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Bow Specs Explained

Oct 25, 2021Archery Basics, Archery Equipment, Bows

If you’re just starting out in the fun and challenging sport of archery, it’s important to understand bow terminology. Bow specs are one of the most important things for you to understand, as these measurements allow you to purchase a bow that’s right for you.

Understanding these bow specs means once you start shopping for your new bow, you’ll have the knowledge necessary to guide you in the right direction.

What Are Bow Specs

Bow specs (bow specifications) are what you need to pay attention to when buying your new bow. Archery isn’t a one size fits all sport, making it necessary for you to use bow specs to determine the right bow for you. Once you understand the specifications below, you can make an informed purchase based on your specific needs.

The most important bow spec measurements to follow: arrow speed, mass weight, bow length, draw length, draw weight, let-off, and brace height.

Bow Handedness

The most basic, yet crucial bow spec is to determine whether the bow is a left or right-handed bow. If you’re a right-handed archer, you will hold the bow in your left hand while aiming with your right eye. If you’re a left-handed archer, you will hold the bow in your right hand and aim with your left eye. If you’re unsure about this, you may want to explore eye dominance to determine what’s best for you.

Arrow Speed

Arrow speed is measured in Feet Per Second (FPS). The higher the FPS number, the faster your arrows will fly. Bow manufacturers place either ATA or IBO on bow packaging. next to the speed rating of the bow. ATA stands for Archery Trade Association. IBO stands for International Bowhunters Organization. Each industry-standard rating assesses the speed of a bow in a different way, allowing their bow specs to remain consistent.

Does arrow speed matter when buying a bow? Yes. Faster arrows offer a flatter trajectory and more kinetic energy. The speed of an arrow is especially important for archers who participate in 3D archery and bowhunting. Arrow speed is important when shooting mid-range and long-range, although less important when shooting shorter distances.

Mass Weight

Mass rate refers to how much your bow weighs without accessories. Heavier bows tend to offer more stability, making them easier to use when focusing on a target. Heavier bows also help minimize noise and help prevent recoil. This means you can expect lightweight bows to be the opposite.

While heavier bows tend to add stability, you definitely don’t want to choose a bow that’s too heavy. A bow that is too heavy places a lot of stress on your muscles, resulting in fatigue and a breakdown of form. Remember, you can always add more mass with additional stabilizers, so you may want to stick to something lighter when starting out.

Bow Length

Bows come in many different lengths. Bow length is measured from axle to axle (from the center of the bottom axle to the center of the top axle). For compound bows, this is where the limbs of the bow directly connect to the cams of the bow. Recurve bows require you to measure unstrung from string groove to string groove.

Shorter bows offer more maneuverability, allowing them to work better when shooting in tight quarters. Longer bows tend to work best for target shooters and hunters who are looking for more forgiveness/stability when shooting at longer distances. Also note that if you shoot fingers, a short bow will be more difficult to shoot because of the sharp apex of the string while at full draw. In this case, it’s best to use a mechanical release aid when shooting a shorter axle to axle bow.

Draw Length

Draw length refers to how far a bow is pulled back. The size of an archer determines their correct draw length. Most bows offer draw length adjustments so you can adjust the length to what works best for you. That said, most bows offer a specific range of adjustment, so be sure that your draw length falls within that given range of adjustment.

This bow spec is one of the most important to get right as it determines the size of your bow, as well as the size and length of your arrows. If you’re new to archery, you can learn how to measure your draw length yourself or for a precise measurement, visit your local archery shop.

The reason draw length is so important is because it’s crucial for maximum accuracy. Choosing a bow that doesn’t support your draw length (short or long) prevents you from shooting with proper form. This leads to inconsistencies, poor muscle recruitment, and even injury.

Draw Weight

Draw weight refers to the amount of force you need to pull your bow and is measured in pounds. Archers who need a 50-pound draw weight measurement should look for 50# symbol on the package. If you’re shooting a compound, draw weight is adjustable within a specified range. For example, if you shoot 45#, maybe look for a bow that support 40 – 50 pounds.

There are differences when it comes to compound draw weight vs recurve draw weight. Compound bows have a constant draw weight until you reach the valley (let-off). Recurve bows increase in draw weight the further you pull them back. The draw weight of a recurve is measured at 28 inches. This means a 30# recurve will reach 30# at a 28in draw. If you pull it back more than 28in, the draw weight will be higher and vice versa for a shorter draw.

