

Equipment needed: traditional bow, arrows, beursault garden arranged targets.

Wand Shoot

Also known as wand target, it was done in Medieval England, to practice accuracy. Archers shoot at a vertical strip of wood — the wand. It is roughly 6 feet high and 3 to 6 inches wide. Archers shoot at wands to practice right and left aiming as it is a rather thin target.

Equipment needed: traditional bows, or other bows shot barebow

Mounted Archery

For those of you who like a challenge, try mounted archery. This is where you shoot at targets while riding a galloping horse. Yes, you need to be able to ride with no hands. This style of archery was originally practiced in Asia, the Middle East and North America.  It is now popular in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Equipment needed: A horse bow, which is a smaller traditional recurve bow, like these beautiful Mongolian, Scythian and Hungarian-made horse bows. (LINK), arrows, back quiver, targets and of course a horse.

Kyudo or Japanese Archery

Kyudo, is an ancient Japanese martial art. This type of Japanese archery is deeply meditative and spiritual in nature. Kyudo is considered an art form by many. An ancient practice, Kyudo is now seen outside of Japan. It provides an opportunity to increase your mental connection between your bow and arrow and your body and mind. The bows are asymmetric, and the practice calls for a highly specific 8-step shooting procedure. Only when its practitioners master this do they become ‘kyudoka.’

Kyudo is a highly technical practice so, it requires serious time-commitment and discipline. If you are interested in this martial art, look for a Kyudo Dojo (practice hall) near you.

Equipment needed: Kyudo bow, arrows, traditional clothing.

 

More fun, less rules

Exhibition Archery

Archer doing this is the style of archery do it for show, to impress and amuse the spectators. I would call it trick shooting. It is the only one out of all types of archery that is not for absolute beginners, due to safety considerations. This style varies quite a lot, since exhibitions and tricks are purposely unique and more shocking or entertaining than others. Think of circus, fairs and street performer acts. They seem dangerous and require great precision and a very comprehensive insurance policy. Basically, do not try this at home! These guys know what they are doing and are not shooting at people!

Equipment needed: Any bow, arrows, insurance policy.

Archery War or Tag

Talking about shooting at people… Imagine combining archery with dodgeball, playing it in a similar style and location as you would paintball, but with much less pain. It is an inclusive and safe version of warfare archery. Archery tag® is the brand that initiated the sport of extreme archery – also known as combat archery or archery tag.

Archery Tag® designed, produces and sells the equipment for this family-friendly activity (some places allow all-ages starting at 6-years old) It includes longbows, foam-tipped arrows, face-masks, etc. The bows come in 2 different draw weights —20 or 28 lb to accommodate different ages and strengths.

It might come as a shock for some experienced archers to be shooting at people. I know all the safety rules at my archery club ingrained in me never to shoot at a person. However, as soon as I ignored this apprehension, I found it to be fun.

Equipment needed: Nothing, since the recreational facility will have all the equipment needed for everyone to engage in combat archery. Bring comfortable clothing and shoes.

 

Best Archery Style for you

What is the best type of archery for you? Well, that depends on how much time, interest, budget you have for it; and what range or practice halls or clubs are available. The most common style of archery is target archery and is a good entry way for beginners. Another thing to consider is that the type of bow you should start with also depends on your taste and budget. Check out my article on the different types of bows to get an idea of what is out there.

• If you are very passionate and want to dedicate as much time to the fundamentals of archery, then either traditional archery or Kyudo are ideal for you.
• For those of you who know will go hunting then read my article on recommended crossbows for bowhunting, and top 5 compound bows.
• If you are interested in competitions then I would recommend getting a modern recurve bow, as it is universally accepted for target competitions. A compound bow would also be adequate, just slightly less competitions available.
• If its just an inkling and you want to have a little taste, then, a game of archery tag® or watching an exhibition archery video, could do the trick.

Conclusion

Archery offers many different varieties to choose from. Most types of archery can be practiced with the first bow you buy. If you know what type of archery you want to do and want to get a bow, a helpful place to begin, would be to read my step by step guide to buying a bow, or  my overview of all the different types of bows. And for those that are looking to build on their existing practice, check out the latest in archery accessories.