Olympic target archery has two scoring stages: qualification adds all 72 arrow scores for a total out of 720, while individual elimination matches use set points. In a match, archers shoot three arrows per set; the first to six set points wins.
What the target scores mean
Olympic target archery uses a 122 cm target face set 70 metres away. Its ten concentric scoring rings are worth 1 to 10 points; a miss scores zero. The innermost 10 ring measures 12.2 cm across. World Archery’s Olympic overview gives the competition distance and target dimensions, while its rules overview describes the scoring rings.
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- Yellow: 10 and 9
- Red: 8 and 7
- Blue: 6 and 5
- Black: 4 and 3
- White: 2 and 1
How qualification scoring works
Each archer shoots 72 arrows in the ranking round, arranged as 12 ends of six arrows. Officials add the value of every arrow; the highest possible total is 720. Archers are ranked by this cumulative score, and those rankings seed the elimination bracket and determine opponents. World Archery’s qualification explainer describes the 72-arrow total-score round as the phase that seeds matchplay. The 720 maximum is reported by World Archery in 2021.
How individual matchplay scoring works
Qualification totals do not carry over as a running score in an individual elimination match. Instead, each match is divided into sets of three arrows. Add an archer’s three arrow values to get that set’s score, then compare it with the opponent’s set total:
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- Win the set: earn 2 set points.
- Tie the set: each archer earns 1 set point.
- Lose the set: earn 0 set points.
The first archer to reach six set points wins. A match can run for as many as five sets, but ends earlier if an archer reaches six. For example, a set total of 27 beats 25 and earns the winner two set points; if both archers score 27, each earns one.
What happens in an individual match tie?
If the score is 5–5 after five sets, each archer shoots one arrow. The arrow closest to the target centre wins. If officials cannot determine which arrow is closer, the rules allow another shoot-off. World Archery’s rules overview covers the shoot-off procedure.
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How team shoot-offs differ
Team and mixed-team competitions have their own set and shoot-off formats, so their procedures should not be inferred from the individual match. World Archery’s rules overview describes team matches as first to five set points. For a tied team shoot-off, the total arrow score decides first; if still tied, the closest arrow decides, with the next closest arrows compared if necessary. Team arrow counts and procedures can vary by event format.
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The two scores to keep separate
| Competition stage | What is counted | What the score does |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification ranking round | All 72 arrow values, for a maximum of 720 | Ranks archers and seeds the elimination bracket |
| Individual matchplay | Set points earned from three-arrow sets | First to six set points wins; a 5–5 tie goes to a one-arrow shoot-off |
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