Archery retail has distinctive product complexity: bows have draw weight and draw length variants that affect which arrows a customer needs; arrows must be matched to bow draw weight via spine charts; and the UK has specific legislation around crossbows (Crossbows Act 1987) requiring age verification at sale. Shopify handles archery product structures well once bow specs are set up correctly as metafields and variants — this guide covers the full migration pattern.

Archery product categories

Recurve bows: ILF (International Limb Fitting) system — riser + limbs sold separately or as packages. Draw weight typically 20–45 lb for adults.
Compound bows: More complex specs — draw weight range (adjustable), draw length range (adjustable), axle-to-axle length, brace height, let-off percentage, IBO speed rating.
Longbows: Traditional, one-piece. Draw weight, draw length at which weight is rated (typically 28 inches), bow length.
Crossbows: Age-restricted (UK: 18+ to purchase). Draw weight, power stroke, speed (FPS), stock type.
Arrows: The most variant-heavy product. Spine rating (material + stiffness), length, diameter, fletching type, nock type, point type.
Arrow components: Nocks, fletching, points/tips, inserts — sold individually or in packs.
Sights and accessories: Bow sights, stabilisers, arrow rests, quivers, arm guards, finger tabs/gloves.
Targets and butts: Boss targets, foam targets, bag butts — indoor and outdoor. Size and material variants.
Maintenance and tools: Bow presses, string wax, D-loop cord, arrow saws — specialist tools.
Clothing: Shooting gloves, arm guards, shooting jackets — size variants.

Bow product variants and metafields

Bows require careful variant and metafield design depending on type:

Recurve bows

Variant: Draw Weight (20 lb, 22 lb, 24 lb, 26 lb, 28 lb, 30 lb, 34 lb, 38 lb, 42 lb)
Variant: Hand (Right Hand, Left Hand)
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.bow_length (single_line_text) — "62 inch", "66 inch", "68 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.limb_material (single_line_text) — "Wood/Fiberglass", "Carbon", "Wood core"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.ilf_compatible (boolean) — whether limbs use ILF attachment
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.suitable_for (single_line_text) — "Beginners", "Club archers", "Field archers", "Target archers"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.ata_approved (boolean) — Archery Trade Association approved

Compound bows

Variant: Draw Weight Range (40-50 lb, 50-60 lb, 60-70 lb) — compounds are adjustable within a range
Variant: Hand (Right Hand, Left Hand)
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.draw_length_range (single_line_text) — "25.5–31 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.axle_to_axle (single_line_text) — "33 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.brace_height (single_line_text) — "6.5 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.let_off (single_line_text) — "80%", "75–80%"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.ibo_speed (single_line_text) — "325 FPS", "335 FPS"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.cam_type (single_line_text) — "Single cam", "Twin cam", "Hybrid cam", "Binary cam"

Crossbows

Metafield: product.metafields.archery.draw_weight (single_line_text) — "150 lb", "175 lb"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.power_stroke (single_line_text) — "14.5 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.speed_fps (single_line_text) — "380 FPS"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.age_restricted (boolean) — always true for crossbows (UK: 18+)
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.bolt_length (single_line_text) — compatible bolt/quarrel length

Arrow spine selection

Arrow spine matching is the most technically complex aspect of archery retail. Customers must select arrows based on their bow draw weight and arrow length:

Arrow spine values: for carbon arrows, typically 250, 300, 340, 400, 500, 600 — lower number = stiffer spine = for higher draw weights
Variant: Spine (250, 300, 340, 400, 500, 600)
Variant: Length (26 inch, 28 inch, 30 inch, 32 inch) — or "Cut to length"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.point_weight (single_line_text) — compatible point weights "75–125 grain"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.inner_diameter (single_line_text) — for insert sizing "0.244 inch", "0.246 inch"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.arrow_material (single_line_text) — "Carbon", "Aluminium", "Aluminium/Carbon", "Wooden"
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.fletching_type (single_line_text) — "Plastic vanes", "Feather fletching", "Spin vanes"

Spine selection guide: add a dedicated arrow spine selection guide page linked from all arrow product pages. This reduces incorrect purchases and returns significantly. A simple table format: bow draw weight vs recommended arrow spine at different arrow lengths.

