Arm Guard

Bow Case

Other items you might need:

• A bow-stringer for stringing your recurve or longbow;
• Allen wrenches for adjusting your sights or maintaining your bow;
• A bow stand to hold your bow when you’re not shooting;
• Arrow lube and arrow puller to easily remove arrows from targets;
• String wax to protect your bowstring and keep it looking new.

With these essentials, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy archery at home or the range. You can pick them up at an archery shop.

Tools and Other Accessories

Quiver

To complete your archery setup, you’ll need some basic gear for your bow and arrows.

Release-aids and finger tabs protect your fingers and help you cleanly release the bowstring. A mechanical release-aid uses a trigger system. The release attaches to the bowstring with jaws or a clip. The bowstring on most compound bows has a D-loop, which is a short cord tied into a loop just below where the arrow’s nock grips the string. The release-aid clips onto the D-loop.

Once the release is attached to the D-loop, the archer draws the bow, aims and squeezes the release-aid’s trigger with the thumb or index finger. With pressure on the trigger, the release-aid lets go of the string to launch the arrow. The release-aid’s trigger mechanism helps deliver astonishing accuracy.

Mechanical releases come in two basic styles: wrist-strap and handheld. Wrist-strap releases attach to your wrist with a buckle or Velcro strap. Most beginning compound archers use that style because it’s affordable and easy to use.

For a finger release, archers use their index, middle and ring finger to grip the bowstring at the first joint of the fingers. Then they draw the bow, aim and relax their fingers to let the bowstring slip away.

Recurve and longbow archers use a glove or finger tab to protect their fingers while shooting their bows. Gloves and finger tabs are made of leather, and come in several sizes.

A finger tab fits between your fingers and the bowstring. The tab should cover your three fingers but not hang over your fingertips. For a custom fit, trim the tab with a scissors.

A shooting glove resembles a leather work glove, but only covers the tips of your shooting fingers. The fingertip sections are leather, and the glove secures around your wrist. Shooting gloves come in many sizes, and you can test-shoot them at the pro shop.

Release and Finger Tab

When you release a bowstring, it passes by your forearm. If the bowstring strikes your forearm, it can sting. An armguard protects your forearm from the bowstring, and prevents shirt or coat sleeves from catching the string as it passes.

Bow cases protect your bow when you travel between home and the range. Unprotected bows can be damaged if dropped onto pavement or knocked against a car, door or wall.

Hard cases offer the most protection. Most are rated for airline travel, which means you can take your bow on vacation or to distant tournaments. Some models have wheels for easy rolling and maneuvering, and they can be locked for safekeeping.

Soft cases, however, meet most archers’ needs. They’re lighter than hard cases, protect your bow from nicks and dings, and help organize your gear. Many soft cases are rated for airline travel, while others are best suited for road trips.

A quiver’s job is to hold your arrows while you shoot. You can choose a back quiver and channel your inner Robin Hood, or go for the waist quiver for your belt, or a bow quiver that snaps onto your bow.