elliptical transverse section whose major axis cuts the center plane e of the stirrup at an angle a substantially equal to the angle of inclination of nock 11 on the arrow f the flattened portion somewhat weakens the bending strength of the rod on which it is formed to compensate for this weakness the top or reinforcing rod 17 is arranged to retain its original cross section at its tip so that the stirrup has sufficient strength not to be damaged by repeated bending stresses occurring during successive loading operations flattened portion 16 can be formed either on the rod having the offset tip as shown in fig3 and 3a or on the non offset tip as shown in fig4 and 4a in fig5 a there is illustrated an embodiment of a stirrup comprising superposed rods in which two rods 18 19 have different cross sections and are juxtaposed over their entire lengths including the tip neither rod being offset from the center plane of the stirrup during loading the tip 12 of the nock fits between the rods and moves them apart the thinner rod 18 engages in nock 11 whereas the reinforcing rod 19 is held on tip 12 when at rest the two rods return into contact with one another owing to the resilience of the metal of which they are formed a stirrup of this kind has a hydrodynamic advantage owing to its lower resistance to motion in water while the.