What is indoor archery (18m and Vegas 300)?
Indoor archery moves the target close and out of the weather: the World Archery/USA Archery indoor round is 60 arrows at 18 meters on a 40-centimeter face, while the separate Vegas 300 round is 30 arrows at 20 yards on a 3-spot face, both scored on a 10-point scale.
What it is
Indoor archery takes the sport off the field and into a gym or range, shooting at a much shorter distance than outdoor rounds. It runs all winter, when outdoor tournaments are rained or snowed out.
Two indoor formats are common at US events: the World Archery/USA Archery indoor round (18 meters), and the Vegas 300 round (20 yards), which is popular at NFAA-sanctioned indoor events including the well-known Vegas Shoot.
How scoring works
In the 18-meter round, one round is 60 arrows shot at a 40-centimeter target face using 10-point scoring, for a possible score of 600. You can shoot at a single face or, at many events, a vertical 3-spot face with three smaller targets stacked in a column, whichever the event offers.
In the Vegas 300 round, you shoot 30 arrows (10 ends of 3 arrows each) at a triangular 3-spot target face from 20 yards. Scoring also runs 10 down to lower numbers, and a perfect Vegas 300 score is 300 points with every arrow in the center ring.
What you need
Any bow type works indoors: recurve, compound, or barebow. Because the range is short, indoor archery is one of the easiest formats to start in. You do not need outdoor-distance strength or a long shooting lane.
Bring your bow and arrows; most indoor ranges rent lanes by the hour or the session, and many run beginner leagues where equipment is available to borrow.
Who can enter
Indoor archery welcomes every age and skill level, from first-time shooters at a local league night up to USA Archery Indoor Nationals, which is open to qualifying archers across youth, adult, and master age classes.
First-timer tips
- Ask which target face the event uses. Single-spot and 3-spot faces feel different to aim at, even at the same distance.
- Indoor lighting and background clutter can make the target harder to see than it looks in photos. Give yourself a practice end before scoring starts if the event allows it.
- Indoor season is a great time to try a new bow class or division since the shorter distance lowers the entry bar.
Common questions
What distance is indoor archery shot at?
The World Archery/USA Archery indoor round is shot at 18 meters. The Vegas 300 round is shot at 20 yards.
How many arrows do you shoot in an indoor round?
The 18-meter indoor round is 60 arrows. The Vegas 300 round is 30 arrows, shot as 10 ends of 3 arrows.
What is the Vegas 300 round?
The Vegas 300 is an indoor archery round of 30 arrows shot at 20 yards on a 3-spot target face, with a maximum possible score of 300.
What target face size is used indoors?
The 18-meter indoor round uses a 40-centimeter target face, shot as a single spot or a vertical 3-spot.
Is indoor archery good for beginners?
Yes. The short distance makes it one of the most approachable formats to start in, and most areas run beginner-friendly indoor leagues over the winter.
Read the official rules
This page is a plain-English starting point, not the rulebook. For the exact, current rules, go to the source: