Empirical analysis of the impact of bow parameters on arrow velocity: A study of World Cup archers based on energy transfer and aerodynamics

This study examines the quantitative relationship between bow-and-arrow parameters and arrow velocity using empirical data collected from elite athletes at the 2025 World Archery Cup. Within the frameworks of energy-transfer mechanics and aerodynamics, this research analyzes the effects of draw weight, arrow length, and arrow mass through independent-sample t-tests, correlation analyses, and multiple-regression modeling. Results demonstrate that draw weight is the dominant determinant of arrow velocity (β = 0.843, p < 0.001), confirming the energy storage–conversion hypothesis and providing empirical validation for the traditional archery principle of the “strong bow and powerful arrow.” In contrast, arrow length and mass exhibit non-significant effects among high-level athletes, indicating that modern competitive equipment has reached a state of aerodynamic and structural optimization in which marginal parameter adjustments are absorbed by systemic equilibrium. The findings establish an integrated analytical framework of the human–bow–arrow energy system, bridging laboratory models with real-world competition data and highlighting the coupling of physical, biomechanical, and cultural dimensions in archery performance. This interdisciplinary approach provides reproducible evidence for optimizing bow-and-arrow configurations and offers a theoretical bridge between ancient embodied wisdom and contemporary scientific modeling.