Bottom line – just be sure you can pull what you buy!

Let-Off

Compound bows use a system of cables and pulleys to store the energy that supports fast and powerful shooting. Let-off refers to the reduction in holding weight when you’re at full draw. You can determine let-off by calculating a percentage of your overall draw weight. For example, a 50-pound draw weight with a 75% let-off would only be 12.5 pounds at full draw. This allows an archer to shoot a very powerful bow while only holding a fraction of that weight to aim with higher precision.

A higher let-off lets you hold at full draw for a longer period of time because you’re holding less weight. This is great, but the problem with this is that it can lengthen holding times. You also need a certain amount of holding weight to offset the mass weight of the bow. For example, have you ever tried to hold a compound bow up (with all the accessories) while not at full draw?…It’s heavy! Pulling the bow back with less let-off helps offset this mass weight.

The one negative aspect to a low let-off is early fatigue. If your let-off is only 50%, you’re going to get tired much more quickly than if it was say a 90% let-off. This is a balancing act between draw weight fatigue and an offset of mass weight. Many bows come with a let-off adjustment, so find what works best for you and you’ll be able to hold with strength.

Brace Height

Brace height refers to the distance between the string and the deepest part of the bow grip. If you’re considering choosing a modern compound bow, the brace height is going to be set by the manufacturer. You don’t want to change these settings as they allow you to get the best performance out of your bow. If choosing a recurve or longbow, while manufacturers will make recommendations, it’s up to you to choose your ideal brace height.

Brace height is important as it determines arrow speed and bow forgiveness. Shorter brace heights tend to produce more arrow speed as the string’s in contact with the arrow for a longer period of time. A longer brace height results in less speed because the arrow leaves the string sooner. This is why a longer brace height is more forgiving, the arrow leaves the string sooner, resulting in less room for user error. When it comes to determining your brace height, it’s a balancing act between speed and accuracy.

Buying A Bow That Fits You

Buying a bow that fits you means fully understanding the above bow specs. Your body is built differently from everyone else’s and most bows, especially compound bows, aren’t one-size-fits-all. To support proper shooting form and accuracy you must choose a bow that fits you well. To do so, you must make sure you know exactly what you need and then you can use your knowledge of bow specs to find a perfect match.

Buying a bow that fits you means your equipment is optimized to help you shoot with accuracy and consistency instead of fighting against a mismatch.

Setting A Budget

Setting a budget requires you to decide if you’re going to buy a new bow or a used bow. Buying a used bow does save money. However, be sure to thoroughly inspect it for damage to avoid potential injury.

If you’re just learning, you can likely find a starter bow for somewhere between $150 to $250. Intermediate bows sell for around $500 or more while professional bows are well over $1,000. That said, don’t confuse the cost of a bow with accuracy. Both inexpensive and expensive bows shoot accurately when properly tuned. The more expensive bows just use more cutting edge technology, materials, and workmanship.

Common Questions

Archers looking into modern compound bows often have questions due to the many components that make up a compound bow. Here are three of the more common questions we’ve heard.

  • What Does BS Stand For? Buss Cables. A buss cable is different from the bowstring and is used to turn the cams so they all turn at the same speed. Buss cables are in the shape of a ‘Y’ and attach to a compound bow’s cam axels to increase stabilization and synchronization between the cams.
  • What Does CC Stand For? Control Cables. A control cable is responsible for the primary control of a bow’s draw weight. Control cables directly attach to the bowstring and are then fed through the cams to give shooters more power through the string. This cable is the most important when it comes to controlling a bow’s draw weight.
  • What Is A Good FPS For A Compound Bow? Depending on draw weight, today’s compound bows shoot between 300 and 340 feet per second. This is really fast considering a recurve bow averages between 140 and 200 feet per second.

Conclusion

Now that you understand some of the most important bow specs, you’re ready to start researching a bow that’s right for you. Once you decide on a few specifications, you can test them at your local archery store. Be sure not to rush the process of buying a bow, see what you can test and determine for yourself. Use the above information to find and purchase a bow that fits you. Once you do, you’re well on your way to becoming the best archer you can possibly be.

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