Rounds

Specific combinations of numbers of arrows, distances and target faces may be recognized as "rounds" by various archery organisations. e.g.

  • a "Chicago" round consists of 96 arrows shot over 18 metres at a 40 cm target face,
  • a "Murrumbeena" round consists of 90 arrows shot over 37 metres at a 122 cm target face, and
  • a "1440" round consists of 36 arrows shot over 90 metres at a 122 cm target face, 36 arrows shot over 70 metres at a 122 cm target face, 36 arrows shot over 50 metres at an 80 cm target face and 36 arrows shot over 30 metres at an 80 cm target face.

Organised shoots consist of a round (or rounds). e.g. Silver Knight Trophies are awarded for the highest scores for an "American" round.

There are large number of recognized rounds. The list below covers only those you will meet in locally organised shoots.

Only the most common definitions are given but often juniors, women and masters, and longbow and barebow shooters, will shoot over shorter distances; while compound and crossbow shooters will shoot at smaller target faces.

Some of the distances—9, 18, 28, 37, 46, 55, 73 and 91 m—appear odd but that is only because they are metric conversions of original imperial distances—10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 yards respectively.

Unless otherwise noted:

  • rounds shot over imperial distances include one sighting end at each distance and are scored using five zone scoring and
  • rounds shot over metric distances include one sighting end at the first distance and are scored using ten zone scoring.

1440

36 arrows shot over 90 metres at a 122 cm target face, 36 arrows shot over 70 metres at a 122 cm target face, 36 arrows shot over 50 metres at an 80 cm target face and 36 arrows shot over 30 metres at an 80 cm target face.

The faces used for the two shorter distances normally include only the centre 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 rings, so they are actually only 48 cm.

18 metre

60 arrows over 18 m at a 40 cm face.

The faces used normally include only the centre 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 rings, so they are actually only 20 cm. Three faces in a vertical formation are normally provided for each archer, and each end consist of three arrows: one shot at each of the three faces. That is because at that distance arrows hitting and damaging other arrows is a relatively common and costly occurrence.

25 metre

60 arrows over 25 m at a 60 cm face.

The faces used normally include only the centre 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 rings, so they are actually only 30 cm. Three faces in a vertical formation are normally provided for each archer, and each end consist of three arrows: one shot at each of the three faces. That is because at that distance arrows hitting and damaging other arrows is a relatively common and costly occurrence.

252

36 arrows over your choice of distance at your choice of face.

252 rounds are shot in practice. When you achieve a score of 252 or more at a given distance you shoot a greater distance next time.

720 (aka 70 metre)

70 arrows over 70 m at a 122 cm face.

American

30 arrows over 55 m, 30 arrows over 46 m and 30 arrows over 37 m; all at a 122 cm face.

Burton

30 arrows over 55 m, 30 arrows over 46 m and 30 arrows over 37 m; all at a 122 cm face.

Although they are shot over imperial distances, Burton rounds are scored using ten zone scoring.

Canadian 900

30 arrows over 55 m, 30 arrows over 45 m and 30 arrows over 35 m; all at a 122 cm face.

Chicago

96 arrows over 18 metres at a 40 cm face.

Metric I

Metric II

Metric III

Short Metric = 36 arrows at 50 m and 36 arrows at 30 m; all at an 80 cm face.

Short Metric II = 36 arrows at 40 m and 36 arrows at 30 m; all at an 80 cm face.

Short Metric III = 36 arrows at 30 m and 36 arrows at 20 m; all at an 80 cm face.

Murrumbeena

90 arrows over 37 metres at a 122 cm face.

Ohio

96 arrows over 55 m at a122 cm face.

Olympic

90 arrows over 28 metres at a 122 cm face.

The "Olympic" round is an old round. The round shot at the Olympics today is a 720.

Portsmouth

60 arrows over 18 metres at a 60 cm face.

Shot in ends of six arrows at a single full size face.

Vegas

30 arrows over 18 m at a 40 cm face.

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WAA 600

90 arrows over 30 m at a 122, 80, 60, 40, 20 or 10 cm face.

WAA 600 rounds are shot at the archer's choice of target faces and include two sighting ends.

Normally, when you achieve a score of 600 or more on a given size face you shoot the next smaller face next time.

York

72 arrows over 91 m, 48 arrows over 73 m and 24 arrows over 55 m; all at a 122 cm face.

The York round is the oldest round still commonly shot today.