Below are links to documents or websites containing equipment, coaching and tuning information. Read the articles and work out for yourself if they are worth a try.

Mix 'n Match

last updated 22/1/25

please note, many of these links have an American hunting flavour, but all include potentially useful discussions on setup and general archery techniques - we do not endorse this content, but present it for information

NuSensei ( David Nguyen )  - target recurve and Asiatic archery youtube channel 

Jake Kaminski - recurve and barebow techniques, setup, and product reviews - youtube channel 

Griv (George Ryals) 'Thing a Week' youtube series Season 1 playlist Season 2 playlist 

Average Jack Archery (Nate Sellers) product reviews, compound bow setup, techniques youtube channel  

Nock On Archery (John Dudley) - compound set up and techniques - School of Nock 

Trad Lab (Cody Greenwood)  - traditional equipment, techniques, product reviews - youtube channel 

Samko Trad Bow (Jason Samkowiak)  - traditional equipment, techniques  -  youtube channel 

Archery Australia Scoring Handicap System

updated 27/1/2026

copied from Archers Diary link here

Introduction of 12 month floating handicaps

Following on from the Board's decision, the IT Committee is pleased to announce that as from 1/1/19 Archers Diary will implement 12 month floating handicaps. What this means is that where previously your rating only went up after you shot a higher standard result and it stayed at the higher level, the system will now look at your past 12 months results and then work out your rating based on that data. So the system will automatically adjust your rating downwards should you not continue to shoot at your earlier level.

How is this done?

For new archers

To obtain a handicap you will need to have shot in at least three events that have been recorded in Archers Diary. Once this is done your initial rating will be the average of those three events. (Remember that you will have different ratings for target, indoor, field and clout, as well as any different bowtypes you shoot). After that your rating will be calculated as normal based on the scores shot up to the last 12 months.

Where previously your rating would have been calculated as a result of all scores recorded in the system, it will now only look at the scores shot over the past 12 months. In this way the system will automatically adjust both upwards and downwards over time. This will better reflect your current standard.

How does my rating go up?

When you shoot a higher rating than you previously had, the system will increase your rating by half the difference. Athletes’ ratings will be adjusted by the Calculator when they record scores to a different standard than their existing rating. It will be adjusted by half the improvement unless the improvement figure is an odd number; in this situation the adjustment will be by the nearest whole number less than the improvement.

What if I have a lengthy break from shooting then return back?

Previously your rating would have stayed at the highest level you had obtained. Now the system will look at your last 12 months results to work out your rating. If the athlete has less than 10 ratings recorded in this period, then up to the last 10 ratings will be used, irrespective of the dates the ratings were achieved. A handicap will be calculated as long as the minimum number of ratings has been recorded (refer 4.3.1.3). In this way for example an experienced athlete is not entirely treated as a new archer upon their return.

What if I have a genuine reason to need an adjustment to my rating?

Archers Diary will automatically keep track of your performances and adjust your handicap based on your last twelve months of results. Handicaps may reduce if your performances have lowered over time or will increase as a result of higher performances. Initial handicaps will be allocated after you have shot in three events and will be for target, field, indoor and clout for the various bowtypes you are shooting. Manual adjustments can only be done to an archer's handicap by the Archery Australia National Recorder. Should you believe you have a reason why your handicap needs to be manually adjusted then ask your Club Recorder to contact the National Recorder to discuss your situation and reasoning. The decision of the National Recorder after consultation with the Tournament and Records Committee shall be final in regards to any handicap adjustments. Examples of situations that may require an adjustment might be, Major medical incident Change of hand that you now need to shoot based on permanent injury, etc.

Mental Skills

last updated 10/1/25

Mental Mastery Blueprint for Archery Success

Mental Mastery The Key to Success

Mental Mastery Balance Perfection and Compassion

But I did it yesterday.