Age verification (crossbows and age-restricted items)

UK Crossbows Act 1987: It is illegal to sell a crossbow or crossbow bolt to anyone under 18. Retailers must take reasonable steps to verify age.
For online sales: age verification at checkout — collect date of birth, verify against stated age at delivery (delivery-stage age verification is the most robust approach).
Shopify age verification: add a date-of-birth field at checkout using Shopify checkout extensions (Shopify Plus) or a third-party age verification app. Common apps: AgeChecker.Net, Agify.
On product pages: display a clear notice "This item is age-restricted. You must be 18 or over to purchase crossbows in the UK."
Carrier instructions: include delivery instructions requiring signature from an adult (18+).
Tag crossbow products: add a "age-restricted-18" tag. Use this in automation rules to require age verification at checkout for tagged products.
Metafield: product.metafields.archery.age_restricted (boolean) — link to checkout validation logic.

Arrow cutting service

Most archery retailers offer to cut arrows to customer-specified length before dispatch. This is a personalised service that makes returns/exchanges complex (cut arrows cannot be resold).
Implement using Shopify product customisation: Line item properties or custom fields at checkout ("Cut to length: [input]").
Display a clear note: "Arrows cut to length are non-returnable." This matches the UK Consumer Contracts Regulations exemption for goods made to customer specification.
Shopify flow: apps like Infinite Options or Custom Product Options allow adding a free-text field to the product page for cut length specification.

Club and trade accounts

Archery clubs are significant bulk buyers — arrow sets, targets, replacement strings, club equipment. Offer club/trade pricing.
B2B pricing: use Shopify B2B (Shopify Plus) or a wholesale app (Wholesale Club, B2B Wholesale Club) for trade pricing tiers.
Club account application: create a form for clubs to apply for trade pricing. Verify Archery GB affiliation or equivalent.
Bulk ordering: clubs often order 10–50 sets of arrows at once. Ensure quantity discounts are available.

Bow setup and tuning services

Many archery shops offer bow setup, tuning, and repair services. These are service products in Shopify — no inventory, no shipping.
Create service products: "Compound Bow Setup and Tune", "Bow Press Service (Strings and Cables)", "Arrow Cutting Service".
Mark as: Digital product or service (no shipping required). Remove weight. Add to a "Services" collection.
String making service: custom bowstrings made to customer specification (material, colour, strand count, length). Implement using product customisation fields.

Archery migration checklist

Create archery metafield namespace: draw_weight, draw_length_range, bow_length, ibo_speed, let_off, cam_type, arrow_material, spine, inner_diameter, age_restricted
Set up bow variants: draw weight + hand (right/left)
Set up arrow variants: spine + length
Tag all crossbow products as "age-restricted-18"
Install age verification app and configure for crossbow products
Add age restriction notice to all crossbow product pages
Create arrow spine selection guide page — link from all arrow products
Add arrow cutting service note and non-returnable policy
Implement custom length input field for cut-to-length arrows
Set up club/trade pricing tier for archery clubs
Create bow setup/tuning service products
Enable draw weight, bow type, arrow material, spine filters in Search & Discovery
Test: crossbow product → age verification appears at checkout
Test: arrow spine variants selectable → correct SKU to cart
Test: cut-to-length input field captures specification → appears in order notes

The spine selection guide is the archery retailer's equivalent of the lingerie fit guide — the single piece of content that most reduces customer confusion, incorrect purchases, and returns. An archer who buys the wrong spine rating will have arrows that fly erratically or not at all, and they will blame the retailer. A clear, well-designed spine chart (draw weight vs arrow length vs recommended spine) embedded on every arrow product page and on a dedicated guide page pays for itself many times over in avoided returns and repeat customers who found the right arrows first time. The stores that do this best also include a "spine calculator" tool (JavaScript taking bow draw weight and arrow length and outputting recommended spine range) and photos demonstrating good vs poor arrow flight — the visual evidence that convinces uncertain customers to use the guide rather than guessing.

Migrating an archery & target sports store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)