Recurve Archery Research Articles

Technical performance differences in elite Olympic recurve archers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to identify technical differences in the shot cycle demonstrated by elite Olympic recurve archers in major tournaments. Participants were 30, world-ranked archers (15 men and 15 women) who competed in different World Cup series competitions in 2023. A video notational analysis system was designed, based on the shot cycle, to assess technical differences between the elite archers. For each archer, 18 shots were selected from an analysis of performance in individual or team competitions. Results showed that the execution of shot cycle phases varied among elite archers. Findings also revealed that these variations grouped into two styles of Olympic recurve archery: some displayed a common style and some a more complex style. The two styles were mainly different in movement complexity when raising the bow, loading and bow arm follow-through. In conclusion, the designed notational analysis system in recurve archery can be used by coaches and performance analysts for exploring skill adaptation of young archers in their development pathway. The observed technical differences in actions of the elite archers in this study could justify our re-definition of the ideal performance in this sport, re-directed towards skill adaptations, based on satisfying individual, environmental and task constraints.

Anxiety status of junior archers in COVID-19 during training isolation period towards the shooting performance

<p>Studies have indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had miserable effects on athlete performance due to the movement control order (MCO) announced by the Malaysia Government. Dealing with self-training without the coach's guidance leads the archers to lose concentration, diminished self-confidence, and elevated anxiety levels. These factors contribute to inconsistent shooting performance. This study attempted to identify the archer's anxiety status during the training isolation period on the shooting performance. A total of 32 participants from the recurve archery category were recruited and enrolled in a web-based cross-sectional study during the MCO. The CSAI-2R instrument was applied to participants to examine the psychological aspect. Training Isolation resulted in a significant effect on anxiety status and shooting performance. Analysis from CSAI-2R, low-level archers, indicated 5% more anxiety than top-level archers for both cognitive and somatic anxiety sub-component. In contrast, Top archers revealed a higher self-confidence mean of 2.32 (moderately high) than low archers (1.38). The result shows improvement in anxiety and score performance with complete online monitoring and coaching supervision first session until the 8th session. These findings could assist sports institutions in improving a better training experience and understanding the pandemic's impact on athletes' mental health during home isolation.</p>

Does success breed success? An investigation of momentum in elite recurve archery

We investigate the existence of momentum or the “hot hand” phenomenon in recurve archery, in which archers have three shots per set. We collected the performance of archers along with the control variable (player difference) and game data (set score difference, shooting order and game type). We set out to compare the outcome (bullseye, 10 points, probability) and performance (scores of the third shot) in a range of cases with the previous two shots. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is the powerful evidence for positive momentum in recurve archery. The key finding that hitting the bullseye creates momentum and momentum leads to better performance has been confirmed as the “success breeds success” mechanism. Furthermore, the performance of the third shot is influenced by competitive ability and match importance (Olympic Games or not).

TASUM-R MODEL: BASIC TECHNIQUES OF RECURVE ARCHERY SPORTS

Archery requires a high concentration of learning and practicing the right techniques. The technique in archery sports requires the same repetition each time to get the same result. The analysis of the results of the MSSPK Recurve Archery Championship 2022 Circuit 2 recorded that only 30% of participants scored more than half for each end i.e. 180 out of 360 scores. This data shows that most participants are unable to consistently release arrows and are accurate on the target board. Consistency and accuracy are important factors in archery. Both of these factors can be enhanced through effective techniques as well as high concentration. Therefore, the TASUM-R model will be developed as a guideline for coaches and archer athletes to enhance the effectiveness of both factors, thus enabling participants to score more than 180, and even achieve 300 points for 6 ends in 3 months of training alone compared to 6 months or more previously. This study used the DDR design to produce the TASUM-R model, which is the Basic Technique of Recurve Archery Sports. This innovation collaborates with an industry partner, Team Freedah Archerz for the purpose of exposure to archery sports enthusiasts from childhood to adulthood as well as the corporatization of a complete module based on the TASUM-R Model.

KOMUNIKASI KELOMPOK RECURVE BEREGU PUTRI JAWA TIMUR PADA PEKAN OLAHRAGA NASIONAL XX

Communication a necessary component of the training process that cannot be ignored until the competition period. Effective communication between fellow athletes during physical training, technical training, and mental training can lead to complete understanding for athletes. Likewise, during a match, when technical, physical, and mental exercise is no longer carried out before the match, communication cannot be ignored during the match. This study aims to determine how the group communication of the East Java women's team archery recurves at the XX National Sports Week (PON) in Papua. The East Java women's team recurve archery was chosen in this study because of the consistent achievement of East Java archery during participation in PON, one of which was in the women's team recurve number. The method used in this study is the semiotics of Charles Sanders Peirce in the final video of the East Java women's team archery competition at the Papua National Sports Week, which was obtained through the Youtube channel "Media Second TV." This study shows that group communication in the sport of recurve archery for the women's team of East Java at the XX National Sports Week (PON) in Papua is dominated by non-verbal communication during the final match.

