How to Choose a Compound Bow

Are you buying a compound bow? There are plenty of factors to take into consideration before you make your decision. If you enjoy archery, investing in a good compound bow has plenty of benefits. The bow’s design, as well as the materials that it’s made from, will affect its performance. Read our blog post to discover which bow is right for you.

Compound Bow

Photo credit: J. Rachel Spencer

What is a compound bow?

The first compound bow was designed by Holless Wilbur Allen in 1966. These bows operate with a levering system, which involves cables as well as pulleys. Otherwise known as cams, these systems function to bend the bow. The advantage of this system is that it requires less input from the archer, which allows them to focus on their aim. Ultimately these bows are designed to offer improved accuracy in archery. These bows also offer an increased velocity when the arrow is released, which enables the arrow to travel further.

The benefits of using a compound bow have made them a popular option for competitions. If you watch Rambo III, you would have seen a compound bow on your TV screen. Not only do these bows offer you an improved performance, they are also more durable than traditional variations. The material that they’re made from makes them more resilient to temperature changes and humidity. Their sturdy design makes them versatile enough to use in a range of environments. The core shaft of these bows is typically built from magnesium or alloy or a combination of these two substances. The advantage of these materials is that they’re lightweight while maintaining their strength. The rigid bows allow the addition of additional features, such as bow sights. Compound bows use similar arrows to traditional longbows. Arrows are built from carbon or aluminium. It’s not possible to use wooden arrows with compound bows.

Compound Bow

Key terms to consider

The axle length refers to the entire length of the compound bow. Shorter bows are easier to move around but they require advanced skills to operate. If you’re a beginner, it’s better to choose a bow with a longer axle length. The draw length refers to the distance from the grip to the bowstring when the bow is drawn fully. A decreased draw length can help to improve the velocity of your arrows as well as the precision with which you hit targets. Draw weight refers to the amount of effort that the archer needs to expend to pull back the bow into a full draw. When you’re choosing a bow, it is advisable to invest in one that you can draw smoothly and easily.

Compound Bow

Types of compound bows

A single cam compound bow is quiet and easy to use. The downside of this bow is that it’s more difficult to tune than other variations. Another option is to buy hybrid cams, which are simple to tune and need less maintenance. The downside of these bows is that they offer a decreased nock travel. Twin cams offer increased precision, improved velocity and level nock travel. While there are plenty of advantages to using this type of compound bow, the downside is that they need to be tuned and maintained more often. Another option to consider is binary cams, which deliver an impressive velocity as well as level nock travel. These bows need to be tuned and maintained regularly.

Price

Price is another factor that will determine the type of bow that you choose. While it’s important to invest in a quality bow, there is no need to buy the most expensive model you can find. Rapid developments in the design of compound bows have ensured that there are plenty of great variations available at a reasonable cost. While spending more can result in a quieter draw with increased velocity, it’s unlikely to approve the accuracy with which you hit your target. Archery practice will still require you to demonstrate your skills to hit the mark with precision.

Now that you know more about how to choose a compound bow, you can look online for great deals. With a range of bows to choose from, it’s easy to find one which matches your requirements.

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How to Choose a Compound Bow | Archery Bows | Junk Mail Blog
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How to Choose a Compound Bow | Archery Bows | Junk Mail Blog
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Are you buying a compound bow? There are plenty of factors to take into consideration before you make your decision. If you enjoy archery, investing in a good compound bow has plenty of benefits. Read our blog post to discover which bow is right for you.
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6 Responses

  1. Wayne says:

    Given each of the factors mentioned, what would you recommend for a beginner, that would serve him well into intermediate and potentially even as an advanced archer?

    • Jani Grey says:

      Hi Wayne,

      TuksArchery has a great programme and you can get in touch with Annie regarding an introduction session. She will be able to answer all your questions.

      Please click here > http://www.up.ac.za/archery

      Kind regards,
      The Junk Mail Team

  2. hennie says:

    good article

  3. browney says:

    halo my name brown im very much intrerested in bow fishing so i wud like to get myself a good bow for fishing please help

    • Jani Grey says:

      Hi Brown,

      When it comes to fishing, please click on the following link to see what is available on Junk Mail > https://goo.gl/uUZbcZ

      We hope you pick the perfect one for you.

      Kind regards,
      The Junk Mail Team

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