Who can do archery
Almost anyone. Archery suits all ages, from children to archers in their eighties, and it rewards focus and practice more than strength. Bows come in a range of draw weights, so you start with a light one and build up.
It’s one of the most inclusive sports there is. Wheelchair users and archers with many kinds of disability shoot alongside everyone else, often in the same competitions. If you have a disability, mention it when you book: clubs are used to adapting equipment and coaching.
Most clubs take juniors from about 10 years old, and some from 8. Under-16s usually need a parent or guardian with them on the course.
How to start
- Find a club near you. Our Find a club page lists clubs that are welcoming new members, nearest first, with their courses.
- Try a come and try session if you want a taste first. Many clubs run them at open days and local events.
- Book a beginners’ course. In the UK you need one before you can join an Archery GB club.
- Join the club when the course ends, and keep shooting with the club’s equipment until you know what suits you.
The beginners’ course
A beginners’ course teaches you to shoot safely and well enough to practise on your own at the club. Courses usually run over 3 to 6 sessions, often one evening or weekend morning a week, and the club provides all the equipment.
You’ll learn the safety rules of the range, how to stand, draw, aim and release, and how to score. By the end most people are hitting the target from 15 to 20 metres. When you finish, you get a certificate that lets you join the club, and it’s recognised by other clubs too.
Courses fill up, especially in spring, so book early. Clubs list them on their page and on their events, and they show on Find a club.
Safety on the range
Archery has an excellent safety record because everyone follows the same few rules. The most important one: never shoot or walk forward unless the field captain says so. Signals vary a little between clubs, and your course teaches the ones your club uses. At most UK clubs:
- One whistle: start shooting.
- Three whistles: everyone has finished, so walk forward to collect your arrows.
- Someone shouting “Fast!”: stop shooting at once and lower your bow. Anyone can call it if they see a danger, like someone near the targets.
At competitions you’ll also hear two whistles, which call archers up to the shooting line, and a run of five or more whistles, which means stop shooting at once.
You’ll also learn to only put an arrow on the bow at the shooting line, never to draw a bow pointing anywhere but at the target, and to walk, not run, on the range.
The kinds of bow
You’ll almost certainly start with a simple recurve bow. Once you’ve tried a few, you can choose the style you like best. Clubs welcome all of them.
- Recurve: the Olympic bow, with a sight and stabilisers. The most common style.
- Barebow: a recurve with no sight or stabilisers. You aim by instinct and technique.
- Compound: uses pulleys (cams) so it’s easier to hold at full draw. It has a magnifying sight and a mechanical release, and it’s the most precise style.
- Longbow and traditional bows: simple wooden bows with no sights, shot with wooden arrows. Popular for their history and challenge.
What to wear
- Flat, closed-toe shoes. Trainers are ideal.
- Close-fitting clothes on top, with nothing loose at the chest that the bowstring could catch.
- Long hair tied back, and no dangling jewellery.
- Layers and a waterproof for outdoor sessions. You’ll be standing still for a while.
The club lends you an arm guard, a finger tab or glove, and a quiver for your arrows.
What it costs
Prices vary from club to club, but as a rough guide:
- A beginners’ course: usually somewhere between £60 and £130, often less for juniors. Equipment is included.
- Club membership: each club sets its own yearly fee.
- Archery GB membership: paid through your club, and it includes insurance. For 2025/26 it’s £65 a year for adults, and £25 for under-21s and disabled archers.
- Your own equipment: there’s no rush. Most clubs lend equipment to new members, and many sell good second-hand kit. Ask the club’s coaches before you buy anything.
How scoring works
A target face has ten scoring rings. The gold in the middle scores 10 and 9, then red 8 and 7, blue 6 and 5, black 4 and 3, and white 2 and 1. An arrow touching a line scores the higher ring. Some older British rounds use five colour zones instead, scoring 9, 7, 5, 3 and 1.
You shoot in ends of 3 or 6 arrows, then everyone scores and collects together. A round is a set number of arrows at set distances. A good first indoor round is the Portsmouth: 60 arrows at 20 yards.
As you improve, a handicap lets you compare scores across different rounds, and classifications give you goals to aim for. TargetAce works these out for you after every round.
After the course
Once you join, you can shoot whenever the club’s range is open. Coaches help you improve, and clubs run their own competitions, leagues and friendly matches. Many archers shoot outdoors in summer and indoors in winter.
TargetAce is a free scoring app for archers and clubs. You can score your rounds, follow your handicap and classification, enter your club’s events and see results. It’s free to use, with no adverts.
Common questions
Do I need to be strong?
No. Beginners use light bows, and good technique matters far more than strength. Your strength builds up naturally as you shoot.
Do I need my own bow?
No. The course and usually your first months at the club use the club’s equipment.
Is it safe?
Yes. With the range rules everyone learns on the course, archery is one of the safest sports.
I wear glasses. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Many archers shoot in glasses. Tell your coach and they’ll help you set up.
Can my family come too?
Usually, yes. Archery is a sport families often take up together. Check the course’s minimum age.