Anchor Point

What Is the Correct Anchor Point for Recurve Archery?

Recently, during a lesson, one of my students mentioned seeing a video of an archer at an indoor tournament anchoring very close to his eye. He asked me: “Why do you teach your students to anchor on the jawbone? Which anchor is correct?”

The truth is—both are correct. So why do I start by teaching the “low” anchor rather than the “high” one? My answer is simple: it’s easier to learn and generally produces more consistent results. Let’s break down the differences.

1. Safety

• High Anchor: At full draw, the string sits beside your nose. If the release isn’t clean—for example, if the archer “plucks” the string by moving the hand away from the face instead of straight back—the string may cross over and strike the nose. This is why you sometimes see archers with tape across their noses. For beginners, plucking is fairly common.

• Low Anchor: With a low anchor, the tip of your nose touches the string at full draw. Even with release errors, the string won’t hit your nose.

2. Trajectory

• High Anchor: Typically, the index finger knuckle presses into the zygomatic bone beneath the eye. This position shortens arrow flight and launches the arrow at a steeper downward angle.

• Low Anchor: The “V” between the index finger and thumb rests against the corner of the jawbone. This produces a flatter, more horizontal trajectory, allowing the arrow to travel farther.

3. Gap Shooting

If you shoot without a sight and without string walking, your point-on distance (the distance where your point of aim equals your point of impact) changes with anchor choice:

• Low Anchor: Increases point-on distance, making it easier to shoot longer ranges.

• High Anchor: Reduces point-on distance, which is why many archers shooting indoors at 18 meters (20 yards) prefer it.

4. String Walking

When string walking (adjusting your draw hand position down the string to change arrow flight):

• A high anchor can help with short shots.

• A low anchor can help with longer distances.

Personally, I’ve found switching anchors adds unnecessary complexity. Archery is about consistency, and the more variables you introduce, the greater the chance for error. That said, some archers do like the flexibility.

Final Thought

Both anchor points are valid. The choice depends on your goals, shooting style, and comfort. For beginners, I recommend starting with the low anchor—it’s safer, easier to learn, and builds a foundation of consistency. From there, you can experiment with the high anchor once your form is solid.