In top-level recurve the string does not touch the face, or barely brushes it
1 study · 16 archers measured
The summary today
There is a single count, but it was made with a serious instrument: sixteen world-class recurve archers, eight men and eight women from national teams, filmed at 4,000 frames per second while shooting. In four the string touches the face, three times on the chin and once on the chin and lips; in the other twelve no contact is visible. The same paper reads it in two ways, though: in the results the authors judge it minor and say it should not significantly change how the arrow behaves, while in the conclusions they call it noticeable and able to alter that behaviour markedly. Contact is judged by eye, from the string pressing into the face at full draw and from the marks left after the release, and no score is set beside it. The claim therefore holds as a description of one sample, one archer in four with light contact, and says nothing about whether that contact costs points.
Also phrased as: "string touching the face"; "string contact on the chin"; "string on the nose at release"; "string slapping the face"; "string pressure at anchor"
In practice
Archers are taught that at anchor the string should rest lightly on the chin and nose without pressing, because a string that pushes on the face at release sends the arrow sideways.
Evidence
-
2012
For Archers Published later
16 world-class recurve archers, 8 men and 8 women from national teams, filmed at 4,000 frames per second: in 4 the string touches the face, 3 on the chin and 1 on the chin and lips, and in the results the authors judge the contact minor, not enough to affect the arrow significantly. In the conclusions the same contact becomes noticeable and able to alter the arrow's behaviour markedly. The judgement is visual, from the string pressing into the face at full draw and from the marks after the release, and no score is reported.
High-speed video analysis of arrow behaviour during the power stroke of a recurve archery bow · James L Park, Oliver Logan
Status history
- 2012 Reported The first count comes from sixteen world-class recurve archers filmed at 4,000 frames per second: in four the string touches the chin or lips, and lightly, while in the other twelve no contact is visible. One sample, a judgement made by eye and no link to the score: reported.
Related
Related articles
- Common beginner mistakes in archery and how to avoid themThe most common beginner mistakes in archery, from posture and release to equipment, and what the measurements made on beginners actually show.
- The anchor point in archery: biomechanics and common errorsThe anchor point in archery: the hand-to-face contact points, how much the string really touches the face, the drawing elbow and shoulder, common errors and how to find the right anchor.
- Experts and beginners: what really changes in the shotWhat an expert archer does that a beginner does not: consistency, muscles, balance, timing and years of practice, and how far the studies support each.
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). In top-level recurve the string does not touch the face, or barely brushes it (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/string-face-contact-top-recurve
@misc{campagna2026_contattocordaviso,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {In top-level recurve the string does not touch the face, or barely brushes it},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/string-face-contact-top-recurve},
note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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