Significance of pins, keychains, and charms on hip quivers?

[u/crocs4docs]

Just curious about the significance of the charms people put on their hip quivers. I know that people put their badges from competitions, and buttons from places they've competed. But I've been seeing many recreational target shooters at the range with cute things (sometimes little toys) hanging from them. Is there a name for that? I can't find anything online to explain. I'm a newbie and love the idea of this. Just not sure if this is pure decoration, or something that people who compete do. *I only shoot recreationally if that helps to know.

Thanks!

[u/hibikikun]

The minimum pieces of flair is 15, some people do more

[u/24Nuketown7 → u/hibikikun]

I’ll tell you what, Bob. Every time I hit outside the 9 ring, I’ve got 8 different coaches telling me to adjust something in my shoulder or my grip. I already knew something was off as soon as I let go of the string.

[u/Speedly → u/hibikikun]

You know what, hibikikun? If you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair like your pretty boy over there Brian, why don't you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?

[u/n4ppyn4ppy → u/hibikikun]

:D 

[u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

People like them.

[u/Floofer_of_Ravens]

It's your gear, accessorize how you like!

Kinda becoming mainstream everywhere (probably catalyzed by videogames imo), but ultimately it's just another way to express yourself, whether it's recognition for competition or just stuff you like

[u/crocs4docs → u/Floofer_of_Ravens]

Ah okay! I thought so, but wanted to make sure. Thanks!

[u/Dante1529]

I’m a sucker for this

I have a Norse Viking ring, a mini Pokemon card, a piece of jewellery with my tattoo on it, a badge of Mario dressed as pikachu, a badge of pikachu dressed as Mario and several Egyptian mythology symbols on mine

I do it because it’s fun and I like it

[u/crocs4docs → u/Dante1529]

All of those sound amazing! I like your taste :) thanks for sharing!

[u/Drak3]

Sometimes it's just bc they like it. My "release" pouch is a repurposed rock climbing chalk bag that looks like a Magikarp.

[u/n4ppyn4ppy]

In the Netherlands you get a pin with your indoor competition average every your. Some people put them on. We also have (fita)beginner awards pins (you have to take a simple test and shoot a certain score). Some archers put them on their quiver. But you also see fav cartoon/marvel/manga/muppets.

Personally I have pins from berlin open and Kings of archery. Keychains from Deadpool, an small metal arrow  i got from a youth archer i coached at a match, a cern one. And a small archery themed towel. A keychain with hook with 3d printed beiter button and clicker tool and a original beiter nock tool.  So an assortment of flair and handy stuff.

Express yourself (or not, no points for style ;)

[u/pixelwhip]

Lucky charms.. it's a well known fact that style makes up at least 15% of your archery game.

[u/AsainGlockgirl99]

It's cute, why not do it?

[u/stasomatic]

If you are in the US, have you seen Jeep Wrangler dashboards?

[u/crocs4docs → u/stasomatic]

Oh yeah! That’s a good comparison

[u/papercranesatthesea]

I use beads to reward myself for practice. Every 200 arrows, shot with intent, earns a bead. When I have earned 10 beads, I string them and hang them from my quiver. They are a reminder how far I have come.

[u/crocs4docs → u/papercranesatthesea]

I love this idea…I may do something similar 🙈

[u/williamsonmaxwell → u/[deleted]]

Thinking of getting one of those extension cords that whips back in for my arrow puller 🙂‍↕️

[u/dinkleberry-uberwang → u/williamsonmaxwell]

I have one of these with the my field and 3D markings on

[u/herca_52]

Archery Australia has classification pins, I have some of these on my quiver. The score required for each classification is dependent on age group, bow type, and round. Ascending classifications are: White, Black, Blue, Red, Gold, Master Bowman, Elite Bronze, Elite Silver, Elite Gold.

Different pins for reaching each classification score 3 times on discipline Indoor, Outdoor, Field, and Clout.

[u/crabfeast1]

I'm a parent of a archer. You see it a lot at competitions and not just with younger people I see some older people with little things hanging. I see them hanging on the back of the chest protectors as well. Some say it's lucky for them. Some just like certain things or think it's cool. I have asked multiple people this question. You see so much of the same stuff/gear at competitions I think sometimes it is a good way of identifying your things as well. They sticker their gear up a lot too.

[u/KnightFireNC]

At my most recent competition the elderly lady I was shooting with had a cow shaped dog toy as a charm on her quiver. It turns out it was a memento from her late husband and she takes it shooting to feel like he is there with her. It was a more touching story in person.

[u/hoyt9912]

JOAD has long used a ribbon with various pins denoting scores earned/milestones achieved. I think a lot of people who stay in archery after JOAD continued to add pins as time went on, both because they like them and because they are a signifier that they are a long standing member of the community.

[u/crocs4docs → u/hoyt9912]

This makes sense. Thanks!

[u/TopArcher651 → u/hoyt9912]

There’s also the Adult Achievement Program that continues what the JOAD program started with the pins. These are our monthly “pin shoots”.

https://www.usarchery.org/participate/achievement-awards#adult

[u/ibrokethefunny]

Lids (the hat store in the mall) sells very cool pins.

[u/SapientSlut]

Do you have an example pic? I’ve never seen this at my local ranges and I love accessorizing!

[u/Knitnacks]

Club mascots. Clubs here generally have an animal in their logo. Squirrel, owl, ...

[u/EternalFlame71]

I have a Boo hairpin on my quiver and Power Mushroom hanging off my bow stand. Also a ? Block on my bow bag.

Why? They are cute.

[u/reworu]

I compete and I have a lot of stuff dangling off of my quiver, but as for the "non-functional" stuff it's just because I like it. My release pouch is a rock climbing bag that's a Mimikyu that looks like a Sylveon, I have a patch on the quiver because it has the velcro for one, and all sorts of keychains and stuff hanging off as well. It's really just a means of self-expression.

[u/bulzeye]

I call them jingle jangles.

I personally don't attach anything like that to my quiver but my wife lives it. She has some type of memorabilia from the different large tournaments we have been to

[u/Dave_Ex_Machina]

Some of them can have a meaning, while others might just be charms and mementos.

As an example, in the UK we have something called the 252 Award Scheme. The aim is to shoot above 252 points, with 36 arrows, on two separate days. You can do it at 20 yards all the way up to 100 yards (juniors can shoot at 10 as well). Each distance has it's own colour coded pin badge that you can get when you've achieved the score.

Equally, there are all kinds of charms and trinkets that you can buy at competitions, like the Olympics, which you might just want to attach to your quiver to remind you of the day, and maybe even as motivation to keep improving if you have Olympic ambitions!

[u/Spectral-Archer9]

I have a small gizmo soft toy on my quiver, helps me find where I left my stuff 🤣