PNL Testers

One of the biggest problems in the archery industry is the lack of standardized testing methods for many of the performance claims being made.

While some ASTM and ATA standards exist for equipment specifications and safety, there are still very few standardized, repeatable testing protocols for things like broadhead testing, sharpness testing, pe*******on testing, aerodynamic performance, stabilization, and other real-world performance evaluations.

That is something we are working to improve through the Technical Archery Research Group (TARG).

The goal is simple:
• Improve repeatability
• Improve transparency
• Improve test consistency
• Help separate measurable data from opinion and marketing

We have now started publishing the test standards currently being developed for TARG.

This is an ongoing project and more standards will continue to be added over time.

You can view the current standards here:

Developed with support from PNL Testers and contributors within TARG.

technicalarcheryresearchgroup.com

I wrote a paper on a test I just ran, based on the time-of-flight to the target.

It was brought to my attention that it was shown that the times of flight between a fast and slow arrow of 0.13s (130ms) are meaningless.

I took my data and looked at this. As you can see, even 0.05s (50ms) makes a difference.

Target Reaction Timing and Arrow Impact | Sound-Based Archery Analysis This study shows that target reaction begins after sound reaches the target—not at the shot. Using controlled drop testing and measured arrow flight data, this analysis explains how reaction timing affects movement and impact at real hunting distances.

The first paper analyzed reaction timing based on release time.

This one builds on that by factoring in sound. Animals react when they hear the shot—not when the arrow is released.

That shift changes the timing window and impacts results more than most people think.

Target Reaction Timing and Arrow Impact | Sound-Based Archery Analysis This study shows that target reaction begins after sound reaches the target—not at the shot. Using controlled drop testing and measured arrow flight data, this analysis explains how reaction timing affects movement and impact at real hunting distances.

https://technicalarcheryresearchgroup.com/archery/drop-test-of-2026/

Drop Test of 2026 - How Reaction Time Affects Impact  

Test data showing time of shot vs. time of target drop.
The chart represents how far the target has dropped after the arrow is released.
The target drop is a gravity-driven free fall, released at a set time after the shot.

This test illustrates how arrow speed affects impact location as target reaction time changes.

At 250 ms (0.25 sec):

629gr arrow (231 fps): 7.06" impact change
379gr arrow (292 fps): 2.83" impact change

That is an absolute difference of 4.24", or 149% greater change with the slower arrow.

This shows that the slower arrow is more affected by target reaction time, resulting in a larger vertical change in impact.

When the drop time is reduced further to 200 ms (0.20 sec):

379gr arrow shows 5.48" of impact change

This demonstrates that as reaction time becomes faster, impact change increases rapidly, even for the faster arrow.

It is also worth noting that even at a faster reaction time of 200 ms, the 379gr arrow showed 5.48" of impact change, while the slower 629gr arrow at a slower reaction time of 250 ms still showed a greater impact change of 7.06".

This demonstrates that arrow speed has a significant effect on impact location, and that a slower arrow can produce more impact change even when compared against a faster arrow with a quicker reaction time.

Overall, the data shows that slower arrows result in greater impact shift as target reaction time changes, and the effect increases rapidly as reaction time decreases.

our trip for testing

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TARG’s (The Archery Research Group) mission is complete in Texas. Some exciting data to follow! Subscribe and follow for more!

https://www.pnltesters.com/research-library/reference-definitions

Reference & Definitions / Research Library | PNL Testers At PNL Testers, we believe that informed archers are better archers. This page is designed to be your comprehensive guide to the essential terms and measurements used in archery data. Whether you're a beginner just starting to explore performance metrics, an experienced archer fine-tuning your setup...