Other Target Sports

Target sports are those sports in which a target is aimed at and the person shooting at the aim is target a target shooter (a term commonly used for people who play gun shooting sports). There are various forms of target sports and most target sports have their origins in past centuries. The most famous and most competitive target sports are archery and shooting. Darts is the third most played target sport. Some other target sports include bocce, knife throwing, croquet, laser tag and horseshoes. Most of these target sports and other target sports are famous Olympics events. These target sports and other target sports are being discussed below.

Archery is a target sport that requires a bow and arrows. The bow is used to shoot the arrows at a target. Archery has become a famous target sport over the years. Archery is believed to be an ancient sport. Its origins have been found to be dated back to 9000- 8000 BC. Archery has been used in hunting in primitive times and was also used in wars until swords and then later on guns took over.

Commonly when guns or other fire arms are shot at a target be it live target or shooting boards the act is called shooting. When using firearms the most critical element is of safety. Although a risk is involved in all thrilling sports like mountain climbing, car racing etc in shooting the risk is a little more than these other sports. Rules for handling firearms have been set out by concerned authorities and if followed closely these rules will guide you in ensuring your own safety as well as the safety of others from any shooting tragedy.

Sponsored Link

Darts is a reference to a variety of closely related game that involve throwing pointed small darts towards a dart-board hung on the wall some meters away. Now a days dart is used for a specific pub game originated in England that involves throwing darts at a calibrated circular dart board to score points. It is a sport that has specified regulations.

Bocce is a game that requires accuracy and precision in its play. Bocce is played in a specified and drawn bocce ball court. It originated in Italy and was modified to form similar game with a bit difference in its rules and court such as backyard bocce, or Petanque (also known as open bocce] and beach bocce. The only difference in these out-doors bocce and bocce is the fact that a specified, drawn bocce ball court is not required to play beach bocce and back yard bocce.

Croquet has its origins in the game of “mail”. The word mail here is used in French for hammer. This game was played in the Country side of France in middle-ages. The British took the inspiration for croquet from this French game. The present game of croquet emerged in Ireland in year 1830. This game had a hint of both cricket and golf.

The horseshoe equipment includes four horseshoes and two stakes. The two stakes are placed on 40 feet of distance between them. Although the actual horse shoes were used traditionally, now the horse shoe has been replaced by a U-shaped bar which is double the size of a horse shoe. The origin of horse shoes can be found in the old Grecian sport of discus throwing.

Knife throwing before becoming a sport was an art. Even today when it is recognized and practiced as a sport in certain communities the skill of throwing knives is still an art. In knife throwing knives are thrown at targets and the knife is required to stick to the target. Throwing knives and axes at the targets originated as an entertainment performance. Knife throwing belongs to the category of impalement arts.

Laser Tag is a game that is played with infrared signal emitting guns and infrared sensitive targets. The concept of using infrared rays was first used by the US military in late 1970s for combat training. Now many other armies have followed suit and are training their armies through this technique. George Carter III was the inventor of arena based laser tag. He got the idea from watching Star Trek.

All these target sports are appreciated and played the world over. Many target sports equipment stores are present to provide the necessary equipment to target sport enthusiasts. Internet has provided another avenue for buying target sports equipment. For those who cannot go out on the field to play target sports for some reason virtual environment of target sports video games is also available.