Clout archery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clout is a form of archery in which archers shoot arrows at a flag (known as "the Clout") from a relatively long distance and score points depending on how close each arrow lands to the flag.
Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring zone it enters the ground in. An arrow embedded in the flag pole is counted as being in the highest scoring zone. If an arrow is laying on the ground, it is considered to be in the scoring zone in which its point lies.
The scoring zones may be marked on the ground. Where this is not practical, a non-stretch rope or chain marked with the radii of the scoring zones is attached to the flag pole and swept around it to determine which arrows are in which zones.
A designated person collects the arrows in each zone, sorts them into sets, and lays them on the ground. Each archer in turn points to his or her arrows and calls out the scores in descending order.
A single clout round consists of three dozen arrows, shot in ends of 6 arrows. Tournaments typically consist of a double clout round, in which a total of six dozen arrows is shot.
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[edit] GNAS clout
The GNAS version of clout is used in the United Kingdom. The information in this section is drawn from Part 7 Clout Shooting of the Grand National Archery Society's Rules of Shooting. (GNAS 2008)
Flags are set at specified distances for combinations of age and gender. The archer's bow type does not affect the distance the archer shoots.
The distances defined by the GNAS are:
| Distance | Gender and age |
|---|---|
| 180 yards | Gentlemen |
| 140 yards | Ladies |
| 140 yards | Junior Gentlemen under 18 |
| 120 yards | Junior Gentlemen under 16 |
| 100 yards | Junior Gentlemen under 14 |
| 80 yards | Junior Gentlemen under 12 |
| 120 yards | Junior Ladies under 18 |
| 100 yards | Junior Ladies under 16 |
| 80 yards | Junior Ladies under 13 |
Each flag consists of a 12" square piece of coloured fabric on a short softwood pole, the flag to be as close to the ground as is practical.
Shooting may be "one way" or "two way":
- one way shooting: a single shooting line and a single set of flags are set up at opposite ends of the range. The archers shoot from the shooting line towards the flags, walk to the flags without their bows to score and collect their arrows, then walk back to the shooting line to continue shooting in the same direction.
- two-way shooting: two shooting lines and two sets of flags are set up. One shooting line and one set of flags is placed at one end of the range; the other shooting line and other set of flags is placed at the other end. The archers shoot from one shooting line towards one set of flags, walk to the flags with their bows to score and collect their arrows, then turn around and shoot towards the other set of flags.
A minimum overshoot is required behind each set of flags.
Most GNAS clout shoots are one-way.
Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring zone it lands in. Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. There are five zones in GNAS clout, scoring as follows:
| Maximum radius | Points scored |
|---|---|
| 18 inches | 5 |
| 3 feet | 4 |
| 6 feet | 3 |
| 9 feet | 2 |
| 12 feet | 1 |
Arrows more than 12 feet from the flag do not score points.
[edit] BLBS variant of GNAS clout
The British Longbow Society shoots to the same rules as the GNAS, but restricts the archers to the use of English longbows and wooden arrows.
BLBS clouts are generally two-way.
[edit] FITA clout
The FITA version of clout is used worldwide. The information in this section is drawn from Book 5 Miscellaneous of the FITA Constitution and Rules. (FITA 2008)
Flags are set at specified distances for combinations of gender and bow type.
The distances defined by FITA are:
| Distance | Gender and bow type |
|---|---|
| 165 metres | Men Recurve |
| 125 metres | Women Recurve |
| 185 metres | Men Compound |
| 165 metres | Women Compound |
The FITA rules do not define any separate distances for juniors or for longbows, though tournament organisers will often introduce such additional distances.
Each flag consists of a piece of coloured fabric not exceeding 80cm high and 30cm wide on a softwood pole, the flag to be no more than 50cm from the ground.
Shooting may only be "one way".
Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring zone it lands in. Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. There are five zones in FITA clout, scoring as follows:
| Maximum radius | Points scored |
|---|---|
| 1.5 metres | 5 |
| 3 metres | 4 |
| 4.5 metres | 3 |
| 6 metres | 2 |
| 7.5 metres | 1 |
Arrows more than 7.5 metres from the flag do not score points.
[edit] Australian clout
The Archery Australia version of clout is used in Australia. The information in this section is drawn from Section 12 Clout Archery of the Archery Australia Constitution and Rules. (AUST 2007)
Several possible shooting distances are defined. The archer selects the distance he or she wants to shoot, though for record purposes only certain combinations of age, gender, bow type and distance are recognised.
The same flag may be used for archers shooting at different distances. A shooting line is set up for each distance and the shooting is staggered so that each distance is shot in turn.
The distances defined by Archery Australia are:
| Distance |
|---|
| 180m |
| 165m |
| 145m |
| 125m |
| 100m |
Each flag consists of a point-down triangular piece of coloured fabric not exceeding 45cm high and 35cm wide at its widest point on a softwood pole, the flag to be 8cm from the ground. Smaller flags are placed on each side of the clout at 1.5 metre intervals, such that the archers can see where the outer edges of the even-numbered scoring zones are.
Shooting may only be "one way".
Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring zone it lands in. Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. There are ten zones in Australian clout, scoring as follows:
| Maximum radius | Points scored |
|---|---|
| 0.75 metres | 10 |
| 1.5 metres | 9 |
| 2.25 metres | 8 |
| 3 metres | 7 |
| 3.75 metres | 6 |
| 4.5 metres | 5 |
| 5.25 metres | 4 |
| 6 metres | 3 |
| 6.75 metres | 2 |
| 7.5 metres | 1 |
Arrows more than 7.5 metres from the flag do not score points.
Zones may be marked on the ground, but these are not used for scoring. Only the scoring zones marked on the rope or chain are used for scoring.
