Rounds
A round is simply the format of a shoot – the distance, the number of arrows, and the target face used.
Indoor and outdoor rounds test different skills. Both build strong, consistent archers.
Indoor Rounds
Indoor archery removes the variables. No wind. No weather. No distractions. That means your technique is fully exposed – in a good way. Because distances are shorter, target faces are smaller and scoring is tight. Tiny errors show up immediately.
Portsmouth
The Portsmouth is the go-to UK indoor round.
You’ll shoot 60 arrows at 20 yards on a 60cm face – simple on paper, surprisingly technical in practice.
You get two ends of sighters to settle in, find your rhythm, and make any small adjustments.
After that, scoring begins.
It’s straightforward, structured, and the round most archers cut their teeth on indoors.
Bray I
The Bray I is a shorter, sharper indoor round.
You’ll shoot 30 arrows at 20 yards on a 40cm face – half the arrows of a Portsmouth, but with a smaller target demanding tight grouping.
You’re allowed two ends of sighters to settle in before scoring begins.
It’s quick, competitive, and often used for club leagues and postal shoots. Shorter format. Same pressure.
Worcester
The Worcester is a classic indoor round with a traditional twist.
You’ll shoot 60 arrows at 20 yards on a black and white face – very different from the usual coloured target.
Scoring runs from 5 to 1 across five zones, so every arrow counts slightly differently than standard 10-zone rounds.
You get two ends of sighters to settle in before scoring begins.
It’s simple, historic, and surprisingly unforgiving if your grouping drifts.
Vegas
The Vegas round is sharp, precise, and all about the middle.
You’ll shoot 60 arrows at 20 yards on a 40cm triple-spot face – three small target spots to keep arrows separated and scoring tight.
Scoring runs 10 to 6, with only the gold scoring 10. There’s no outer gold generosity here.
You get two ends of sighters to settle in before scoring begins.
It’s simple on paper, ruthless in practice, and demands consistency from the very first scoring arrow.
Outdoor Rounds
Outdoor archery introduces the variables. Wind. Light. Distance. You’re not just shooting the target – you’re managing the conditions. Longer distances mean small errors grow quickly. It demands focus, resilience, and smart adjustments.
Warwick
The Warwick is a great step into outdoor scoring.
You’ll shoot at two distances – the longer distance first, followed by a shorter one – using a 122cm face.
A standard Warwick consists of 2 dozen arrows at each distance.
You get sighters before scoring begins.
It’s structured, manageable, and a natural progression from indoor shooting into outdoor season.
The 252 Scheme
The 252 Scheme is about progression.
You shoot 3 dozen arrows at a set distance and aim to score 252 or more. Hit the score, earn a badge, move back to the next distance.
Distances increase gradually, making it perfect for building confidence and distance control.
It’s not about competition – it’s about development.
And it’s one of the most satisfying ways to improve outdoors.
National
The National is a popular club competition format.
You’ll shoot:
– 4 dozen arrows at the longer distance
– 2 dozen arrows at the shorter distance
Gents and Ladies distances differ slightly, but the structure remains the same.
It’s shorter than a York, more demanding than a Warwick, and widely shot across UK clubs.
WA 70m
The WA 70m is the modern outdoor standard.
72 arrows at 70 metres on a 122cm face.
It’s the recognised international format and the Olympic distance for recurve archers under World Archery rules.
Clean. Direct. Demanding.
Ready to start your journey?
Whether you’re picking up a bow for the first time or returning to the sport, City of Chester Archers has a place for you. Find out how to join and what to expect as a new member.