Please School me in ASA Classes

[KarlGansen]

Why are there so many classes?

Open Pro
Open Semi-Pro
Open Known 50
Open A
Men's Unlimited (Fixed Pins)
Open B
Known 45
Hunter (Fixed Pins)
Open C

I am assuming
Open Pro (Pays Pro dues)
Open Semi Pro (Has won $$$ Before)
after that I am lost. I want to get back into 3d but I am confused as heck. I will be shooting a Monster or Element with No Magnification. I could use fixed pins or slider.

Thanks,
Karl

[M.E.B.]

So everyone can get a medal.

[westtexducks]

So everyone can get a medal.

More like it puts the guy with a plain jane hunting bow all in a class together while the dudes with the 4000 target bows tricked out to the max with scopes etc in a class together. Still only a handful of winners and losers but it more accurately shows the talent of the shooter. As a mediocre target shooter will whip a good shooter with a hunter class bow every time do to superior equipment. Would be like pitting guys with open sited .30-30s against guys with a tricked out 300 win mag in a shooting contest at 400 yards all the 300 would win but if you split it you get the best 300 shooters and the best .30-30 shooters unbiased of equipment.

From my little bit of research into the subject. Open=anything on the bow is legal, hunting division 60lb bow with less than 8" stabilizer and fixed site pins. Known 50 you know the distance to the target, Also for the Open you don't know distances to targets and rangefinders are not allowed. A B C is based on skill level and you shoot from different pins depending on the class you are in.

[bowhuntntxn]

More like it puts the guy with a plain jane hunting bow all in a class together while the dudes with the 4000 target bows tricked out to the max with scopes etc in a class together. Still only a handful of winners and losers but it more accurately shows the talent of the shooter. As a mediocre target shooter will whip a good shooter with a hunter class bow every time do to superior equipment. Would be like pitting guys with open sited .30-30s against guys with a tricked out 300 win mag in a shooting contest at 400 yards all the 300 would win but if you split it you get the best 300 shooters and the best .30-30 shooters unbiased of equipment.

From my little bit of research into the subject. Open=anything on the bow is legal, hunting division 60lb bow with less than 8" stabilizer and fixed site pins. Known 50 you know the distance to the target, Also for the Open you don't know distances to targets and rangefinders are not allowed. A B C is based on skill level and you shoot from different pins depending on the class you are in.

That is close. Hunter class has no draw weight limit, only a speed limit. And you can use up to a 12inch stabilizer. Known classes are just that. You can use a rangefinder on all targets. Open classes can use stabs of any length both forward and back, single pin adjustable sight, and A B C are for different skill levels

It isn't so everyone can get a medal, as those who don't shoot it might believe, it is set up to match skill levels and equipment levels, just as you said.

[tgridley]

I shoot it and yep it's so everyone gets a medal. Way to many classes IMO

[47]

I always looked at like, so not everyone gets a 1099

[KarlGansen]

so can you still use binos for any class? If this is my 1st shoot in a long time what class should I enter?

[Gummi Bear]

Yes, Binos are legal.

Rangefinders are OK in certain classes only. Bow Novice is all known yardage, fixed pins and less than 12" stab. Bowhunter is half known yardage, fixed pins (but can add a lens) and less than 12" stab.

Both classes are a ton of fun, and there are some tremendous shooters in both. The competition is good, ASA is a really well run tournament series here in Texas.

Last year I shot several tournaments, this year I haven't gotten to shoot any yet due to busy weekends. I'm hoping to get out for at least a couple, they are always a good time.

[KarlGansen]

wait on bowhunter I can have a lens, as long as I have fixed pins?

[Gummi Bear]

I believe that is still accurate.

I'm going off last year rules, confirm that with Arrowsmith before moving forward.

[westtexducks]

That is close. Hunter class has no draw weight limit, only a speed limit. And you can use up to a 12inch stabilizer. Known classes are just that. You can use a rangefinder on all targets. Open classes can use stabs of any length both forward and back, single pin adjustable sight, and A B C are for different skill levels

It isn't so everyone can get a medal, as those who don't shoot it might believe, it is set up to match skill levels and equipment levels, just as you said.

I was close for going off nothing but memory at 5 in the morning Was really looking into starting to shoot them a couple of years ago and then just never got around to it.

[JTeLarkin08]

I shoot it and yep it's so everyone gets a medal. Way to many classes IMO

I agree.. there needs to be hunter, a known class and a open class and thats it.. Payouts would be better and the same people would still be winning..

[OrangeBlood]

the less superior equipment comment for the hunter class guys is inaccurate, there are some dang good shooters in the hunter class that could outshoot many open class guys.

Just an equipment preference

however,
I don't understand all the known distance classes though, I've always thought the point of 3d is to have to judge a target and shoot it. That is what equalizes the equipment differences. A good shooter who can't judge a target, well isn't a good 3d shooter. And vice versa, if I can't shoot as good but can judge yardage better, that makes a shooter equal.

[Goldeneagle]

the less superior equipment comment for the hunter class guys is inaccurate, there are some dang good shooters in the hunter class that could outshoot many open class guys.

Just an equipment preference

however,
I don't understand all the known distance classes though, I've always thought the point of 3d is to have to judge a target and shoot it. That is what equalizes the equipment differences. A good shooter who can't judge a target, well isn't a good 3d shooter. And vice versa, if I can't shoot as good but can judge yardage better, that makes a shooter equal.

The known classes were brought in the get more participation from the spot shooters.