Relationship between bow stability and postural control in recurve archery

Archery is a sport that requires fine movement control, and postural stability is considered an important variable to achieve high performance. In order to better understand the coupling between archer and bow during the aiming phase, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bow stability and postural control in recurve archery according to shooting performance. A total of 8 archers shot 6 arrows at a 13-m distant target. The three-dimensional position of one marker attached to the bow and the center of pressure (COP) position of the archer (the point of application of the resultant ground reaction force on a force plate) were measured during the aiming phase, representing bow and archer displacement, respectively. COP displacement in the direction across the target (COPY), length of the COP trajectory (DCOP) and length of the bow trajectory (Dbow) were higher in the lowest scoring shot compared to the highest one. A strong and significant correlation was found between COP and bow displacement in the direction towards/away from the target (COPX and DX) and between COPX and vertical displacement of the bow (DZ) during the highest scoring shot. This result indicates that synchronization between body and bow sway may influence the accuracy of the shot, suggesting that combined balance and bow stability training exercises would be beneficial to improve archery performance.

The “10 Mentality”: A Longitudinal Case Study of Self-Control Strength in Two Competitive Recurve Archers

In this case study, the authors’ aim was to apply the tenets of the strength model of self-control (Baumeister et al., 1998) with two Israeli competitive archers over the 2019–20 season. According to this model, the ability to control the self is based on a finite resource that can become temporarily depleted. Under ego depletion, subsequent self-control acts are executed less efficiently, potentially resulting in lower effort and attentional focus. Recurve archery is a closed, self-paced shooting sport, which requires exerting control over physical and mental elements. Archers’ ability to control their performance sequence is partly dependent on self-control. The two archers practiced (in consultation sessions, training and competitions, and independently) a range of well-established intervention techniques (e.g., self-talk, performance routines, mindfulness) designed to increase their self-control strength and focus on the present shot. Archers self-reported data on their trait and state of self-control and mental states during several performance situations in training and competition. The results indicated a complex self-control—performance relationship, potentially underlined by the athletes’ preperformance mental state, self-control strength, and subjective perceptions of temporarily available self-control resources. The archers’ and the authors’ reflections demonstrate the importance of incorporating self-control training in an idiosyncratic manner to achieve positive performance outcomes.

The Uncontrolled Manifold Concept Reveals That the Structure of Postural Control in Recurve Archery Shooting Is Related to Accuracy.

In this study, we examine the structure of postural variability in six elite-level recurve archers using the uncontrolled manifold concept. Previous research showed equivocal results for the relationship between postural control and shooting accuracy, but these studies were mainly limited to a descriptive approach to postural variability/stability and did not take the simultaneous movements of the upper limb joints into account. In this study, we show that the goal-equivalent variability which stabilizes the orientation of the arrow in space is significantly larger than that of the non-goal-equivalent variability in arrows of high accuracy (score 9 or 10). Conversely, arrows of lower accuracy (score 6, 7, or 8) failed to reach significant thresholds throughout the majority of the aiming phase. This analysis reveals that it is not necessary (or even possible) for elite archers to minimize the movements of all degrees of freedom during aiming, but rather that the structure of variability of the redundant kinematic chain is exploited so that the relevant performance variable (orientation of the arrow) is stabilized.

Comparison of two recurve archery techniques: A preliminary study

Interest in archery is growing nowadays in Malaysia. Archery is preferred because it can be considered a static sport (Hafiz & Daliya, 2010). It is easy to learn archery but very difficult to master the techniques in archery (Lee & Benner, 2009). We even made good progress during SEA games in 1997, others already more advanced than us, especially in developing a good technique in archery. One of the best techniques already introduced by Kisik Lee for recurve archery (Villasor, no date). The objective of this research was to compare the similarities and differences between Kisik Lee’s technique and the elite’s technique. An elite archer from Kelantan state archer volunteered to be a subject for this study. A passive marker was used to detect the movement in each technique. The performance of the elite’s technique and Kisik Lee’s technique was captured using a 3D Qualysis motion analysis system. The performance evaluated after a short period of time was allocated for training and practicing the Kisik Lee’s technique. Statistical analysis was done in 11 steps of the technique during stance, posture and shoulder alignment using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Eight steps showed significant differences, while three steps showed no significant difference between the tested techniques. Results showed that Kisik Lee’s method was different from the elite’s method. We can also conclude that Kisik Lee’s method was suitable for the Malaysian athletes, since it showed an improvement in target grouping from the score sheet even after a short period of training time. Longer training time is needed to make perfect the Kisik Lee’s technique.

