Is it possible? Yes and no. Modern carbon and aluminum arrows are hollow, and, if an arrow hits them just right, it can drive right through the plastic nock and down into the hollow portion of the arrow in what is called “telescoping” or “Robin Hooding.” I’ve done this several times, unintentionally. The first time, it is cool, but after that, it gets expensive. Carbon arrows can cost anywhere from $5 to $20 each, so…

No, not really. It might be fun, but it’s pointless. This has to do with the physics of a bow cast.  When the taut string is loosed, the energy stored in the bow limbs is transferred to the arrow. The arrow then bends under the stress before it rockets out of the bow—this is called the archer’s paradox. If you have two arrows on the string, then the energy imparted to each arrow is diminished…

We shouldn’t even need to discuss this. But it has become a common trope to see archers wielding their bows like clubs against swords and armor. The surprising thing is that the bows never break and the little sticks actually kill people who are wearing plate armor. This is simply ridiculous. Unless a bow is made of high carbon steel with a steel string, using it to deflect a sword stroke will result in the…

Since the Archer of the Heathland series is about archery, I thought it would fun to start a discussion of some of the archer errors that appear in film. Enjoy! Error #1 Creaking bows: In movies, why do bows being drawn creak as the string is pulled back? You will see this in virtually every movie, film, or TV show. It has become the stock sound effect for archery.            …