ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Sports Act. Living
Sec. Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1650300
A Multi-Parameter Investigation of Elite Archery: Distinguishing Individual and Shared Performance Strategies During the Aiming and Follow-Through Phases
Provisionally accepted
Raphaël Jacquot1,2*
Khaireddine Ben Mansour1,2,3
Kévin Bouillet1,2Jean-Philippe Jehl2,4
Gerome C. Gauchard1,2,3- 1Université de Lorraine, UR 3450 DevAH, Nancy, France
- 2Université de Lorraine, CARE Grand Est, Nancy, France
- 3Université de Lorraine, Faculty of Sport Science, Nancy, France
- 4Université de Lorraine, Institut Jean Lamour, Nancy, France
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Archery accuracy relies heavily on the aiming and follow-through phases, during which factors such as muscle activation, postural control, and drawing arm movement play key roles. This study aims to assess whether these performance determinants in high-level archery are consistent across athletes or reflect individual-specific strategies. Eight top-level French archers (4 women, 4 men) shot eight rounds of nine arrows at a 70 m target, using their personal equipment in a competition-like outdoor setting. Data on neuromuscular activity, postural control, body segment configuration and temporal strategies were collected during the aiming and follow-through phases. Arrow scores were grouped into high (10), mid (9), and low (≤8) for analysis. At the group level, several muscles and postural control parameters were associated with performance during the aiming phase (seven muscles, three postural parameters, and mechanical clicker reaction time) and the follow-through phase (four muscles and three postural parameters). At the individual level, two parameters during aiming (medial deltoid activity on the bow side and aiming duration) and two parameters during the follow-through phase (upper trapezius activity on the drawing side and surface of center of pressure displacement) were identified as individual strategies. These findings highlight both shared performance determinants and individualized strategies among elite archers, emphasizing that while technical approaches vary, certain biomechanical patterns remain crucial for optimal performance.
Keywords: archery, performance, Neuromuscular activity, Postural control, body, configuration, temporal strategies, elite athletes
Received: 19 Jun 2025; Accepted: 01 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Jacquot, Ben Mansour, Bouillet, Jehl and Gauchard. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Raphaël Jacquot, Université de Lorraine, UR 3450 DevAH, Nancy, France
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