The manner in which an archer holds and releases the string of a recurve bow causes the arrow to flex during the bow`s power stroke and on its way from the bow to the target. While an experienced observer can subjectively evaluate an arrow`s pitch and yaw visually after it has left the bow, the arrow`s behaviour during the bow`s power stroke happens too quickly for visual observation. High-speed video is consequently a much more effective tool. Similarly, high-speed video is an effective tool for studying an archer`s technique during the bow`s power stroke.Mathematical models of the arrow`s behaviour in the horizontal plane during the bow`s power stroke have, to date, relied upon comparison of the arrow`s flexural shape with photographs. However, an implicit assumption of that process is that the archer`s technique is perfect. This paper provides an analysis of event times and the magnitudes of several key components of the arrow flex during the bow`s power stroke for sixteen world-class archers. Aside from being a powerful analysis tool in its own right, that data can also be used to evaluate mathematical models of arrow behaviour. It is concluded that archer technique variations could be a significant source of error where a single archer is used as a comparison for the mathematics, even if that single archer is amongst the world`s best.
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