The Complete Handbook of Archery Targets

I run a small but busy range and I've been flying by the seat of my pants on target purchases for years. This book finally put some logic to the madness. The chapter on foam density and arrow rating is worth the price alone - I can now actually read a spec sheet and know if a target will last or just crumble. Got a couple of minor quibbles with the troubleshooting section; I wish it had a few more diagrams, but the descriptions were clear enough. It's going on my shelf as a permanent reference.

As a serious hobbyist who shoots 300+ arrows a week at home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Turns out my target rotation and setup were terrible. The installation chapter about angling the target and using a proper backstop has already saved one arrow from breaking. The business chapter was a bit beyond my interest, but it's well-written for what it is. A solid, practical guide that doesn't treat you like an idiot. Just a standard, well-made handbook.

I bought this on a whim for my shop, and I've already used the comparison logic to help two customers pick the right target. It's not just a list of 'this is good, that is bad'; it actually explains the 'why' behind the choice. The chapter on broadhead targets was really clear. My only complaint is the printing quality of the diagrams in the maintenance section, they feel a bit cheap, but the content is top-tier. Glad I picked it up.

Honestly, I expected a marketing brochure cashing in on a popular sport. This is not that. It's a genuine technical reference, almost like a textbook for archery instructors. The physics part about kinetic energy and forward momentum made my Arbalest crossbow usage make way more sense. The guide also helped me fix my backstop properly so my neighbors' fence stops taking stray bolts. A really useful, dense read for the serious shooter. Recommend it to anyone with a backyard setup.

It's a good, solid book, and I've learned a lot. The breakdown of self-healing foams vs. layered fabric targets was particularly interesting and made me realize I've been using the wrong kind of target for my field points. But I have to say, it feels a little slanted toward the commercial/business use case. I was hoping for a bit more depth on the DIY repair of specific brand targets rather than generic advice. Overall a useful tool, but not a complete repair manual. Worth a look, but rent it from the library first if you're just a hobbyist.

The book is well-organized and covers a lot of ground, and I can't fault the technical accuracy. However, I found the writing a bit dry and the chapter on future trends felt a little too speculative and light compared to the solid information in the first half of the book. It does answer a lot of questions I had about arrow stopping power and the specs that matter. It's a decent reference book, but it's not a conversational read by any means. I'll keep it for the spec tables, but it's strictly a workbench manual for me.