How to Start Archery: Your First Lesson, Gear and Score
The short version
- Book one lesson before you buy anything.
- Most USA Archery clubs have gear for you to use your first time, so you can learn on a club bow while you find out if you like it.
- Each club sets its own price, so ask before you book.
- Try a recurve and a compound before you pick one.
- Log your scores in the free scoring app.
- Your ARC Rating shows how far you have come. Lower is better, and 0 is a perfect round.
Where do I find an archery lesson?
Start with a coach. USA Archery says you will pick up the sport quickly with the help of a certified instructor or club, and that is a good reason to book a class before you spend money on anything else.
Our lessons page lists the ranges that teach, sorted by state and city, so you can pick your city, contact a range on the list and ask when its next class starts. Find archery lessons in the USA
You can also go straight to your state. We have lessons pages for California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois and Colorado. Archery lessons in Texas are taught at 34 ranges.
Some cities get a page of their own. There are pages for Chicago, Denver and Brooklyn.
What should I ask before my first visit?
Call or email the range first. Here are the questions to ask.
- When does your next beginner class start?
- What does the class cost?
- Is the gear part of that price?
- What should I wear?
We do not list lesson prices on our pages, because each club sets its own, so the club is the only place to get the real number.
Do I need to buy a bow first?
No. USA Archery says most of its clubs will have gear for you to use your first time, and on our lessons page, 85 of the ranges that teach also rent gear.
Wait until you have had a few lessons. Then ask your coach which bow fits your size and the way you want to shoot, since that is the person who has watched you shoot.
Should I start with a recurve or a compound?
Most new archers start on one of these two bows.
A recurve is the simple one. When you pull the string all the way back, you hold the full weight of the bow, and it has been the Olympic bow since 1972.
A compound has wheels at the ends of its limbs, and they are called cams. The cams cut the weight you hold while you aim, which is one reason beginners often group their arrows sooner on a compound.
Coaches like the recurve for teaching form. Try both before you spend money, and use our guide to compound vs recurve to see them side by side.
How far from the target will I stand?
Indoor rounds are shot at 18 meters under USA Archery rules and at 20 yards under NFAA rules. You do not have to start that far away, and your coach can set you up closer while you learn. Our guide to archery range distances explains each distance, and our guides page lists every guide we have.
How do I keep track of my scores?
Your first scores will not tell you much on their own. The trend is what counts.
The free Archery Scoring App runs in your browser, so there is nothing to download. Pick your bow and the round you shot, then type your total or tap where each arrow landed on the target. You can try it without an account, and a free profile saves your history and shows your trends.
What does your rating tell you?
Your ARC Rating turns your scores into one number, and lower is better, so you want to see it drop. A perfect round scores 0.
The rating is the average of your last 8 scores for a round. With fewer than 8 scores, it shows as a provisional estimate until you log more. The rating means the same thing on a short round as it does on a long one.
Do you want to see your number now? Put a few recent scores into the free handicap calculator, and it will work out your ARC Rating for you.
When should I try an event?
Go when you want to test yourself. Our events page lists tournaments and shoots across the country. To learn about the other kinds of archery, read our beginner's guide to archery in America.
Book your first lesson
The bow, the gear and the score can all wait until later. Book the lesson first. Pick your state, find a range that teaches, and ask when its next class starts.
FAQ
Do I need my own bow to start archery?
No, you do not. USA Archery says most of its clubs will have gear for you to use your first time, and on our lessons page, 85 of the ranges that teach also rent gear.
How much does a first archery lesson cost?
Each club sets its own price. We do not list lesson prices, so ask the club before you book, and ask whether the gear is part of the price too.
Should a beginner start with a recurve or a compound?
Either bow works for a beginner. Beginners often group their arrows sooner on a compound, while coaches like the recurve for teaching form.
How does the ARC Rating work?
It turns your recent scores for a round into one number. Lower is better, and 0 is a perfect round. It is the average of your last 8 scores, and it shows as provisional until you log 8.
How far from the target does a beginner stand?
Indoor rounds are shot at 18 meters or 20 yards. Beginners should start closer than that and move back once their arrows group well.
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