Training with a signal on release timing makes that timing more consistent
1 study · archers measured
The summary today
Everything we know comes from a single Ukrainian experiment from 1998 on intermediate archers, split into an experimental group and a control group without random allocation. The experimental group trained with a device that measures the time between the click and the string leaving the fingers, comparing their own sensation with the number each time: by the end the variability of that time had fallen clearly, with a t of 4.8 on the standard deviation and 5.1 on the coefficient of variation against a threshold of 2.26. The mean time did not change significantly, so the method makes the release more regular, not faster or slower. The score rises just above the threshold, with a t of 2.4, and in the control group, according to the author, nothing moves. The picture stops there: the paper does not say how many archers took part, gives neither the starting values nor those of the control group, and nobody has repeated the test since.
Also phrased as: "release rhythm after the clicker"; "consistent clicker reaction time"; "training release timing"; "release timing device"
In practice
Archers are told that the release should always come with the same rhythm after the clicker, and that shooting a lot is enough to feel it: a trained ear picks out the arrow that left late on its own.
Evidence
-
1998
For Archers Published later
Intermediate archers trained in four stages with a device that measures the time between the click and the string leaving, comparing sensation and number after every arrow: in the experimental group the before and after comparison gives t = 4.8 for the standard deviation of release time and t = 5.1 for the coefficient of variation, against a threshold of 2.262. Means, deviations and sample size are not reported, and the direction (more stability) comes from the conclusions.
METHOD OF IMPROVING TECHNICAL ACTION IN ARCHERY · Bohdan Vinogradskiy
-
1998
For Archers Published later
In the same group the score improves just above the statistical threshold, t = 2.4 against 2.262, with no score values given. In the control group, which carries on with its usual training, the author writes that neither release consistency nor the result changes, but gives no statistics.
METHOD OF IMPROVING TECHNICAL ACTION IN ARCHERY · Bohdan Vinogradskiy
-
1998
Context Archers Published later
The mean release time does not change significantly, t = 2.2 below the threshold of 2.262: the method makes the release more regular, not faster or slower. The principle the method starts from, a correlation between release timing consistency and competition result of 0.79 to 0.94, is quoted with no sample or source and does not count as data here.
METHOD OF IMPROVING TECHNICAL ACTION IN ARCHERY · Bohdan Vinogradskiy
Status history
- 1998 Reported The first and only experiment on the question comes from Lviv: intermediate archers, one group training with a device that times the gap between the clicker and the string leaving, and one carrying on as before, without random allocation. In the experimental group the variability of release time falls clearly (t of 4.8 on the standard deviation and 5.1 on the coefficient of variation, threshold 2.26), the mean time stays where it was and the score rises just above the threshold; in the control group nothing changes. The paper reports neither the sample size nor the starting values, so this is supporting evidence but limited: reported.
Related
Related articles
- The clicker: the science of a tenth of a secondWhat research measures about the clicker: reaction time, the muscles of the release, its weight on the score and what happens to draw length without it.
- Training with a signal: tones, lights and timers that correct the shotA tone on the draw, a light on the bow arm, a timer on the release: what studies of archers have measured about signals that correct the shot.
- Motor learning in archery: how a movement becomes automaticThe three stages of motor learning and what studies on archers show: the brain, movement variability, corrections, goals, video and distance.
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). Training with a signal on release timing makes that timing more consistent (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/release-timing-feedback
@misc{campagna2026_feedbacktemporilascio,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {Training with a signal on release timing makes that timing more consistent},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/release-timing-feedback},
note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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