Types of Arrowheads Explained: Field, Target, Broadhead, Blunt, and Judo Points

Arrowheads, also called arrow points, are the tips you attach to the front of an arrow, and the main types are field points, target points, broadheads, blunt points, and judo points. Each one is built for a specific job. Field and target points are for practice and competition, broadheads are cutting tips made for hunting, blunt points are for small game and stump shooting, and judo points add small wire arms that grab grass and stop the arrow from sliding under cover. Choosing the right point starts with knowing what you plan to shoot at and confirming what is legal where you hunt.

This guide explains how each common arrowhead works, what it is used for, and how to handle points safely. Broadheads in particular are very sharp and carry hunting regulations, so always confirm broadhead and arrow rules with your state wildlife agency before you hunt. You can also build a strong foundation through Bowhunter-Ed and IHEA-USA.

How an arrow point attaches to the arrow

Most modern arrow points thread into an insert that is glued inside the front of the arrow shaft, so you can screw points in and out by hand or with a small wrench. This is why one set of arrows can carry field points for practice one day and broadheads for hunting another day, as long as the point weight and threads match the insert. Some traditional arrows use glue-on points that fit over a tapered shaft instead.

Point weight is measured in grains and affects arrow balance, spine behavior, and how the arrow flies. A common detail many archers overlook is that switching point styles can change point of impact, so the safe habit is to confirm flight and impact with the exact point you plan to use before it matters. Follow your arrow and point manufacturer’s weight and fit recommendations rather than guessing.

Field points

Field points are the most common practice points, with a simple bullet or conical shape and a smooth shoulder that pulls cleanly out of foam and bag targets. They are inexpensive, durable, and matched in weight to broadheads so hunters can practice cheaply and then switch to broadheads with similar flight.

Field points are the default for backyard practice, range sessions, and pre-season tuning. The smooth taper is what lets them slide out of most targets without tearing the target apart. They are not designed for hunting and have no cutting edges.

Target points

Target points are similar to field points but are shaped for specific competition target faces and target materials. They often have a finer or differently angled profile so they penetrate paper and competition targets cleanly and are easy to remove without damaging an expensive target.

In casual use, field and target points are often treated as interchangeable, and many archers use field points for everything that is not hunting. If you shoot organized target archery, follow the point guidance for your discipline and target type. Governing bodies such as USA Archery and World Archery publish equipment information for the formats they oversee.

Broadheads

Broadheads are the cutting points used for bowhunting. They have sharp blades and are designed to create an effective wound channel for a quick, ethical harvest. Because they are sharp and carry the most safety and legal weight of any point type, they deserve the most care.

Fixed blade broadheads

Fixed blade broadheads have rigid blades that do not move. With no parts to open on impact, they have fewer points of failure and tend to penetrate well. The exposed blades can affect arrow flight, so they usually require a well tuned bow and practice to fly accurately.

Mechanical (expandable) broadheads

Mechanical broadheads keep their blades folded in flight and deploy them on impact, which usually gives a wider cutting diameter and a flight path close to a field point. The deploying mechanism is one more part that must work, and opening the blades uses some of the arrow’s energy.

Broadhead legality varies widely. Some areas set a minimum cutting diameter or blade count, some restrict or specifically allow mechanicals, and some set minimum draw weight or arrow requirements. Confirm the current rules with your state or provincial wildlife agency, and use Bowhunter-Ed and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to find the right authority. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always practice with the exact broadheads you will hunt with, since they can fly differently than field points.

Blunt points

Blunt points have a flat or rounded tip instead of a sharp one and deliver impact rather than cutting. They are commonly used for small game where penetration is not the goal, and for stump shooting and roving, an informal practice game of shooting at natural targets like stumps and clumps of grass.

Blunts are made from steel, rubber, or hard plastic, and rubber blunts are popular for casual practice because they bounce off hard surfaces instead of digging in. Small game hunting still requires legal seasons, methods, and licenses, so confirm what is allowed with your wildlife agency before using blunts in the field.

