Bow oscillation and its association with shooting accuracy in junior elite recurve archers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119720Keywords:
Archery, biomechanics, bow stability, motion capture, pre-release phaseAbstract
Introduction and Objective: Bow stability before release is a key determinant of precision, yet its relationship with upper-limb strength in junior elite archers remains under-characterized. This study aimed to quantify triaxial bow oscillation and examine its association with shooting performance and maximal isometric handgrip strength.
Methodology: Using an 8-camera Vicon system, 3D kinematics were recorded to evaluate bow displacement and pulling-hand variability during a standardized pre-release window in recurve archers.
Results: Longitudinal oscillation was identified as the most consistent kinematic determinant of performance, showing a large negative association with shooting score. A nearly perfect negative correlation was found between mean score and grouping area (minimum enclosing circle method). While handgrip strength was not associated with performance, bow draw force showed a moderate-to-large positive association with score, though it did not reach statistical significance after correction.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical role of longitudinal stability over raw hand strength in determining shooting precision among elite junior recurve archers.
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