Every serious archer, regardless of discipline, knows about the Vegas Shoot. Held annually in Las Vegas each February, the Vegas Shoot is the largest and most prestigious indoor archery tournament in the world — and one of the most unique sporting events you will ever attend. Having competed there, I can tell you that nothing else in archery quite compares to it.
The History and Scale
The Vegas Shoot has been held annually for over 50 years and draws 3,000–4,000 archers from across the USA and internationally. It is hosted at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where the entirety of the hotel's convention center is converted into an archery range. Athletes shoot on the 3-spot 18-meter format over three days, with elimination rounds for top finishers in select divisions.
The Format
The Vegas Shoot uses the NFAA 3-spot format: three separate target spots arranged vertically on a backer, each shot with one arrow per end. Ten ends × one arrow per spot × three spots = 30 arrows total. Perfect score is 300-30X. This format puts an enormous premium on eliminating 8s and 9s — a single miss from the X ring can mean the difference between winning and finishing 20th in the most competitive divisions.
Divisions and Competition Levels
The Vegas Shoot features over 100 divisions — from Grand Master senior men and women to Pro AM and Collegiate divisions. The Professional divisions draw the highest-ranked archers in the world including multiple World Champions and Olympic medalists. Watching the Pro finals — where 32 archers compete head-to-head on a single distance stage in front of thousands — is one of the sport's most compelling spectacles.
How to Prepare for Vegas
- Register early — the event sells out months in advance
- Practice the 3-spot format specifically, not standard single-face shooting
- Recreate competition lighting conditions — Vegas uses very bright overhead lights that can create glare on certain sight apertures
- Prepare for the social and logistical side — Vegas is a distracting environment; build predictable daily routines around your shooting times
- Know your hotel-to-range schedule and have your equipment checked before traveling
Preparing for Vegas?
Contact Lalit Jain for Vegas Shoot-specific preparation coaching from a competitor who has experienced the tournament firsthand.