3D Archery — Glossary

Every 3D Archery term explained in plain language: technique, equipment, rules and slang – with tips on avoiding the classic mistakes.

Anchor Point (Movement)

The point on your face your drawing hand returns to at every full draw — usually the corner of the mouth. Without an identical anchor, every arrow lands somewhere else.

Arrow Spine (Equipment)

The stiffness rating of an arrow shaft — a smaller number means stiffer. It has to match your draw weight and draw length, not your bow model.

Back Tension (Movement)

Drawing the bow from your scapula and back rather than your biceps. EMG comparisons are clear: elite archers work through the posterior deltoid and mid trapezius, beginners through the arm flexors.

Blank Bale Shooting (Cheat code)

Shooting into a bare butt at close range with no target face. The scoring pressure disappears and only the shot sequence is left — anchor, back tension, follow-through.

Target Panic (Slang)

The word for the moment the shot fires you: you release too early, can't bring the sight into the gold, or freeze at full draw.

General

Terms from training theory that apply in every sport.

1RM (One-Repetition Maximum) (Rule)

The maximum weight you can move for exactly one clean repetition. The reference value behind almost every training plan.

BMR & TDEE (Rule)

BMR is your basal metabolic rate at complete rest; TDEE is total daily expenditure including everyday movement and training. Nutrition targets always work off TDEE.

Cadence (Movement)

Steps per minute when running, or pedal revolutions when cycling. For most runners, 170–180 steps per minute sits in the sweet spot.

Core Tension (Movement)

Active stabilisation of abdomen, back and pelvis — the bridge that lets force travel between legs and arms at all.

Deload (Cheat code)

A deliberately lighter week with volume or intensity clearly reduced, so adaptation can catch up.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) (Cheat code)

Delayed muscle soreness 12–72 hours after unfamiliar load. Not a measure of training quality.

Knee Valgus (Movement)

The knees collapsing inward during squats, jumps and landings. One of the key risk markers in technique analysis.

Progressive Overload (Cheat code)

The one principle no training works without long-term: the stimulus has to grow over time, otherwise adaptation stops.

RIR (Reps in Reserve) (Rule)

How many clean reps you had left at the end of a set. RIR 2 means two more were available.

RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) (Rule)

A scale for perceived effort. In strength training it usually runs 1–10, where RPE 8 means you had two more reps in the tank.

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) (Cheat code)

The easy endurance zone where you can still hold a conversation in full sentences. The base of almost every endurance plan.