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Go to member loginYour first seasons with the club
New Archer Guide
Essential range routines, scoring information, common rounds and club awards in one practical reference.
Welcome to club shooting
Shoot safely, ask questions and enjoy your progress
Bowmen of the Tors is affiliated to Archery GB and follows its Rules of Shooting. Club procedures apply alongside those rules whenever you shoot at a club session.
Archery is a very safe sport when everybody understands the range commands, remains aware of other people and follows the Field Captain's instructions.
Range control
Know the commands before shooting
The Field Captain is in charge. Follow every command, but continue to check that it is safe before moving or shooting.
Two whistles
Change details.
Three whistles
Collect arrows.
Before the line
Wait behind the line until instructed to move forward. Check that the range is clear and all non-shooters are safely behind the line.
On the line
Only load an arrow once across the shooting line. Keep the bow pointed towards the target and never dry-fire a bow.
After shooting
Step back without distracting other archers. Do not cross the shooting line until the collect command is given.
At the target
Approach from the side. Agree every score before touching arrows, then carry them safely in a quiver or pointing down.
Bowmen of the Tors
Club-specific range rules
At least two club members must be present whenever shooting takes place.
Carbon-only arrow shafts may be used indoors but are not permitted for outdoor shooting. Aluminium/carbon composite shafts may be used indoors and outdoors.
Open-toed footwear, including sandals and flip-flops, must not be worn on the range.
No running, playing around, smoking or alcohol. Avoid distracting archers who are shooting.
Reading the target
How target scoring works
Rounds specify the number of arrows, distances and target face. An arrow touching a dividing line scores the higher value. A miss is recorded as M.
9
Imperial rounds
Five-zone scoring
Gold scores 9, red 7, blue 5, black 3 and white 1. Distances are normally measured in yards.
X
Metric and indoor rounds
Ten-zone scoring
The rings score from 10 in the centre down to 1 at the outer white. The inner 10 may be marked X but still scores 10.
Multi-face targets
One arrow in each spot
Vertical or triangular faces reduce arrow damage when groups are tight. Shoot one arrow into each spot. If more than one arrow lands in a spot, only the lower value scores and the additional arrow is recorded as a miss.
Target illustrations by ArcheryGeekery, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Full target scoring guideFive-zone, ten-zone, indoor compound and multi-face scoringView PDFRounds shot at the club
Common rounds
Winter · indoorPortsmouth+
- Distance
- 20 yards
- Scoring arrows
- 60
- Ends
- 3 arrows
- Face
- 60 cm
- Scoring
- 10-zone
- Sighters
- 2 ends
The Portsmouth is the club's most frequently shot indoor round and supports the winter badge scheme.
IndoorWorcester+
- Distance
- 20 yards
- Scoring arrows
- 60
- Ends
- 5 arrows
- Face
- 16-inch Worcester
- Scoring
- 5 to 1
- Sighters
- 5 arrows
The Worcester uses a distinctive black-and-white face. The centre white scores 5 and the surrounding black rings score 4 down to 1.
Summer · outdoorWarwick family+
Each Warwick round has six sighters at the longest distance, followed by 24 scoring arrows at each distance in ends of six. All use a 122 cm face and five-zone scoring, with no additional sighters when changing distance.
| Round | First distance | Second distance |
|---|---|---|
| New Warwick | 100 yd | 80 yd |
| Long Warwick | 80 yd | 60 yd |
| Warwick | 60 yd | 50 yd |
| Warwick 50 | 50 yd | 40 yd |
| Warwick 40 | 40 yd | 30 yd |
| Warwick 30 | 30 yd | 20 yd |
Winter · outdoorFrostbite+
- Distance
- 30 metres
- Scoring arrows
- 36
- Ends
- 6 arrows
- Face
- 80 cm
- Scoring
- 10-zone
- Sighters
- 6 arrows
A short outdoor round that encourages members to continue shooting when winter weather permits.
Celebrate improvement
Club progress badges
Winter
Portsmouth badges
One qualifying Portsmouth score earns the highest badge level reached. Scores begin at 300, rise in 25-point steps to 575, then in five-point steps to 600.
300 · 325 · 350 · 375 · 400 · 425 · 450 · 475 · 500 · 525 · 550 · 575 · 580 · 585 · 590 · 595 · 600
Winter
Worcester badges
One qualifying Worcester score earns the highest badge level reached. The first badge is awarded at 100 and the final badge recognises a maximum score of 300.
100 · 125 · 150 · 175 · 200 · 225 · 250 · 265 · 275 · 285 · 295 · 300
Summer
252 distance badges
Shoot six sighters followed by 36 scoring arrows in ends of six on a 122 cm face using five-zone scoring. The target must be achieved twice at the same distance on separate days.
| Distance | Recurve | Compound | Longbow | Barebow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 yd | 252 | 280 | 164 | 189 |
| 30 yd | 252 | 280 | 164 | 189 |
| 40 yd | 252 | 280 | 164 | 189 |
| 50 yd | 252 | 280 | 164 | 189 |
| 60 yd | 252 | 280 | 164 | 189 |
| 80 yd | 252 | 280 | 126 | 164 |
| 100 yd | 252 | 280 | 101 | 139 |
The club scheme has no 70-yard round.
Track improvement
Handicaps
An Archery GB handicap is a number calculated from scores shot on recognised rounds. A lower handicap represents a stronger shooting standard. Because different rounds can be converted to the same scale, handicaps help members compare progress and allow archers of different standards to compete fairly in handicap events.
Archery GB handicap guidanceRecognised standard
Classifications
Classifications recognise performance over qualifying rounds. The score required depends on the round, indoor or outdoor discipline, bowstyle, age group and other eligibility rules. Club officials confirm club-level classifications; the higher Master Bowman levels have additional competition requirements.
Score review
Submitting competition and badge scores
Scores must be checked by an authorised club official before they are recorded or an award is made.
- 1Send your score
Use Golden Records or email a clear, complete score sheet to contact@bowmenofthetors.co.uk.
- 2Club review
Competition scores go to the Tournament Officer and Records Officer for checking.
- 3Record or award
The Secretary or Records Officer confirms badge awards. Club badges are provided without charge.