Welcome to the RamRods Archery glossary. Here you will find brief definitions and explanations of terms used on the website. If you cannot find the term you are looking for, please email us so that we can consider adding it to our list!

5/16 - 24

A common thread size specification in archery equipment: 5/16-inch diameter with 24 threads per inch, used for RamRods mounting stabilizers and accessories. Most stabilizer mounting bushing installed into compound and recurve bow risers are 5/16 -24.

Adjustable V-Bar

Allows the archer to change the angle and spread of the side rods for customization.

Aerospace-Grade Aluminum

High-strength, lightweight aluminum alloy used in high performance archery components for high durability without excessive weight.

Aiming Pattern

The movement of the sight pin while aiming, often described as a “float.” Stabilizer setup can influence aiming steadiness.

Barebow

Barebow is a traditional recurve bowstyle that utilizes modern materials but prohibits some accessories such as sights or long stabilizers. The whole bow, when not strung, must fit through a ring that measures 12.2 centimetres in diameter. Barebow archers aim by looking down the length of the arrow and rely on finger placement on the string for distance estimation.

Bow Spin

The rotational tendency of the bow after a shot which is influenced by stabilizer setup and balance.

Compound

Compound refers to the type of archery bow that utilizes a system of cams and cables to reduce the effort required to hold the bow at full draw while increasing mechanical efficiency, allowing for greater accuracy and faster arrow speeds. Compound bows are equipped with features such as adjustable sights with magnifying lenses, stabilizers for balance and vibration reduction, and release aids for extremely consistent shooting.

Dampers

Rubber or mechanical devices designed to reduce vibration and noise.

Density

The measure of mass per unit volume; in archery, higher-density materials (like tungsten) provide more weight in smaller forms.

Distal

Refers to a point farther away from the center of the body or the point of attachment. For example, the distal end of the stabilizer front stabilizer is the end that you attach your weights to.

Down Angle

The slight downward tilt of stabilizer rods or side rods to adjust balance and torque control.

Draw Weight (Bow Poundage)

The amount of force (measured in pounds) required to pull the bowstring to full draw.

EDGE

A unique and geometrically intricate aesthetic designed by RamRods Archery and incorporated into stabilizer endcaps and accessories.

Endcap

The protective and aesthetic finishing cap at the end of a stabilizer rod is used to attach the stabilizer to the bow and to secure weights to the stabilizers. Sometimes referred to as a Bushing.

Extension

An accessory that moves the stabilizer system farther forward from the bow riser, changing balance and feel. Extensions are typically used on recurve bow set ups rather than compound bow set ups and often made out of aluminum or a combination of carbon, aluminum, or other materials. The longer the extension used, the further the center of gravity of the bow is pushed towards the target. Learn more about that balance here.

External Damping

Damping devices or materials that are mounted externally on the stabilizer or bow.

Fixed V-Bar

Holds side rods at a permanent angle, often lighter weight than an adjustable V-Bar.

Internal Damping

Damping material that is built into the inside of a stabilizer rod.

Long Rod / Front Rod

The primary stabilizer rod mounted to the front of the bow via a bushing in the riser, an eyebolt, or quick disconnect. It provides forward weight balance and helps reduce bow torque and vibration.

Mass Weight

The total physical weight of the bow setup, including stabilizers, weights, sight, and accessories.

Parallel Shaft

A stabilizer tube whose outside walls are “straight” or parallel to each other.

Proximal

Refers to a point closer to the center of the body or the point of attachment. In archery, it describes components closer to the archer’s hand or the bow’s riser. For example the Proximal end cap would refer to the end cap that goes closest to the bow.

Recurve

The term recurve refers to a type of archery bow characterized by limbs that curve away from the archer at their tips, enhancing energy storage and arrow speed. It is currently the only style of archery included in the able-bodied Olympics. Modern recurve bows incorporate advanced materials like laminated carbon fibre in the limbs, with risers often made of aluminium or carbon fibre. Key components include adjustable sights, stabilizers, arrow rests, plunger buttons, and clickers, all designed to improve accuracy and consistency.

Shaft Geometry

The physical shape of the stabilizer’s carbon shaft.

Side Rod

Short stabilizer rods mounted at an angle with either a V-Bar or single offset mount to the side of the bow to balance torque and fine-tune weight distribution.

Stabilizer

A narrow rod often made of a combination of carbon, aluminum, and other materials (or system of rods) mounted to the bow to balance weight, counter balance draw weight, reduce vibration, and improve aiming stability during the shot. Learn what features to look for in a stabilizer here!

Tapered Shaft

A stabilizer shaft that gradually decreases in diameter from the proximal end to the distal end. This design can reduce wind drag at the tip while maintaining increased stiffness at the base. It can also change the vibration damping characteristics.

Through-Hole

A hole that goes completely through a component, like a stabilizer proximal end cap, intended to aid in loosening or tightening that component.

Tungsten

A very dense metal commonly used for weights and points in archery to add mass in a compact form.

• Tungsten Weights: Compact, heavy stabilizer weights made from tungsten.
  
• Tungsten Points: Arrow points made of tungsten for improved Front of Center and tune-ability.

Tungsten Damping

A patented damping system which uses very fine tungsten particles to absorb vibration and dissipate energy without decoupling the mass weight from the bow during aiming.

V-Bar

A bracket that allows the attachment of side rods at specific angles to balance the bow. A V-Bar can be mounted directly to the front of the bow via an eyebolt or quick disconnect or it can be mounted out in front of the bow by means of an extension.

Vibration Damping

The reduction of unwanted movement or vibration after the shot to improve accuracy and comfort.

Weights

Threaded discs or cylinders added to stabilizers to increase overall bow mass and fine-tune balance. Most commonly made out of steel and in various weights ranging from 0.5oz to 10+oz. RamRods also makes weights out of solid tungsten which can be more wind efficient due to its density as well as a combination of steel and tungsten powder to create additional vibration damping inside the weight. Learn how much weight is needed on your stabilizers here.

Wind Drag

The resistance felt from air movement acting against stabilizer rods or arrows. In other words, how much the wind pushes against the stabilizer.

Wind Efficiency

A term used to describe how well a stabilizer design reduces the negative effects of wind drag and wind torque in windy conditions. This is a very important consideration for choosing a stabilizer. Learn more here.

Wind Taper

A stabilizer rod design that gradually narrows toward the end to reduce wind drag while maintaining stiffness.

Wind Torque

Rotational force caused by uneven wind pressure on stabilizers, arrows, or bow components, which can affect accuracy. In other words wind that pushes against the tip of the stabilizer, but not the base.