Target Archery Equipment Rules

A general guide to rules are given below.
For complete details of equipment rules, please read Chapter 8 of the Archery Australia Rule Book and the FITA Rule Book.
Be careful of the rules as they can change. Those given below may not be up to date with the latest revisions.
Before going to a competition, always check the latest edition of the rules to make sure your equipment complies.

Recurve Bow

A target archery style Recurve Bow of any type may be used.
Only one additional attachment is allowed on the bowstring after the nocking point locators, such as a 'Kisser Button'. The centre serving on the bowstring must not end within the archer's vision at full draw and there must not be any visible marks on the bowstring within the archer's vision at full draw. A 'peepsight' is not permitted.
An adjustable arrowrest is permitted as well as a pressure button and clicker or other draw length indicator. They must not be electronic and they must not provide any additional aid in aiming. The pressure point (arrow rest) can be placed a maximum of 4cm (over-draw) from the pivot point of the grip.
Any type of bowsight is allowed provided it does not have a prism, lens, magnifying lens, level or electronic device. It may only provide one sighting point. (The rules for Clout Archery allow exceptions, such as the use of a prism or mirror sight.)
Any type of stabilisers are allowed, provided they do not serve as a string guide.
Any type of target archery arrow is allowed up to the maximum allowable size of 9mm diameter. (Broadhead points are not permitted.)
The arrows used by the archer must be a matching set. They must all have the same colour and pattern of fletches, nocks and cresting, if used.
The archers name or initials must be marked on the arrow shaft near the fletches or in the area provided by the manufacturer.
(In Field Archery, the arrows must also be numbered, in numerical order.)
Any type of finger tab, finger stalls or glove is permitted, provided it does not have any device to help to hold or release the bowstring.
An ordinary glove or mitten may be worn on the bow hand.
Ordinary spectacles, shooting spectacles and sunglasses are permitted.
They must not be fitted with any markings of any type which may assist with aiming.
Binoculars and telescopes are allowed to be used on the shooting line for spotting arrows. They can not be left on the shooting line though, they must be removed at the completion of shooting each end.

Compound Bow

Any type of Compound Bow is permitted. The maximum peak draw weight allowed is 27.216 kg. (60 lbs.)
For compound bows only, the bowstring may be fitted, in addition to that allowed on a recurve bowstring, with a peep sight and a peep sight aligner.
The arrow rest, pressure button and clicker rules are the same as for recurve bows.
Launcher type arrow rests are permitted and must comply with the same rules.
The exception is that the pressure point (arrow rest) can be placed a maximum of 6cm (overdraw) from the pivot point of the grip.
Any type of bowsight is permitted. For compound bows only, a lens, magnifying lens, prisms and level are permitted. Electronic sighting devices are not permitted.
Any type of stabilisers are allowed, provided they do not serve as a string guide.
The rules for arrows are the same as for recurve.
For compound bows only, a release aid of any type may be used.
Ordinary spectacles, shooting spectacles and sunglasses are permitted.
They must not be fitted with any markings of any type which may assist with aiming.
Binoculars and telescopes are allowed to be used on the shooting line for spotting arrows. They can not be left on the shooting line though, they must be removed at the completion of shooting each end.

There are also equipment rules to cover :-
Barebow Recurve, Barebow compound, Standard Recurve, Standard Compound and Longbow divisions.
For complete details of equipment rules, please read the Archery Australia Rule Book, 1999 Edition.

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Field Archery Equipment Rules

In addition to the above Target Recurve and Compound equipment rules, the archer's arrows must be numbered on the arrow shaft near the archer's name or initials.
The numbers must be in numerical order.
Binoculars and telescopes may be used at any time to spot arrows, provided that they do not have any kind of scale or device for measuring distances.
Archers shooting in the Standard Recurve Bow and Standard Compound Bow divisions are not permitted to use binoculars or telescopes to spot arrows.
Rangefinders or distance measuring devices or any other means of estimating distances are not permitted.
Any written memoranda is not permitted, except for notes concerning the archer's normal sight settings and recording of personal scores.
(This includes any notes regarding angle of shot and estimating of distances, etc.)
Any electronic storage device is not permitted onto the Field Course.
( I think this also includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.)

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Clout Archery Equipment Rules

In addition to the above Target Recurve and Compound equipment rules, attachments to the bowstring are permitted.
A bow sight can have prisms, lens, magnifying lens, levels and mirrors fitted.
A bowmark is permitted to be used on the bow. It must either be a single mark made in pencil, tape or any other suitable marking material or a plate/tape with distance marking mounted on the bow as a guide for marking.
A point of aim marker on the ground is permitted. The marker may have a maximum diameter of 7.5cm and must not protrude above the ground more than 15cm.
It should be positioned in such a way that it may not be accidentally dislodged.

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Flight Archery Equipment Rules

Any type of Recurve Bow is permitted, including "shoot-through" or "keyhole" style risers.
Any type of Compound Bow is permitted.
Any type of mechanical or electronic release aid is not permitted.
The traditional style one piece release aid, such as a flipper or strap, ring, block or hook is permitted.
In the Freestyle Bow Division, any type of bow may be used, including the 'Foot Bow', provided the archer does not receive any outside assistance to draw and release the bow.
Each arrow must be marked with the name of the archer, numbered in numerical order and the bow weight class in which it is to be used.
The minimum arrow length is 356mm
Each archer shall compete in the recognised weight classes for Flight Archery.
The draw weight of the bows will be weighed immediately prior to the event.
The bows will be weighed to the point where the longest arrows for that event would drop off the rear of the arrow rest.
The draw weight for compound bows will be measured at their peak weight during drawing.

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This page last revised : 22 June 2008