sportbogen

Sportbogen is the German term for the recurve bow used in competitive target archery. It denotes the standard bow employed in World Archery (WA) target archery and in most international competitions. In sport archery, the bow is typically equipped with a sight, stabilizers, and a finger tab or glove, and it is tuned for repeatable accuracy at indoor and outdoor distances.

Construction and design are centered on a rigid riser (the handle) with two limbs that bend away from the archer when strung. The limbs, which can be made from wood, fiberglass, carbon composites, or combinations thereof, attach to the riser and transmit energy released from the string. Modern sport bows are designed for adjustability in draw length and draw weight, allowing archers to tailor the bow to their body size and technique.

Regulation and use: equipment for sport bows is governed by World Archery rules, which specify dimensions, materials, and allowable accessories to ensure fair competition and consistency across events. The sport bow is the primary choice for Olympic-style target archery, in contrast to other disciplines that use longbows or compound bows.

History and context: the recurve bow has long been associated with competitive archery, with modern sport bows evolving through advances in materials and precision tuning. The term “sport bow” emphasizes its role in organized, rule-governed competition rather than traditional or hunting bows.

See also: Archery, Recurve bow, World Archery, Target archery.