Postural stability, clicker reaction time and bow draw force predict performance in elite recurve archery

Recurve archery is an Olympic sport that requires extreme precision, upper body strength and endurance. The purpose of this research was to quantify how postural stability variables both pre- and post-arrow release, draw force, flight time, arrow length and clicker reaction time, collectively, impacted on the performance or scoring outcomes in elite recurve archery athletes. Thirty-nine elite-level recurve archers (23 male and 16 female; mean age = 24.7 ± 7.3 years) from four different countries volunteered to participate in this study prior to competing at a World Cup event. An AMTI force platform (1000Hz) was used to obtain centre of pressure (COP) measurements 1s prior to arrow release and 0.5s post-arrow release. High-speed footage (200Hz) allowed for calculation of arrow flight time and score. Results identified clicker reaction time, draw force and maximum sway speed as the variables that best predicted shot performance. Specifically, reduced clicker reaction time, greater bow draw force and reduced postural sway speed post-arrow release were predictors of higher scoring shots. It is suggested that future research should focus on investigating shoulder muscle tremors at full draw in relation to clicker reaction time, and the effect of upper body strength interventions (specifically targeting the musculature around the shoulder girdle) on performance in recurve archers.

Preliminary Study: Comparison of Two Different Methods in Recurve Archery

Preliminary Study: Comparison of Two Different Methods in Recurve Archery

Identification of temporal factors related to shot performance for indoor recurve archery

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal phases of the archery shot cycle that distinguish the arrows distance from centre, in an attempt to understand critical factors that affect performance. Fifteen archers of varying ability each performed 30 shots at 18 m. Fourteen potential predictor variables were measured for statistical modelling by stepwise multiple linear regression. The results show that pre-shot time (pre-performance routine), follow-through time (post-performance routine), aiming time, speed of the arrow and the %variation in clicker-release time, account for 7.7% of the variation in predicting shot performance. The results have implications for practice demonstrating factors that coaches should focus on to develop their athletes. Further work on pre-, but more importantly, post-performance routines are needed generally within sport research as they are lacking and have been shown to be important contributing factors in a number of sports.

Vision Examination Protocol for Archery Athletes Along With an Introduction to Sports Vision.

Introduction:Visual skills are one of the main pillars of intangible faculties of athletes that can influence their performance. Great number of vision tests used to assess the visual skills and it will be irrational to perform all vision tests for every sport.Objectives:The purpose of this protocol article is to present a relatively comprehensive battery of tests and assessments on static and dynamic aspects of sight which seems relevant to sports vision and introduce the most useful ones for archery.Materials and Methods:Through extensive review of the literature, visual skills and respective tests were listed; such as ‘visual acuity, ‘contrast sensitivity’, ‘stereo-acuity’, ‘ocular alignment’, and ‘eye dominance’. Athletes were defined as “elite” and “non-elite” category based on their past performance. Dominance was considered for eye and hand; binocular or monocular aiming was planned to be recorded. Illumination condition was defined as to simulate the real archery condition to the extent possible. The full cycle of examinations and their order for each athlete was sketched (and estimated to take 40 minutes). Protocol was piloted in an eye hospital. Female and male archers aged 18 - 38 years who practiced compound and recurve archery with a history of more than 6 months were included.Conclusions:We managed to select and design a customized examination protocol for archery (a sight-intensive and aiming type of sports), serving skill assessment and research purposes. Our definition for elite and non-elite athletes can help to define sports talent and devise skill development methods as we compare the performance of these two groups. In our pilot, we identified 8 “archery figures” (by hand dominance, eye dominance and binocularity) and highlighted the concept “congruence” (dominant hand and eye in the same side) in archery performance.

Hit distribution patterns in recurve archery

Hit distribution patterns in recurve archery

Arrow behaviour in the vertical plane during and immediately following the power stroke of a recurve bow

Arrow behaviour in the vertical plane as it leaves a recurve archery bow is mainly determined by the path taken by the bow’s nocking point during the power stroke. That path is generally not a straight line as a consequence of the arrow not being placed at the geometric centre of the bow. The arrow behaviour is important to the archer in trying to launch the arrow with minimal angle of attack and minimal angular velocity. Pekalski, Kooi and Sparenberg and Park modelled the arrow behaviour in the horizontal plane during the bow’s power stroke using a flexible beam. In this article, the method used by Park has been applied to the arrow’s behaviour in the vertical plane. It is shown that by suitable selection of the arrow’s location on the string, the archer can obtain zero angular velocity and minimal angle of attack. The modelling was tested against the use of the recurve bow in a shooting machine.