Goal Setting

For crying out loud

Skill versus performance

Mind over Matter

The number 1 mental problem

Alloy Shafts

Alloy Arrow Spines

1214-1814

1816-2117

2117-2419

Easton Spine Charts

Recurve Arrow Selection

Compound Arrow Selection

Arrow and Component specs

Links for Coaching Information Websites

last updated 1/2/24

Performance Archery Information and advice from Alistair Whittingham.

DudleyArchery Information from John Dudley

Mental Management Systems The mental side of sport by Lanny Bassham

Archery Focus Magazine Online archery magazine.

Grivtech George Ryals IV

Target Setup for Club Shoots at IA

updated 21/5/25

It is hard to predict how many people will be at a shoot 

   - there may be other shoots on elsewhere

   - people may register and then not be able to attend

- and of course, depends on weather 

      - but the organiser will need to be there rain or shine to confirm if the shoot is on/off/delayed etc

check registrations in Archers Diary, to get a rough count for number of targets needed for each division

- however, there are usually a few people who have not registered, arrive late, etc, so its good to have an idea of what could be done if more targets are needed

sometimes it will require more than 2 shooters on a butt

- there may be a 'special request' for a 20m shooting line - very occasionally a new shooter will turn up who is not comfortable shooting longer than 20m, so again, it is good to have a planB just in case

to unlock the target container, use the two smallest keys on the key chain

- the second smallest key opens the lock on the right

- the smallest key opens the lock inside the steel box

select the required target faces 

check the shoot details to determine the required target size(s)

if the shoot uses more than one size (ie 122" and 80"), both sizes will be needed

depending on the distances, 4 or 6 spot faces may be required, particularly for compouind shooters

use the 'best' of the lightly used faces, or new ones if needed

ideally, the faces should be up on the target butts an hour before scheduled start, but as a minimum a half hour before

select the target butts to be used

in general, try to select the comp butts to be in the middle of the range. 

avoid using any known 'soft' butts, particularly for the compound shooters

ensure there is an unused butt between each division that is shooting a different distance

ensure all butts not in use for the comp are closed / covered

if multiple size targets will be used

mount the target faces required for the first round

place the target faces for the second round behind the butt, ready to be mounted when needed

if replacement rubber is required for a butt, new pieces are located in the day use target shed, on the left hand side of the shelf

electronic shot cycle timers

the timers are stored on the wall in the target container

disconnect the charging cables

get the timers and the tripods and place one on each edge of the active target butts

set the power toggle switch to 'on'

the control box is stored beside the timer boxes

the batteries for the controller are stored in a small box to the left of the timer box shelf

to operate the controller

install the batteries

   the controller needs to be set to 240 minutes shoot time

press the 'Pr' key to access the setup routines

to start the shooting cycle press 'TIRER' (French for 'shoot') 

this will then cycle from pre-shoot (2 tweets) to shoot (1 tweet) to score (3 tweets)

the cycle can be stopped at any point - press the 'Stop' button

if all shooters are finished before the timer runs down, press 'Score' to skip to the 3 tweets and to reset the timer 

if you are going to be the DOS

the electronic timers may be used (recommended if there is a large turnout) 

alternatively, the DOS may prefer to use a whisle

-there is usually a whistle pinned to the notice board in the club house, above the sign in book. personal choice if there are any concerns about who used it last 

check with any new shooters to ensure they are registered, have someone to help with scoring, introduce them to the shooters they will be with

you can ask someone else to be the DOS if you would rather not do it

when the shoot is done

if there were any new faces used for the comp, and they are still in good condition, they can be returned to the target container.

- it is a judgement call if any target face is still good for the next comp or if they are left on the butts or go to the daily use tin shed

- as a minimum to be kept for another comp shoot, all scoring lines should be in good shape, and no areas of the face should be 'shot out'

close / cover the butts

turn off the timers, return them to the target container, plug in the charging cables

remove the batteries from the controller, place the batteries in the small box beside the timers, place the controller in the side of the timer box

close and lock the target container