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Technique & form

Loose: The Archery Term for Releasing an Arrow

Loose is archery's traditional word for releasing the bowstring to send the arrow. "To loose an arrow" means simply to let it go — the term predates "release" and still turns up in historical and competitive archery writing, in phrases like "nocked, drawn, and loosed" or an archer "loosing a shaft."

Today most coaching and modern writing says "release" instead, and the two words describe the same moment in the shot. For the mechanics of doing it well — finger relaxation, back tension, timing — see releasing the string.

At a glance

Bow anatomy & construction

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Technique & form

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Arrow types

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The four main bow types

Most archery bows fall into one of these four families. Click any to read its full definition.

Longbow