Through the follow-through the archer's shoulder turns about thirty degrees
3 studies · 24 archers measured
The summary today
The reference figures come from two Korean studies by the same research group, both using infrared cameras. The first, in 2007, follows a single world-class archer over sixty arrows at 70 metres: up to the release the shoulder moves two and a half degrees horizontally, through the follow-through 31.4, at a mean speed of 94 degrees per second. The second, in 2008, measures 96 shots from eight experienced university archers and finds the horizontal rotation between 25 and 35 degrees in about three shots out of four, with a mean of 31.2. On the range of movement the two studies agree. On speed much less so: in 2008 the most frequent band is 90 to 110 degrees per second, but it holds only one shot in three, the mean is 135 and the best scores fall at around 120. About thirty degrees is therefore a fairly stable value, although it was measured on nine archers in all and in a regional journal; the speed, between the 94 degrees per second of the single case and the 135 average of the second study, does not yet give a reference.
Also phrased as: "how far the shoulder moves after release"; "follow-through range of movement"; "shoulder speed in the follow-through"; "follow-through reference values"
In practice
Archers are taught that after the release the string hand should slide back along the neck on its own, in a short and natural movement: if the shoulder jerks or swings open too far, the tension was not where it should have been.
Evidence
-
2007
For Archers Published later
One world-class archer, 60 arrows at 70 metres: the relative shoulder angle is 2.52 ± 0.17 degrees horizontally and 7.59 ± 0.29 vertically between anchor and release, and 31.41 ± 0.95 and 29.08 ± 0.98 through the follow-through. The mean angular velocity is 94.27 ± 5.24 degrees per second horizontally and 86.85 ± 4.17 vertically.
Evaluation on Motion Features of the World's Second Archer during Back-Tension in Archery · J.-H. Yi, C.-K. Hah, J.-S. Ryu, K.-C. Kim
-
2007
Context Archers Published later
In the same archer the means do not change with the score of the arrow, but the consistency does: the coefficient of variation of the horizontal angle in the follow-through is 5.87 per cent on the 10s, 14.01 on the 9s and 11.53 on the 8s. The mean horizontal speed ranges from 89.5 to 99.9 degrees per second depending on the score.
Evaluation on Motion Features of the World's Second Archer during Back-Tension in Archery · J.-H. Yi, C.-K. Hah, J.-S. Ryu, K.-C. Kim
-
2008
For Archers Published later
8 experienced Korean university archers, 96 shots with 7 infrared cameras at 200 frames per second: through the follow-through the horizontal shoulder rotation lies between 25 and 35 degrees in about 73 per cent of shots, with a mean by score of 31.22 ± 0.74 degrees.
Evaluation on Kinematic Factors Affecting Scores of Olympic Round Game during the Follow Through in Archery · Chong-Ku Hah, Jae-Hun Yi
-
2008
Context Archers Published later
On speed the picture is less tidy: 36 per cent of shots fall between 90 and 110 degrees per second, but the mean by score is 135.02 ± 18.42 and the 9s and 10s cluster at around 120 degrees per second, with the score rising as speed falls between 110 and 160.
Evaluation on Kinematic Factors Affecting Scores of Olympic Round Game during the Follow Through in Archery · Chong-Ku Hah, Jae-Hun Yi
-
2008
Context Archers Published later
In the same study the vertical movement of the bow through the follow-through, measured with a marker on the plunger, varies little in all eight archers: coefficient of variation from 0.05 to 0.14, mean 0.08 ± 0.03.
Evaluation on Kinematic Factors Affecting Scores of Olympic Round Game during the Follow Through in Archery · Chong-Ku Hah, Jae-Hun Yi
-
2026
Context Archers Published later
8 elite and 7 intermediate recurve archers with inertial sensors at 200 Hz: through the follow-through the elite archers keep the string-side shoulder less abducted, 91.5 ± 8.1 degrees against 102.3 ± 14.1, and the elbow more flexed, 56.5 ± 12.9 against 45.4 ± 20.0 (p below 0.001 for both). It is a position, not the range or speed of the rotation.
Analyse multidimensionnelle de la performance en tir à l'arc · Raphaël Jacquot
Status history
- 2007 Reported The first figures come from a single case: the archer ranked second in the world, sixty arrows at 70 metres filmed with infrared cameras. Up to the release the shoulder barely moves, 2.5 degrees horizontally and 7.6 vertically; through the follow-through 31.4 and 29.1, with a mean speed of 94 degrees per second horizontally and 87 vertically. It is a single archer, in a regional journal: reported.
- 2008 Reported The same group measures 96 shots from eight experienced university archers with seven cameras at 200 frames per second. The range of movement confirms the 2007 case: about three shots out of four between 25 and 35 degrees, mean 31.2. The speed does not: the most frequent band, 90 to 110 degrees per second, holds only 36 per cent of the shots, the mean is 135 and the best scores fall at around 120. Two studies on archers, but small, from the same laboratory and only half in agreement: the status stays reported.
- 2026 Reported A French thesis on eight elite and seven intermediate archers, using inertial sensors, measures the shoulder in the follow-through another way: not how far it turns but where it stays. The elite archers keep it less abducted, 91.5 degrees against 102.3, with the elbow more flexed. It gives neither the range of rotation nor its speed, so it neither confirms nor contradicts the Korean values, but it is a reminder that shoulder position after the release changes with level: the status holds.
Related
Related articles
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). Through the follow-through the archer's shoulder turns about thirty degrees (Version 2). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/shoulder-rotation-follow-through
@misc{campagna2026_followthroughvaloritipici,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {Through the follow-through the archer's shoulder turns about thirty degrees},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/shoulder-rotation-follow-through},
note = {Version 2; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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