Arrows & Insights

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TARGET ARCHERY RIGHT NOW.

ARROWS & INSIGHTS PLUS THE BEST OF THE FEED.

ORIGINAL STORIES AND HEADLINES IN ONE PLACE.

Two streams in one place. Arrows & Insights is the TLAA Blog — original writing on the sport, the community, and the stories worth telling. Below it, our curated RSS feed pulls headlines from across the target archery world so you can stay current on events, results, gear announcements, and the news that matters without hunting for it across a dozen sites.

Thwack in 3: NFAA Collegiate Cup 2026, virtual. Register by October 18, qualifying October 19 to November 14, finals November 16 to 20

Thwack in 3: The NFAA Collegiate Cup Brings College Archery to Your Campus

Week two of Thwack in 3: the NFAA Collegiate Cup, a five-week virtual competition college archers shoot at their own range. $10 to enter, four bow styles on every team,... Read more...

Thwack in 3: Parapan American Archery Championships, Lima, Peru, October 21 to 25, 2026

Thwack in 3: The Parapan American Archery Championships Come to Lima

Our new weekly feature starts with a big one: the best para archers in the Americas meet in Lima, Peru, October 21–25, with 38 spots for the 2027 Parapan American... Read more...

Bear Archery's 2027 bow lineup side by side

Bear Archery's 2027 Lineup: What the First Reviews Are Saying

Bear dropped nine new bows for 2027, including its first serious target compounds in years. We pulled together every video and print review so far, bow by bow. Read more...

Archery gear packed in a protective travel case

The Real Cost of Getting Into Target Archery (And How to Do It Smarter)

$250–$400 gets you shooting. Where the money actually goes after that, the upgrade trap that drains most wallets, and how to spend smarter. Read more...

Adaptive Archery: The Line Is Open to Everyone

Same sport. Same targets. Same ten-ring. How adaptive archery works, the equipment that opens the door, and how to get started — no classification or permission required. Read more...

Adaptive Archery in the U.S.: Athletes, Programs, and How to Get Involved

Matt Stutzman, Jason Tabansky, Tracy Otto, and the programs that make adaptive archery one of the best-resourced corners of the sport. The bow adapts to the archer. Read more...

Archer aiming at targets on a sunny outdoor club range

How to Find an Archery Club That Fits Your Vibe (Not Just Your Skill Level)

The right club isn't the closest one — it's the one where you actually want to show up every week. How to find it, what to watch for on your... Read more...

Young archer practicing outdoors with an affordable recurve bow

Budget Bow Setups That Actually Perform — No $2,000 Rig Required

A complete shoot-ready recurve kit for $250–$400. What to buy, what to skip, and why the smartest money in archery isn't spent on gear at all. Read more...

Archer at full draw weighing form and equipment choices

Recurve vs. Compound for Target Archery: An Honest, No-Fluff Breakdown

Neither is better. One is right for you. How each bow actually works, the honest case for both, and the one recommendation most range loudmouths won't give you. Read more...

Competition line at a major indoor archery tournament

USA Archery Rankings Explained: What They Mean and How to Climb Them

NRS points, USAT qualifiers, divisions, age categories — the USA Archery ranking system decoded, plus the exact moves that start your climb. Read more...

Welcome to the New Thwack Life: Built for Every Archer in America

The new Thwack Life is here: a national directory, a real community, free learning resources, and a culture with no gatekeeping. Here's what we built — and why. Read more...

Archer aiming a recurve bow on an outdoor range

Indoor vs. Outdoor Target Archery: What Actually Changes and How to Prepare

18 meters with no wind vs. 70 meters with a crosswind — same bow, different sport. What actually changes between seasons and how to prepare for each. Read more...

Archers gathered at the Sunshine State Games archery event

Archery and Community: Why the Culture of This Sport Is Its Best-Kept Secret

The scores aren't why people stay. The culture is. Archery's best-kept secret — and the gatekeeping problem worth naming honestly. Read more...

Archer holding focus at full draw on an indoor range

The Mental Game: How Target Archers Train Focus and Handle Competition Pressure

Competitive archers call the sport 90% mental — then spend all their time on form. The five trainable mental skills that actually decide scores, and a six-week plan to build... Read more...

Focused archer at full draw preparing for a competition round

What Nobody Tells You About Switching from Recreational to Competitive Archery

Your practice scores will drop. Your gear needs a real tune. And you need a shot process, not just habits. What actually changes when you step onto a competition line. Read more...

So You Want to Shoot a Bow? Here's How to Actually Start

You don't need to be strong, young, or rich to start archery. You need a bow, an arrow, and about an hour. Here's exactly how to take your first shot. Read more...

Archer retrieving arrows from a target at an outdoor archery range

Youth Archery Programs by State: Where to Send Your Kid and What to Look For

NASP, JOAD, S3DA, 4-H — the youth archery alphabet, decoded. Which program fits your kid, what to look for locally, and how the competitive pathway actually works. Read more...

The Beginner's Guide to Your First Archery Competition (Without the Intimidation)

Your first archery competition doesn't have to be intimidating. Here's everything you need to know before you show up — divisions, equipment, scoring, and the mental side nobody talks about. Read more...

Thwack Life Sugar Skull Origin Story

I have always loved the aesthetics of bones, and of skulls in particular and they have been parts of many of my designs throughout my life Read more...

Mastering the Basics: 10 Tips for Beginners in Target Archery

as a beginner, acquiring the right knowledge at the start can significantly impact the quality of your experience. Read more...

Welcome to the Thwack Life

The original launch post of Thwack Life—preserved as a snapshot of where it all began. This marks the start of a community-first journey built around archery, education, and shared passion. Read more...