Judo points

Judo points are a specialty practice and small game point with small spring wire arms that stick out around the tip. When the arrow lands in grass or leaf litter, those arms catch the surface and stop the arrow from sliding out of sight, which makes lost arrows much easier to find.

Archers like judo points for stump shooting, roving, and field practice on uneven ground where a field point would disappear under cover. The grabbing arms also deliver a stopping impact that suits small game in areas where that is legal. As with any small game point, check your local regulations first.

Other specialty points

Beyond the main categories, a few specialty points serve narrow uses. Knowing they exist helps you recognize them, even if most archers never need them.

• Bowfishing points: Heavy barbed points attached to a line so you can retrieve the arrow and catch after a shot, used only for legal rough fish species.
• Small game heads: Multi-wire or spring-loaded heads designed specifically for birds and small mammals where it is legal.
• Glue-on traditional points: Field points and broadheads made to glue onto tapered wood or traditional shafts rather than thread into an insert.

For anything used to take game or fish, the legal questions, such as permitted species, seasons, and methods, are decided by your state wildlife agency, not by the point design itself.

Matching the point to the task

The simplest way to choose is to start with what you are shooting at, then match the point and confirm the weight fits your arrow setup.

• Backyard or range practice: Field points, matched in grain weight to your hunting points if you plan to hunt.
• Target competition: Target points suited to your discipline and target faces.
• Big game hunting: Broadheads that are legal for your area, tuned and practiced with beforehand.
• Small game and stump shooting: Blunt or judo points where legal.
• Bowfishing: Dedicated bowfishing points with a retrieval line, for legal rough fish only.

Keep point weight consistent within a use so your arrows fly and group the same way. When you switch from field points to broadheads, re-check your point of impact at the distances you intend to shoot.

Safe handling and storage

Broadheads and other cutting points are sharp enough to cause serious injury, so handle them with the same care you would give a knife. A few simple habits prevent most accidents.

• Keep broadheads in a closed broadhead case or quiver hood, with blades covered until you are ready to shoot.
• Screw broadheads on and off with a broadhead wrench, not bare fingers, and keep your hand clear of the blade path.
• Inspect blades for damage or looseness, and retire or rebuild a head with bent or dull blades.
• Store all points out of reach of children and clearly separated from practice points.
• Never walk with an exposed broadhead pointed toward yourself or anyone else.

Basic range and field safety applies to every point type. Know your target and what is beyond it, keep arrows pointed in a safe direction, and follow the safety guidance taught through programs like IHEA-USA and Bowhunter-Ed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a field point and a target point?

Both are practice points with no cutting edges. Field points have a general bullet shape for foam and bag targets, while target points are shaped for specific competition target faces and materials. Many archers use field points for all non-hunting practice.

Can I hunt with field points?

No. Field points are for practice and have no cutting edges, so they are not suitable or ethical for hunting. Hunting requires broadheads that are legal for your area, and many places set minimum broadhead and arrow requirements.

Why do I need to practice with broadheads if I already practice with field points?

Broadheads can fly differently than field points, especially fixed blade designs, because their blades affect airflow. Practicing with the exact heads you will hunt with confirms your point of impact and your real effective range.

What is a judo point used for?

Judo points have small wire arms that grab grass and ground cover so the arrow stops at the surface instead of sliding out of sight. They are popular for stump shooting, roving, and small game where it is legal, mainly because they make arrows easy to find.

Final takeaway

Arrowheads fall into a few clear categories: field and target points for practice and competition, broadheads for hunting, and blunt and judo points for small game and stump shooting, plus specialty points like bowfishing tips. Choose the point by what you are shooting at, keep the weight consistent with your arrow setup, and confirm your point of impact when you switch styles. Treat broadheads with knife level respect, store all points safely, and check broadhead and hunting rules with your state wildlife agency before you head afield.