What is the term for the act of pulling the bowstring back?

The term for the act of pulling the bowstring back is accurately referred to as "Draw." In archery, this process involves drawing the bowstring to a defined position in relation to the archer's anchor point on their face. This is a crucial step in the shooting sequence, as it helps establish the posture and tension in the bow, ultimately affecting the shot's accuracy and power.

During the draw, the archer engages their back muscles and ensures that the bowstring is pulled smoothly to the proper length. The technique for drawing the bow can vary slightly depending on the type of bow being used, but the fundamental principle remains the same: bringing the string towards the face or anchor point prepares the archer to aim and then release the arrow effectively.

Terms like aim, release, and anchor refer to different stages in the archery process, but they do not describe the specific action of pulling the bowstring back. Aim pertains to directing the arrow toward the target, release refers to letting the string go to shoot the arrow, and anchor relates to the position where the string comes to rest against the face or anchor point, but none accurately encapsulate the action of drawing the string back, which is why "Draw" is the correct answer