If you’re just starting out with archery, a question you might be faced straight away with is what type of bow you’re going to use. Since the type of bow you’re going to use will affect the technique and style of shooting you’re going to train for, it’s quite a major decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, I’m going to detail the pros and cons of recurve bows vs compound bows, to help you make an informed decision. I’ll go over the most important things to consider, so you can get a bow that fits your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my opinion, the thing you should consider first is how you’re going to use the bow. Bowhunters and 3D archers, who generally prefer compound bows, will have very different needs from target archers, who typically go for recurve. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But let’s cover the basics first, and detail the most important pros and cons of both recurve and compound bows. I’ll start with a quick list, and explain the most important points later in the post. Let’s go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compound bows are the modern, technologically advanced type of bow. They are wildly used in any type of archery, from target shooting to bowhunting. They are probably the most common type of bow since the late 20th century [1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most significant technological advancement that was introduced with compound bows is the cam system, that makes the bow much more energy-efficient. The design of the cam creates a different weight curve than traditional bows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where recurve bows become heavier the more you pull the string, compound bow act differently: they first become heavier until a peak weight is reached, stay constant for more of the draw and then become lighter when fully drawn (which is typically called “Let off”). This is why you can shoot heavier weights on a compound bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, the pros of compound bows <\/strong>are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cons of compound bows <\/strong>are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To decide whether or not compound bows fit your needs, think about the things on the list. I’m going to detail some of them farther later in the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think about getting a compound bow, I’d suggest looking into my recommended gear page where I explain how to pick a compound bow and the most important things you should consider<\/a>. I’m sure you’ll have a good experience following the advice there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s now discuss the main pros and cons of recurve bows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recurve bows get their name from the limbs that curve away from the archer. They’re as old as history but nowadays made from fiberglass, aluminum, and other strong materials. Some bows are still made from the traditional wood though, just like old times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most recurve bows these days are “takedown bows”, which means that their limbs can be disconnected from the riser (splitting them to 3 parts). They’re basically a great combination of traditional and new archery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, only recurve bows are permitted in the Olympics. If you’re planning to go professional, that might be something to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The overall pros of recurve bows <\/strong>are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cons of recurve bows <\/strong>are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides the feeling of becoming a warrior from old times, recurve bows are really awesome to shoot. They’re much less complex than compound bows, which makes them perfect for you if you’re looking to get into archery as a hobby – but also if you want to become a pro one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s dive deeper now on the most critical aspects you should consider when picking what type of bow you should get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In my opinion, considering what main use you’re going to have for your bow should be the first thing you do. This way you’ll be able to utilize your full potential straight away. This is true for picking what type of bow you’re going to use, but also for the specific bow you’ll use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both recurve and compound bow can be used for all types of archery, but they both have natural advantages for specific uses. Using a recurve bow for bowhunting, for example, will take much more practice than using a compound bow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, eventually you’ll be able to use both types of bows anyway you want, but it would take much more effort to overcome the bow’s disadvantages. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCompound bow <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recurve bow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How are you going to use the bow? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n