Compound bows, with their intricate system of cams and cables, transform the act of archery, allowing archers to harness mechanical advantage to effortlessly hold powerful draws and unleash arrows with incredible speed and accuracy.
Compound bows are a modern marvel of archery technology. Unlike traditional bows like recurves or longbows, which rely solely on the archer's strength to draw the string, compound bows utilise a system of pulleys and cables. This system significantly reduces the draw weight at full draw, making them easier to hold and aim, especially for beginners.
The history of compound bows dates back to the mid-20th century, with significant advancements in materials and technology over the years. They've become incredibly popular due to their accuracy, speed, and ease of use. Compared to other bowstyles, compound bows have several key differences. They typically feature:
These features make compound bows a great choice for beginners, as they can focus on developing good form and technique without struggling with excessive draw weight.
Bow
When looking at your first compound the most crucial part to get right is the draw length, because unlike other bows, certain compounds will only have so much draw length adjustment.
A longer compound is designed to be more stable in the hand and smoother to shoot, ideal for target archery. Shorter bows are less stable in the hand, but the benefit is they could allow for a quicker arrow speed, ideal for field and unmarked rounds.
Limb style
Limb design is another important part of choosing your first compound bow. A compound bow pulls the limbs towards each other and the horizontal limbs reduce the recoil and vibration felt when the arrow is released - this is because the forces go upward at the top limb and downward at the bottom limb, which cancel each other out.
A flatter limb design sends the energy vertically upon release for a more relaxing after shot feeling. Conventional limbs (pictured below) sends the energy horizontally towards the target resulting in more feedback - this is the sound and feel of the bow when it's shot.
Cam style
Cam style can greatly determine how the bow feels and performs. For a first bow, the medium cam will provide a smoother draw and are less aggressive on the back wall (also known as the stop, the furthest point you can draw to) at full draw.
Certain cam designs allow you to relax far more at full draw, making it ideal for archers who shoot once or twice a week as it doesn't challenge you during the shot.
A higher performance cam, on the other hand, will not allow you to relax as much because the let-off at full draw is reduced compared to the first style of cam mentioned. The benefit of this type of cam is that it will give you more stability at full draw.
Types of cams differ with each bow manufacturer. We’d advise you ask your local shop or your coach what would suit your desired style of shooting/ability. If it’s possible, try and have a go with the bow you’d decided on to see how it feels to shoot.
© Martin Saych, 2024
Sight and scope
When you execute the shot, the energy travels into the arrow, the limbs, and then into the sight. Therefore, this part of equipment takes a tremendous amount of vibration, and it’s recommended that you buy as good of a quality sight as your budget will allow.
Scopes magnify the sight picture, making the image clearer which can help towards better groupings. They are measured in dioptres (magnifications) and many come with a couple of size options. They also have an integrated level (also referred to as the bubble) to help you keep your bow upright.
There are a few different options to personalise how you aim with your scope: either using circles or dots that stick to the scope’s lens, or a fibre optic set-up that gives a bright aiming dot. The circles and dots come in varied size options which you can experiment with to find the one which provides you with the best aiming tool. Please be aware that light kits are not allowed in World Archery target archery competitions.
Don’t worry too much about the quality of the scope to start with, go for what works within your budget.
Peep sights
A peep sight is a small aiming aid that is mounted on the string, which, again, helps with aiming and consistency. You use it in conjunction with the scope, so when both your sights are lined up, it makes sure the target and the arrow are completely parallel.
They’re available in different styles, but all will do the same job and a basic peep sight will do the same as an expensive one.
You also have the choice to use a clarifier. They are inserted into the peep to provide a clearer picture. However, they are more susceptible to rain or moisture, which can collect in the peep and obstruct or remove your vision if not removed.
© Andy Pelling, 2024
Arrow rest
The three main types of arrow rests for compound bows: prongs, blades, and drop-aways. Each has their own advantages.
Prong arrow rests should have good adjustability and are adjusted through the spring tension. You can change this as well as the prong width to suit the arrow you are going to shoot. A benefit of this rest is that you only need to purchase one and you have complete adjustment control.
With blade rests, each blade size provides different tension and width choices. This decision will depend on the width and weight of your chosen arrow. The drawback of this type of rest is that multiple blades need to be bought to have this adjustability, and they can be subject to wear.
Drop-away arrow rests offer a range of advantages. First, they are easy to draw as the arrow can't come off the rest. Second, you can use your indoor and outdoor arrows without having to change the rest. Finally, there is far less chance of arrow contact. These advantages come with the drawback that they are more expensive and there is no tuning ability, and they have more components that make up the rest that could fail or fall out of adjustment.
Some bows might already come with a rest on, or it might be included as part of a set. If it doesn’t, it’s all about personal preference.
Release aid
The release aid is without a doubt the most important piece of equipment you’ll need, after the bow itself. The more you spend, the smoother the action you get, along with plenty of adjustment, which is crucial for setting up. The better the quality, the longer it will last, and reduce the chance of miss-fires.
There are many different types of release aids, from wrist release, back tension, and hinge, and trigger. The thumb trigger release is the better choice for new archers, because it’s probably the closest release method to how you learnt as a beginner. Always consult the help of a licenced coach or shop staff member on the correct use of a release aid, as they all differ from one another.
© Malcolm Rees, 2024
Click on the links below to find out more about the other bowstyles:
