The target face
An outdoor target face has 10 scoring rings in five colours. Each colour holds two rings. The inner ring of each colour is worth one point more than the outer ring.
| Colour | Points |
|---|---|
| Gold (yellow), the middle | 10 and 9 |
| Red | 8 and 7 |
| Blue | 6 and 5 |
| Black | 4 and 3 |
| White, the outside | 2 and 1 |
| Off the face | M (miss), 0 |
- There is a small inner 10 ring in the middle, marked X. An X scores 10, the same as any 10, but the number of Xs is used to break ties.
- Olympic recurve archers shoot at a 122 cm face from 70 metres. The 10 ring is only 12.2 cm across.
Line-cutters
If an arrow touches the line between two rings, it scores the higher ring. Even a shaft that only just touches the line counts up. An arrow touching the outer edge of the white still scores 1.
Ends
- Archers shoot in groups of arrows called ends. Outdoors an end is usually 6 arrows, or 3 in matches.
- After each end, archers walk to the target, score their arrows and pull them out.
- A score for 12 arrows can reach 120 points: 12 arrows times 10.
Olympic set matches
Head-to-head recurve matches use the set system:
- Each archer shoots 3 arrows in a set. The higher set total wins the set.
- Winning a set earns 2 set points. A tied set gives each archer 1 point.
- The first archer to 6 set points wins the match.
- At 5-5, there is a one-arrow shoot-off. The higher score wins. If both score the same, the arrow closest to the centre wins.
So a set total of 28 beats 27 by just one point, but still takes the full 2 set points. Every set is a fresh start.
Wind and aiming
- Wind pushes the arrow sideways in flight. The longer the distance, the bigger the drift, so archers aim off into the wind.
- Watch the flags near the targets to read the wind before you release.
- Good archers draw, settle and release with the same rhythm every time. Holding too long makes the arm shake.
In our game
Our archery game scores exactly like real target archery: 10 rings, Xs that count as 10, line-cutters that score the higher ring, and Olympic set matches. The bow is physical, so you have to hold steady and read the wind.
Controls
- Draw: put your finger (or mouse) down anywhere and pull down until the ring fills.
- Aim: slide to move the sight pin onto the gold. Aiming is relative, so the pin sits above your finger and never under it.
- Breathe: after you reach full draw you get a calm window of about 3 seconds. Shoot while the breath ring is green. Hold too long and the aim starts to shake.
- Release: lift your finger to shoot. A second finger, right click or Esc lets the arrow down without shooting.
On a keyboard, hold Space to draw, aim with the arrow keys or WASD, and release Space to shoot.
Modes
- Tour: 5 venues with 8 events each (40 in all), from a calm meadow to windy cliffs and a night lantern festival. Events include classic ends from 18 to 90 metres, timed ends, moving targets, a swinging gong, balloons and an apple on a scarecrow. Each venue ends with a set-match final. Stars unlock new bows and arrows.
- Quick 12: 2 ends of 6 arrows at 50 metres on a 122 cm face, with new wind for each arrow. The best score is 120, and Xs break ties. This is the leaderboard mode.
- Duel: Olympic set matches at 70 metres against a ladder of rivals. You and the rival take turns, 3 arrows each per set, first to 6 set points.
- Daily Wind: the same challenge for everyone each day. Four stations of 3 arrows: 30 m, 50 m, 70 m and a 40 m target running on a rail.
Quick 12 and Daily Wind always use the starter recurve and pine arrows, so everyone shoots with the same gear.
