Welcome to our FAQ page
How old do you have to be to do archery?
Archery can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young to old, but the club generally do not have members under 8 years of age, and children under 14 must be accompanied by their parents.
Can anybody do archery?
Archery is a sport which can be enjoyed by all, factors such as age, and physical ability do not have to be a major concern. The Gentleman & Lady Archers Of Darlington are committed to equity in sport and we believe that we can find a way for archers of all abilities to enjoy archery. If you have a disability or medical condition that we should know about please include details on your application form or contact us in advance to discuss any special arrangements that you may need.
Where is my nearest archery club?
You can find your nearest archery club by visiting the GNAS website, which can be found in the 'Links' section of this site. There is a link on the right hand side of the page towards the bottom, which will allow you to search for a local club.
Is there a governing body in the UK for archery?
The Grand National Archery Society, or GNAS, is the governing body for archery in the UK, and a link to their website can be found in the 'Links' section of this site. The GNAS are currently going through a number of changes regarding their branding and will now be known as Archery GB. More details can be found on their website.
What is a recurve bow?
A recurve bow is a bow that, in contrast to the simple longbow, has ends that curve away from the archer when the bow is held in shooting position. The technical difference between a recurve and other bows is that when strung, the string touches the limbs of a recurve bow, and only touches the tips of other types.An unstrung recurve bow can have a confusing shape and many Native American weapons were incorrectly strung and destroyed when attempts were made to fire them.
How do I enrol on a beginners' course?
You can visit the 'TRAINING' link on the left hand side of this page for more information on our beginner's course. As of 2009 we now have an online application form that you should complete to register your interest in starting a beginer's course. Your details will then be held in our database and we will contact you when there is a space available on one of our training courses. You may also print the application form and send it to the club secretary whose contact details are on the bottom of the form.
What is a compound Bow?
A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system of cables and usually cams and pulleys to draw the limbs back.
The limbs of a compound bow are usually much stiffer than those of a recurve bow or longbow. This limb stiffness makes the compound bow more energy efficient than other bows, but the limbs are too stiff to be drawn comfortably with a string attached directly to them. The compound bow has the string attached to the pulleys, one or both of which has one or more cables attached to the opposite limb. When the string is drawn back, the string causes the pulleys to turn. This causes the pulleys to pull the cables, which in turn causes the limbs to bend and thus store energy.
What is a Longbow?
The traditional bow, these are typically between 5'10" and 6' tall, and have no sights. There is, however, no technical difference between a longbow and a shortbow, as the term came into use towards the end of the medieval period, when bows were being replaced with rifles and cannons.
What is Field archery?
A form of archery shot outdoors in a wooded area, with targets of different sizes set at varying distances and elevations to the archer, the archers walk from target to target.
What is Clout shooting?
Similar to target archery, except that the archer attempts to drop arrows at long range (180 yards / 165 m for the men and 140 yards / 128 m for women; there are shorter distances for juniors depending on age) into a group of concentric circular scoring zones on the ground surrounding a marker flag. The flag is 12 inches (30 cm) square and is fixed to a stick. The flag should be as near to the ground as is practicable. Archers shoot 'ends' of six arrows then, when given the signal to do so, archers proceed to the target area. A Clout round usually consists of 36 arrows. Clout tournaments are usually a 'Double Clout' round (36 arrows shot twice). They can be shot in one direction (one way) or both directions (two way). All bow types may compete (longbows, recurve, barebow and compound).
What is Target archery?
Target archery is the most popular form of archery, in which members shoot at non-moving circular targets at varying distances. All types of bow - longbow, barebow, recurve and compound - can be used. In Great Britain, Imperial rounds, measured in yards, are still used for a lot of tournaments and these have slightly different rules to FITA (metric) rounds, which are used internationally. Archers are divided into seniors and juniors, with juniors being those under the age of 18.
Where can I go to buy archery products?
There are a number of options available to you, such as buying online, buying second hand from club members, or buying from a specialist dealer. If you buy second hand, it is strongly recommended that you seek the advise of an experienced archer, and try and see the bow before you buy it. There are many different factors to consider when purchasing a bow, and you need to get a bow which suits you, so it is important that you seek advise before buying. Most specialised archery dealers will help you through the process, and many of our members use CBA, and Aardvark archery on a regular basis. The links to these stores can be found in the 'Links' section of this site.
