At full draw more weight sits on the front leg
6 studies · 63 archers measured
The summary today
The studies do not point the same way, and the most recent suggests a reason: the answer depends on how the feet are placed. Three papers are in favour. The first, in 2010, on four elite right-handed Turkish women archers, finds 39.0 kilograms on the left leg, the front one, against 32.6 on the right before the release; the sum, however, is well above the archers' stated average body weight of 54 kilograms, and the figures need handling with care. In 2022, in 15 compound archers on a flat insole, about two thirds of the plantar pressure sits under the bow-side foot, mostly on the heel (43.7% of the total). In 2023, in 11 qualified young Russian archers, the load in their usual stance, with the toes slightly open, leans towards the front leg, by 7.8% in compound and 29.5% in recurve archers. Two weaker papers are against: a single archer in 2014, with the force plate under the front foot only, who according to the authors kept more weight on the back foot; and a 2019 study of 27 recurve archers that reads more load on the back foot from a horizontal force and from graphs without figures. The 2023 paper shows that the same archer can switch from one side to the other: turning the front foot towards the target, in a T stance, moves the asymmetry onto the back leg in both compound and recurve. None of these studies links weight distribution to the score.
Also phrased as: "weight on the front leg"; "weight distribution between the feet"; "fifty-fifty weight"; "foot loading while aiming"; "which leg to stand on"
In practice
Two pieces of advice circulate: some coaches ask for the weight to be split evenly between the feet, others for it to sit slightly more on the front leg, towards the target, to feel steadier under the load of the bow.
Evidence
-
2010
For Archers Published later
Four elite right-handed Turkish women recurve archers on the national team, 30 arrows each at 18 m indoors (108 usable), on force plates: before the release the left leg, the front one, carries 39.0 ± 2.5 kg and the right 32.6 ± 2.2 kg (p < 0.05). Together, though, the two legs far exceed the archers' stated average body weight of 54.0 kg, and the paper does not explain why.
Shooting Dynamics in Archery · M. Emre Erkek, Cevdet Tinazci
-
2011
For Archers Published later
Same figures, same tables and same average body weight as the 2010 version, but with the sample presented as four male archers: it is the same data set and counts only once.
Shooting dynamics in archery: A multidimensional analysis from drawing to releasing in male archers · Cevdet Tinazci
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2014
Against Archers Published later
A single archer, an experienced recurve coach, right-handed, aged 23 and weighing 84 kg, with the force plate under the left foot only, the front one, for the four seconds of the shot: the load peaks at 44.12 kg, just over half his weight, and the authors conclude that during the shot the weight sits more on the right foot, the back one.
Biomechanics Measurements in Archery · Zulkifli Ahmad, Zahari Taha, Hasnun Arif Hassan, Mohd Azrul Hisham, Nasrul Hadi Johari, Kumaran Kadirgama
-
2019
Against Archers Published later
27 right-handed male recurve archers, nine elite, nine intermediate and nine beginners, all made to use the same stance, on a force plate at 18 m: according to the authors the medio-lateral force indicates more load on the right foot, the back one, during the draw and at full draw in all three groups. The reading comes from a horizontal force, not the vertical one that actually weighs the two legs, and it is a description of graphs without values.
A comparison of the ground reaction forces of archers with different levels of expertise during the arrow shooting · D. Simsek, A.O. Cerrah, H. Ertan, A.R. Soylu
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2022
For Archers Published later
15 university-level compound archers on a pressure plate, 15 arrows at 30 m with a flat insole: the bow-side foot carries about two thirds of the plantar pressure, 43.72 ± 8.75% in the heel zone and 21.58 ± 6.57% in the forefoot, against 20.21 ± 4.56% and 14.50 ± 8.28% in the two zones of the other foot.
Arch-Support Insoles Benefit the Archery Performance and Stability of Compound Archers · Ting-Ting Wu, Shin-Liang Lo, Hui Chen, Jeng-Sheng Yang, Hsien-Te Peng
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2023
For Archers Published later
11 highly qualified young Russian archers, 6 compound and 5 recurve, aged 17 to 18, on stabilometric platforms, five ends of six arrows in five foot positions. In their usual stance, with the toes slightly open, the load asymmetry leans towards the front leg: 7.83 ± 3.15% in compound and 29.50 ± 1.46% in recurve archers; opening the feet into a V raises it to 13.84% and 30.68% (only a trend). With the front foot turned towards the target, in a T stance, the asymmetry moves onto the back leg (58.15 ± 1.94% in compound, 46.77 ± 2.60% in recurve archers, p < 0.05). Regional journal.
The effect of the feet position on the archery parameters · A.M. Pukhov
-
2024
Context Archers Published later
Five male international-level recurve archers: a measure called body force alignment gives 43.58 ± 0.18% on the right side and 56.61 ± 1.55% on the left, which looks like a split of the load, but the paper does not define it or state the archers' handedness. Journal with questionable editorial standards.
Kinematic Analysis of the Final Release position of elite Archer Questionable venue · Santosh Kumar, Akhil Mehrotra
Status history
- 2010 Reported The first data come from four elite right-handed Turkish women archers on force plates, 108 arrows at 18 metres: before the release the left leg, the front one, carries 39.0 kilograms and the right 32.6. The sum exceeds the archers' stated average body weight of 54 kilograms, so the measurement is uncertain, but the direction is the claim's. A single small study: reported.
- 2014 Contested The first contrary data arrive: an experienced archer weighing 84 kilograms, with the force plate under the front foot only, peaks at 44.12 kilograms, just over half his weight, and the authors conclude that during the shot the load sits more on the back foot. It is a single case, with only one foot measured; but the evidence in favour also comes from four archers and from figures that do not add up. One study on each side: contested.
- 2019 Contested A study of 27 recurve archers at three levels reads more load on the back foot during the draw and at full draw in all three groups. The reading comes from a horizontal force and from graphs without values, so it carries little weight, but it runs against the claim: the studies remain divided.
- 2022 Contested In 15 compound archers on a pressure plate, with a flat insole, about two thirds of the plantar pressure sits under the bow-side foot, mostly on the heel: a second study in favour, on a different kind of bow. Two studies on each side: the picture remains contested.
- 2023 Contested In 11 qualified young Russian archers, in their usual stance with the toes slightly open, the load leans towards the front leg, by 7.8% in compound and 29.5% in recurve archers; but turning the front foot towards the target, in a T stance, moves it onto the back leg with both bows. It is a third study in favour and at the same time an explanation for the disagreement: weight distribution depends on foot position, so the studies do not agree and the status stays contested.
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.
- Balance, core and proprioception: the training you never seeWhat balance and core exercises change in archers, which test is linked to score, and what shoulder position sense does and does not tell you.
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). At full draw more weight sits on the front leg (Version 2). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/weight-front-leg-full-draw
@misc{campagna2026_caricogambeasimmetrico,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {At full draw more weight sits on the front leg},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/weight-front-leg-full-draw},
note = {Version 2; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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