1. World Archery (WA/FITA) Target Faces
World Archery (formerly FITA) standardizes competition target faces into 10 concentric scoring zones divided across five distinctive colored ring pairs:
- Gold (Yellow): Inner 10-ring (X-ring) and Outer 10/9 rings.
- Red: 8-ring and 7-ring.
- Blue: 6-ring and 5-ring.
- Black: 4-ring and 3-ring.
- White: 2-ring and 1-ring.
Each scoring zone has an equal radial width equal to one-tenth of the overall target face diameter. The table below outlines the exact dimensions for standard World Archery outdoor and indoor tournament targets:
| Target Format | Total Diameter | 10-Ring Diameter | X-Ring Diameter | Standard Distance | Primary Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 cm Face | 1220 mm (48.0 in) | 122 mm (4.80 in) | 61 mm (2.40 in) | 70m / 60m | Olympic Recurve, Masters |
| 80 cm Face | 800 mm (31.5 in) | 80 mm (3.15 in) | 40 mm (1.57 in) | 50m | Compound Outdoor 50m |
| 60 cm Face | 600 mm (23.6 in) | 60 mm (2.36 in) | 30 mm (1.18 in) | 25m / Short Range | Cadets, Indoor 25m |
| 40 cm Face | 400 mm (15.7 in) | 40 mm (1.57 in) | 20 mm (0.79 in) | 18m (20 yds) | WA Indoor 18m Championship |
| Vertical Triple Spot | 3 x 200 mm zones | 40 mm (1.57 in) | 20 mm (0.79 in) | 18m (20 yds) | Indoor World Cup (Rings 6-10) |
2. The Recurve vs. Compound 10-Ring Rule
One of the most critical distinctions in modern competitive archery governs how the center gold ring is scored across bow divisions:
Recurve Division: Recurve archers score 10 points for any arrow landing within the outer gold 10-ring (diameter 122mm on a 122cm face, or 40mm on a 40cm indoor face). Arrows hitting the inner ring are recorded on the scorecard as "X" (or "10X"), which counts as 10 points and serves as the primary tiebreaker.
Compound Division: In World Archery tournaments, compound shooters must hit the smaller Inner 10-ring (X-ring) to receive 10 points. An arrow hitting the outer 10-ring is scored as 9 points. This reflects the extreme mechanical precision of compound release aids, magnifying scopes, and high-energy cams.
3. Official Line-Cutter Regulations (Book 3, Art. 14.4)
A frequent dispute on the shooting line occurs when an arrow shaft lands directly on the boundary separating two scoring zones. World Archery Rule Book 3, Article 14.4.1 defines the universal line-cutter principle:
"An arrow shall be scored according to the position of the shaft in the target face. If the shaft touches two scoring zones or touches the dividing line between scoring zones, it shall be scored to the higher value zone."
Key technical details when evaluating line-cutters:
- Shaft Contact, Not Tear: Scoring is determined strictly by the cylindrical shaft touching or breaking the black dividing line. Paper tear-outs or shadows do not constitute a line-cutter.
- Dividing Line Width: Standard World Archery target printing specifications mandate dividing lines not exceeding
1.0 mmin thickness (and no more than2.0 mmbetween colors). Touching any part of this line awards the higher ring value. - Magnifying Glasses & Gauges: When archers cannot agree, a tournament judge uses an illuminated magnifying loupe or scoring gauge. Neither archers nor judges may touch the arrow shaft or the target face before scoring is recorded.
4. American NFAA & Las Vegas 3-Spot Formats
In North America, the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) and the prestigious Las Vegas Shoot utilize alternative target scoring conventions:
- Las Vegas 3-Spot: Targets feature three triangular or vertical target spots. Scoring is 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 from the gold center outward. The center X-ring (diameter 20mm at 20 yards) is scored as 10X. In the Championship Vegas rounds, compound shooters compete on a 300-point maximum system with X-count tiebreakers.
- NFAA Indoor Blue Face: A 40cm target with a white center (5 and 4 rings) surrounded by blue outer zones (3, 2, and 1 rings). A clean round consists of 60 arrows for a maximum possible score of 300 with 60X.
5. Competition Scorecard Etiquette & Arrow Calling
During sanctioned tournaments, strict etiquette protects the integrity of the results:
- Calling Order: Archers call their scores in descending point order (e.g., "X, 10, 9, 8, 7, Miss"). Calling scores out of order or before inspecting line-cutters causes scorebook errors.
- No Touching Arrows: Under no circumstance may any competitor touch an arrow shaft until all scores for the end are recorded and agreed upon. Touching a disputed arrow automatically awards the lower value.
- Pass-Throughs & Bouncers: If an arrow passes completely through the target butt or rebounds off another arrow, archers must not shoot an extra arrow. The shooting line is paused, and a judge inspects the target face for an unmarked hole.
Practice with GoldTracker: To test your understanding of ring values, try our free interactive Target Score Calculator, or use the GoldTracker mobile app to automatically score target photos with millimeter computer vision precision.