Compound archers hold their balance better than recurve archers in the seconds before the release
1 study · 11 archers measured
The summary today
There is one figure, and it is a large one. Eleven qualified Russian archers aged 17 to 18, six compound and five recurve, shot standing on two stabilometric platforms, and in the two seconds before the release, during the final pull, the quality of balance function, a summary index of the stabilogram expressed as a percentage, is 69.9 per cent in the compound archers and 40.3 in the recurve archers. The paper gives the two means but no statistical test between the groups. When the archers change foot position, the only stance that worsens balance significantly is the T stance, and it worsens it far more in the recurve archers (-64.8 per cent) than in the compound archers (-38.6); the score, meanwhile, does not fall. The two groups also stand differently, with the rear foot opened towards the target by 16 degrees in recurve and by 6 in compound. With five recurve and six compound archers the bow cannot be separated from the people, and the journal is regional: the difference is observed, not explained.
Also phrased as: "balance in compound and recurve"; "postural stability compound versus recurve"; "which is steadier, compound or recurve"; "sway before release in compound"
In practice
It is said that the compound is more forgiving of posture, because the release aid, the valley and the wall leave the archer steadier, while the recurve, with the fingers and the clicker, demands much finer balance work.
Evidence
-
2023
For Archers Published later
11 qualified Russian archers aged 17 to 18, from candidate master of sport to master of sport, 6 compound and 5 recurve, 5 ends of 6 arrows on stabilometric platforms: in their usual stance the quality of balance function in the 2 seconds before the release is 69.90 ± 1.66% in the compound archers and 40.27 ± 4.43% in the recurve archers. The paper reports no test between the two groups.
The effect of the feet position on the archery parameters · A.M. Pukhov
-
2023
Context Archers Published later
The same archers in four stances other than their own: only the T stance worsens balance significantly, by 64.83% in the recurve archers and 38.56% in the compound archers (p < 0.05), while the other three show only a downward trend. The score in the unusual stances does not fall, and is in fact slightly higher than in the usual stance.
The effect of the feet position on the archery parameters · A.M. Pukhov
-
2023
Context Archers Published later
The same archers, usual stance: the recurve archers open the rear foot towards the target by 16.10 ± 2.70 degrees relative to the shooting line, the compound archers by 5.78 ± 1.86, while the front foot is turned in a similar way (-22.75 ± 2.74 and -25.16 ± 3.95 degrees). All hold the bow in the left hand.
The effect of the feet position on the archery parameters · A.M. Pukhov
Status history
- 2023 Reported In eleven qualified Russian archers, six compound and five recurve, the quality of balance function in the two seconds before the release is 69.9 per cent in the compound archers against 40.3 in the recurve archers, and with a T stance the deterioration hits the recurve archers far harder than the compound archers. One study, eleven archers, no test between the two groups and a regional journal: reported.
Related
Related articles
- Barebow / instinctive vs Olympic recurve vs compound: differences in the shot, the equipment and the scoreRecurve, compound and shooting without a sight compared: draw weight, arrow speed and flex, let-off, balance, scoring and injuries in the registry's data.
- Foot position: which stance to use and how much weight each foot should carrySquare, open or closed: what top archers use, what changing your stance costs and how the weight is split between the feet, according to the studies.
- Posture and stability in archery: what biomechanists revealCentre of pressure, bow movement while aiming, balance before and after the release, the trunk and balance tests: what the biomechanics of stability measures and how much it weighs on the score.
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). Compound archers hold their balance better than recurve archers in the seconds before the release (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/balance-compound-recurve-before-release
@misc{campagna2026_equilibriocompoundricurvo,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {Compound archers hold their balance better than recurve archers in the seconds before the release},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/balance-compound-recurve-before-release},
note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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