Bullseye in Archery: What It Is and How Scoring Works

The bullseye in archery is the innermost scoring ring at the center of a target face. It is typically the smallest zone and, in most formats, the highest-scoring area available to an archer. Consistently hitting it is widely regarded as the ultimate test of accuracy and skill.

What the Bullseye Actually Is

A common misconception is that "bullseye" refers to the entire gold (yellow) zone on a standard target face. In competitive archery it does not. The gold zone contains two rings: an outer gold ring worth 9 points and an inner gold ring — the true bullseye archery center — worth 10 points under World Archery rules. Only an arrow landing in that innermost ring counts as a bullseye in archery.

Within the 10-ring there is an even finer zone called the X-ring. An arrow in the X-ring still scores 10 points in standard competition, but the X is recorded and used as a tiebreaker when archers finish on equal totals.

Archery Bullseye Points and Target Sizes by Discipline

The size of the archery target center changes considerably depending on the format and distance being shot:

• Outdoor recurve (70 m): 122 cm target face; the full gold zone measures 12.2 cm in diameter across both rings.
• Outdoor compound (50 m): 80 cm target face; compound archers typically use a reduced face showing only the gold and red rings (the 6 through 10 scoring zones).
• Indoor (18 m): 40 cm target face. For recurve the 10-ring is 4 cm in diameter; for compound it narrows to just 2 cm — roughly the size of a dime.

In 3D and field formats, the scoring rings are laid out differently. IBO 3D targets award 11 points for the smallest center circle, 10 for the next ring out, and 8 or 5 for outer zones. ASA 3D targets feature a 12-point inner ring and, when declared in play, a small fixed 14-point center ring (often called the "spider"). In these formats the archery bullseye concept still refers to the innermost zone — it just carries a different point value than in target archery.

Scoring Rules Worth Knowing

When an arrow shaft touches the line between two rings, it is always awarded the higher value — a rule that applies across World Archery and NFAA competition. Bounce-outs and pass-throughs that are witnessed are re-shot rather than scored as a miss.

Why the Bullseye Matters

Beyond the point value, the bullseye in archery carries real cultural weight. In many traditions it marks a rite of passage for developing archers, and landing one in competition draws immediate recognition. It demands consistent focus, refined technique, and a well-tuned setup — which is why understanding what constitutes a clean arrow hit is foundational to improving your score.