Handicap and Classification Information

Handicaps

In archery a handicap is a measure of an archer's accuracy. At its most simple it is a number that describes the spread of arrows as they leave the bow. The smaller the handicap, the smaller the spread, resulting in a smaller group and a higher score.

The handicap depends only on the accuracy of the archer, not the type of target being shot, distance, bowstyle, or any other factor. This means that for any given value of handicap we can trace the arrows from the bow to the target to predict a score. This score is what is provided in the handicap tables. For a longer introduction to the handicap system please see this article.

Handicaps are quite powerful with a number of uses. The most popular is the ability to compare performance on different targets, distances, and rounds. For example, if you score 1055 on a Hereford and 545 on a WA720 it's not immediately clear which of these is better. However, by comparing the handicaps of 40 and 38 we can see that the lower handicap on the WA720 is the best. The round comparison page on this website allows you to submit a score and view comparable scores on other rounds. Alternatively you can use the handicap tables page to generate tables for multiple rounds and compare the scores.

Beyond comparing scores the main use of handicaps is to track progress. As you shoot a wide variety of rounds you can keep track of the handicap for each score and see it decrease as you improve. Your club records officer should keep track of your handicap following the official handicap procedures as set out in SAP 9 of the Archery GB Shooting Administrative Procedures. Archers have separate handicaps for indoor and outdoor shooting, though the two should be comparable.

A lesser known use of the handicap system is to inform training. If you know your handicap on one distance and target you can estimate what scores you should get at other distances and target faces. You can also use it to predict your average group size at different distances (the calculator on this site does this for you). Finally, by tracking your handicap at different distances you can highlight areas to focus your training and potential equipment issues as discussed here.

This website provides the ability to calculate the handicap for your scores using the ArcheryGB handicap scheme released in 2023. Full guidelines for the Archery GB scheme are described in SAP9 of the Shooting Administrative Procedures. It also allows calculation using the old scheme (David Lane) and the Archery Australia schemes if you so wish.

Classifications

Archery GB provides a classification scheme as described in SAP7 of the Shooting Administrative Procedures. There are different schemes for different disciplines of archery, but each seeks to provide a progression scheme to reward archers performance as they improve.

Target Outdoor

For outdoor target shooting there are three tiers: Archer, Bowman, and Master Bowman, each with 3 subdivisions. To achieve a classification requires reaching a certain level of performance in a number of areas: accuracy (i.e. score), consistency (i.e. number of arrows), distance shot, and competitive standard. The requirements for each tier of classification are summarised in the following table:

The distance requirements vary by age, gender, and tier, with appropriate rounds for each group being shown in the classification tables.

The outdoor classification scheme provides a challenge to cover the entirety of any archer's career. With Archer 3rd class starting at 30 yards/metres in all categories the scheme is accessible to even the newest archers, whilst consistently achieving the scores required for Elite Master Bowman is a challenge, even to top international archers.

Target Indoor

For indoor target shooting there are, again, three tiers: Archer, Bowman, and Master Bowman, this time with 8 different classifications available (no Elite Master Bowman indoors). To achieve a classification requires reaching a certain level of performance in a number of areas: accuracy (i.e. score), consistency (i.e. number of arrows), distance shot, and competitive standard. The indoor classification scheme is administered by at a club level and the requirements for each tier are summarised in the following table:

Full details of appropriate rounds for each bowstyle are shown in the classification tables.

Field

For field archery there are 6 classifications ranging from 3rd through 1st Class, Bowman, Master Bowman, and Grand Master Bowman. To achieve a classification requires reaching a certain level of accuracy (i.e. score) in 3 rounds. The field classification scheme is administered by at a club level for Bowman and below, and by ArcheryGB for Master Bowman and above. The requirements for each classification are summarised in the table below.