should women shoot a 90meter FITA the same as the men if they want to?

[Jerry Tee]

I have been away from archery for a while and what struck me when i returned was the improvement in preformance of the equipment. I think that there are a lot of women out there now that have or could have a 90 meter mark on their sights.So the question is should women shoot a 90meter FITA the same as the men if they want to?

[Furface]

If the sport is a combination of equipment, strength, and technique, then why not. There are plenty of women out there who can, and could beat the men. However, the other side is also true. There are plenty of men who really struggle in a York or Gents FITA, but could compete with their female counterparts one round down. Now they never have a chance to be competititve at a 12-doz tournament. One approach might be mixed categories, alongside single-gender. Though how do you then deter the pot hunters who can compete quite happily at the longer round choosing the shorter distance because it's "easier"?

[Archery1st]

There are no reasons why a lady can't shoot at a competition doing the gents rounds, nor is there any rules stopping gents shooting the ladies.# OK so there probably won't be any awards as the numbers would probably be low, but i bet there would be a mention all the same.# I know gents can shoot the ladies fitas if they wish as I have done it before, and it was a FITA star, yes I got some funny comments but I tell you what I had a good laugh and the company was much better than on the gents line.</p>

In fact I would love to see more mixed lines, you know at FITA 720's mix us all up, hell we all see people across the field but how many times can you actually shoot with them, lets start making a shooting line more enjoyable for all.</p>

[avalon]

Though I'd agree, there's nothing to stop men and women shooting the same rounds, I wouldn't like to *have* to. I think there is still quite a big difference in the weight men and women are holding (and height/drawlength etc). A couple of years ago, I was shooting 90m and getting around 260-270, but I was on the limit of my sight, and with 36lb. Now I'm only shooting 30lb, I can't make the distance, and there are a lot of women out there who I'd expect to be in the same position.
It depends what you'd be asking to happen? Have women shooting a gents fita, and compete between themselves... or have them competing with the gents? I think then women would be (in general) at a significant disadvantage due to draw weight.

[cecile]

I agree with Jerry and I will add that at short ranges too, men have the advantage of being able to shoot bows with more weight: fingers are more easily opened than with low weights.
However, in France we have a competition that gathers both men and women (50 m range) and women sometimes win...
Personnally I have to aim 10 m above the 90 m target to be able to reach it with my 32 lbs bow (and I shoot very good equipment).
At 70 m, have a look from the side at the arrows. Men's go much more straight to the target than women's...
Some very few women draw 40 lbs bows... very few indeed.
The majority of us are not corean female archers who can beat men at long ranges...

[Armchair Archer]

I can understand the ladies' concerns, but this thread is about should #women shoot against men <font color="#ff0000">IF</font> they <font color="#ff0000">WANT</font> to.</p>

As A man I have no problem with a lady beating me if she's the better archer, although i'd need to get to 90m first, LOL</p>

[Archery1st]

Here's another thought on this....</p>

Look at the World Records for both ladies and Gents, 70, 50 and 30m and you will actually see that bow weight makes almost no difference.</p>

In fact I personally feel that the ladies counter the lower bow weight with better technique, whereas men use bow weight to cover their faults.# I know that this may invoke some flames from some, but the proof is in the scores </p>

[Armchair Archer]

Archery1st - 22/5/2005 8:54 AM

In fact I personally feel that the ladies counter the lower bow weight with better technique, whereas men use bow weight to cover their faults.#

</p>

This is true in many sports, if you want to play better golf, for example, watch the ladies, their form is always better!!!!</p>

[Furface]

Interesting observation A1st. One thing I am always banging on about is the number of moderate male archers who move from recurve to compound because, to the less discerning eye, they score better. Not so prevalent among women. Same thing as higher poundage recurves, perhaps.
As a wild generalisation (talking about the majority, not champions): men seem more impatient to score, but less willing to take instruction; women will listen and work on what their coach says, but are less motivated by score. (Hm, I feel a thread coming on!)

[Shirt]

Archery1st - 22/5/2005 8:54 AM
In fact I personally feel that the ladies counter the lower bow weight with better technique, whereas men use bow weight to cover their faults.

*raises hand*

Guilty as sin, but it seems to work fairly well...