Arrow behaviour in the lateral plane during and immediately following the power stroke of a recurve archery bow

An arrow exiting a recurve archery bow flexes laterally. This is important in ensuring that the rear of the arrow clears the bow without obstruction and is a consequence of the manner by which the string leaves the archer’s fingers. Pekalski and then Kooi and Sparenberg modelled the arrow behaviour during the bow’s power stroke using a flexible beam. In this article, the method used by Kooi and Sparenberg has been extended to remove subjective components, to include the carbon fibre composite arrows now used almost exclusively in competition and to consider the arrow after it has left the bow. The various user-selectable parameters have been examined to ascertain their impact on archer performance. The modelling was tested against measured parameters of a number of expert archers and against the use of the recurve bow in a shooting machine.

High-speed video analysis of arrow behaviour during the power stroke of a recurve archery bow

The manner in which an archer holds and releases the string of a recurve bow causes the arrow to flex during the bow’s power stroke and on its way from the bow to the target. While an experienced observer can subjectively evaluate an arrow’s pitch and yaw visually after it has left the bow, the arrow’s behaviour during the bow’s power stroke happens too quickly for visual observation. High-speed video is consequently a much more effective tool. Similarly, high-speed video is an effective tool for studying an archer’s technique during the bow’s power stroke. Mathematical models of the arrow’s behaviour in the horizontal plane during the bow’s power stroke have, to date, relied upon comparison of the arrow’s flexural shape with photographs. However, an implicit assumption of that process is that the archer’s technique is perfect. This paper provides an analysis of event times and the magnitudes of several key components of the arrow flex during the bow’s power stroke for sixteen world-class archers. Aside from being a powerful analysis tool in its own right, that data can also be used to evaluate mathematical models of arrow behaviour. It is concluded that archer technique variations could be a significant source of error where a single archer is used as a comparison for the mathematics, even if that single archer is amongst the world’s best.

The Behaviour of An Arrow Shot from a Compound Archery Bow

The behaviour of an arrow exiting an archery bow is of interest in relation to equipment selection and optimization, as well as to the performance of the arrow down-range. In particular, it is a necessary input into a study of the impact of archer technique errors and wind drift. While the performances of recurve archery bows have been modelled by a number of researchers, those of compound archery bows have not. A compound archery bow is mechanically more complex and the archer holds the string using a mechanical release device rather than with fingers directly on the string. Consequently the arrow behaviour is significantly different from that for a recurve bow. This paper provides the results of an analysis of an arrow leaving a compound bow in both the vertical and the horizontal planes. Techniques similar to those used by Kooi for a recurve bow were used, together with photographs obtained using a triggered flash light. The paths taken by the bow's nocking point in both the vertical and the horizontal planes had a substantial influence on the arrow behaviour. In the vertical plane this was both measured and modelled for one bow type and for a second bow type it was modelled. In the horizontal plane it was measured and modelled for one bow type but with the locus varied by twisting the bow laterally. Three sizes of the most commonly used arrows were examined: the recommended size, and arrows one and two sizes stiffer. It was concluded that both the recommended size and the stiffer sizes behaved similarly, giving increased scope to optimize arrow selection for parameters such as wind drift. One major archer technique error, namely twisting the bow, was included in the analysis and shown to have a significant impact on the arrow behaviour and the path taken by the arrow in the horizontal plane.

Muscular activation patterns of the bow arm in recurve archery

In archery shooting, the archer should hold the bow in place using only the pressure produced through drawing back the bowstring. Most coaches discourage the archer from gripping the bow as this is believed to produce a sideways deflecting torque on the bow and arrow during the release. The purpose of this study was to compare the bow hand forearm muscular activation patterns of elite archers with beginners to define the muscular contraction–relaxation strategies in the bow hand forearm muscles during archery shooting and investigate the effects of performance level on these strategies. Electromyographic activity of the M. flexor digitorum superficialis and the M. extensor digitorum of 10 elite and 10 beginner archers were recorded together with a pulse synchronized with the clicker snap. Raw electromyographic records as 1s before and after the clicker pulse were rectified, integrated, and normalized. The data was then averaged for successive shots of each subject and later for both groups of archers. The main difference between the elite and beginner archers was that the elite archers had a greater activation of the M. extensor digitorum, which indicates that they avoid gripping the bow-handle not only relaxing the flexor muscles, but also contracting the extensor muscle groups. This muscular contraction strategy secures the archer to not interfere with the forward movement of the bow, which is the forward acceleration of the bow caused by the pushing power of the bowstring.