Why do archers need arm guards

But how many of us are familiar with the often-overlooked arm-guard? Archers wear arm guards to protect their arms from the string and to prevent their shots from being compromised. Some also use them for historic reasons, mainly as a sentiment to medieval times. The first and most obvious use is its role as a protective element between the string and the bow.

Anyone who has shot an arrow from a bow has likely experienced the painful whiplash of a string snapping on bare skin — a shock second only to the realization that archery is a lot harder than it might initially appear.

However, proper form will soon correct this mistake. It should be noted that a great archer has no real need for a bracer. Incorrect rotation of the bracing arm is one of the first lessons a new archer must learn. Proper technique in this regard renders the protective service a bracer offers largely unnecessary. So why, then do we still see bracers worn at the highest competitive level of archery, if such skilled archers have no need of protection from the dangers of bad form?

At the highest level of competition, even the slightest advantage or protection against possible disadvantage is critical for consistent success.

This is why we commonly see small, sleek plastic bracers used in high-level competition rather than large, bulky leather ones.

They are there simply to ensure the speed and accuracy of the shot. The greatest archers in the world do not need such help to be good archers, but every little bit of help can count when one is working so hard to be the best. The arm guard — or bracer — first appears en masse in the historical record in the sixteenth century.

The Mary Rose collection had both undecorated and more ornate examples of bracers, indicating that the arm guard had likely been in use for at least some significant stretch of time before. A lot of jackets that have long sleeves, will bunch up causing issues with the bow string. Each bow has a set draw weight which determines how much force is needed to pull the string back to fire an arrow. The stronger bows like hunting bows can have draw weights as high as 60 lbs. Typically, the higher draw weight means the string is under more pressure and is released with more force when firing an arrow.

So, is an arm guard necessary for archery? No, you can practice archery without an arm guard. But wearing an arm guard is highly recommended by many safety organizations, and some archery ranges will require that you wear one to use their range. That may be true, if you have perfect form every shot you take, you will rarely hit your arm with the string. I would still recommend kids wear an arm guard, even if they are using a youth bow. The string will still hurt if it hits their arm, and that could effect their interest in archery, and make them scared to use a bow again.

Make it part of your kids routine when you go out to practice archery. Inspect your equipment for damage before using it, and put on the proper safety gear. Here is my Favorite Arm Guard to use, that should give you a good idea of what a decent price, good quality arm guard looks like. For around 10 bucks, I find it best to just buy one. Some people will have a hard time finding a good arm guard that fits, or just like to have custom gear.

For those people, making an arm guard yourself is the most popular option. I have created a step by step article about How To Make An Archery Arm Guard yourself that includes a handy template to get you started.

Then your can customize it with engravings to make it your own. Even the best of the best archers in the world wear arm guards when target practicing. Weather, fatigue, wind, and range conditions are all out of our control and have an affect on every shot.

The straps are sometimes made out of Velcro but they can also be elastic. No matter how much experience an archer has, there is always a chance that they can be hit with their bowstring.

When in doubt, be smart and protect yourself with a high-quality arm guard. Previous Post. Next Post. Gear Uncategorized. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Popular Posts. Recent Posts. Fashion 9 Articles. Gear Articles.