Target Archery: Which discipline fits your goals?

Choose the kind of round you want to shoot

World Archery separates target, indoor, field and 3D archery. The format changes what you practice and which target belongs on your range.

• Indoor target: choose this if you want repeated ends at a marked, short distance. A paper face and a safe backstop suit a club or home lane; compare face size and scoring pattern with your event.
• Outdoor target: choose this for fixed-distance rounds on a level range. Confirm the face and distance for your division before buying practice faces.
• Field or 3D: choose a course if you want varied distances, angles or terrain. Field uses circular faces; 3D uses foam animal forms. Course targets are not automatically interchangeable with an event-approved target.
• School archery: for a NASP program, check the current equipment list before choosing a bow, arrow or target.

For a first setup, decide where you will shoot and which event you may enter. Those answers narrow the target and arrow choices more than a product label does.

Choose an arrow by class and bow setup

First check the event and class limit. Some classes cap shaft diameter at 9.3 mm, while others allow larger shafts. The current ASA Pro/Am rules, NFAA equipment rules and World Archery rulebook do not use one universal limit.

For NASP, follow the program’s current equipment list first. The Genesis 1820 Black six-pack is a retail 1820 arrow example, not a team quantity. Check the program’s requirements for arrow length and components before ordering. For compound target competition, Easton identifies the X10 Protour 770 shaft as one model in its compound-target line. For a class whose rules permit large-diameter arrows, compare the Easton X27 2712, listed by Easton at .420 inch outside diameter. It exceeds World Archery’s 9.3 mm shaft limit, so do not use it in a division with that cap. These are examples for different rule sets and bow setups, not a single arrow recommendation.

Then match spine to bow type, draw weight, arrow length and point weight using a current manufacturer target shaft selector. A model name alone does not establish fit. Browse arrows and shafts after you know those inputs, and compare the listed shaft, spine and included components.

NASP school archery

NASP is a school program with specific bow and arrow rules. NASP rule 3.3.1 permits only the stock, original, unmodified Genesis bow approved for NASP, apart from the allowances the rule book lists^[1]. NASP rule 3.4 permits only the original Easton aluminum 1820 arrows approved for NASP^[1]. NASP rule 3.3.3 prohibits the Genesis Mini, Genesis Pro and Genesis Gen-X from NASP programs and tournaments^[1]. A school or parent buying for a school should read the NASP rules and Genesis listings before ordering a bow.

For school-program practice, choose a NASP face in the size used by your program. The Maple Leaf NASP 80 cm target-face 25-pack is a paper-face example; confirm the event setup and target-butt fit with your program.

Wide-diameter indoor arrows, when your class allows them

These 27-series listings are for classes that allow their diameter. World Archery Rule Book 3 (Target Archery) caps arrow shaft diameter at 9.3 mm, leaves wraps out of that limit but not beyond 22 cm from the nock groove, and caps points at 9.4 mm^[2]. Do not choose them for a division with that cap. Then match spine, arrow length and point options to your bow.

Stock counts and prices reflect the catalog data used when this page was built. They can change. Check each product listing for current details.

3D targets for course practice

A 3D target suits course practice when you want an animal-shaped aiming reference at varied distances and angles. The Rinehart Signature Coyote is a foam coyote target for practice; the listing does not establish approval for a specific league or course. Before buying, compare its size, scoring zones and replacement-core options with the range you plan to shoot.

Paper faces for indoor and outdoor target rounds

Match the paper face to the round, distance and scoring layout in your event rules. The shop listings are a starting point; face style or size alone does not show that a face is accepted in a particular class.

Check the rules for the exact event and class

Equipment limits depend on the organizer, round and class. NASP covers school programs; NFAA, the Vegas Shoot, ASA and IBO publish their own event rules. For USA Archery events, check the official event rules and the specific tournament format. The facts below summarize selected published rules. Use the linked organizer source for the full current text before competition.

Arrow diameter rules

The arrow diameter guide compares shaft and point limits, including class exceptions. Check your event and class before choosing a shaft.

ASA

ASA Pro/Am classes use different shaft limits. ASA Pro/Am rules cap arrow shaft diameter at .422 inch (2700 series), with points up to .425 inch^[3]. ASA limits arrows to 9.3 mm or .366 inch (2300 series) with points up to 9.4 mm or .370 inch in its women's 40-yard-and-under classes, Young Adult, Youth and Eagle^[3]. ASA Olympic Recurve classes follow the World Archery rules, with arrow shafts capped at 9.3 mm or .366 inch and points at 9.4 mm or .370 inch^[3].

IBO

IBO equipment rule: IBO rules allow a maximum arrow diameter of 27/64 inch (.422), with a point diameter allowance up to .425 inch^[4].

NFAA and The Vegas Shoot

NFAA shooting styles and equipment rules cap arrow shaft diameter at .422 inch including wrap, nock and nock insert, with points up to .425 inch^[5]. The Vegas Shoot caps arrow diameter at .422 inch including wrap, nock and nock insert, with points up to .425 inch^[6]. Current references: NFAA event rules and equipment rules.

USA Archery

USA Archery sanctioned target events may incorporate World Archery rules; check the event rules and format. See the wide-diameter shelf section for the World Archery arrow limits. World Archery Rule Book 3 (Target Archery) caps compound peak draw weight at 60 lb^[2].