Deciding whether compound archery or traditional archery is the right choice for you can be a difficult question. If you happen to have a passion for precision marksmanship and enjoy the challenge of shooting accurately, then compound archery may be right for you. Compound bows are fast, powerful, and constructed using today’s latest technology.

Getting started with compound archery means understanding the many benefits this type of bow has to offer. You also need to know how to go about buying what you need to get started. While choosing the right bow is important, finding the “perfect” bow should not cause anxiety as archers regularly upgrade their equipment over time.

What Is Compound Archery?

Compound archery utilizes a levering system made up of cables and pulleys to bend the limbs of a bow when taking a shot. This mechanical advantage decreases your holding weight (let-off), in turn requiring less effort on your part to shoot. Compound bows use the latest technologies, requiring more time to adjust a number of features for improved consistency and accuracy.

Compound bows are used to participate in a number of ways from recreational archery, to competition archery, or bow hunting. However, if your goal is to qualify for the Olympics know they only allow recurve bows at this time (but this may soon change!).

Fact: In 2021, the compound bow celebrated its 55th birthday. Hollis Wilbur Allen applied for and received a patent for his first compound bow design in 1969. Over the years compound bows have evolved to become the most powerful bows on the market today.

Benefits Of Compound Archery

Modern compound bows are designed in a way that makes them easier to shoot than ever. Along with this, you can customize your compound bow using any number of accessories. This means you can modify it to your exact specifications for a perfect tune. First off, it’s important to understand the benefits of compound archery as a little knowledge goes a long way in helping you understand all the benefits of compound archery.

1. Increased Power & Speed

The modern construction of a compound bow allows for impressive speed and power! Modern compound bows range from about 20 to 80 pounds in draw weight. The higher your draw weight the higher your speed and power. This helps your arrow fly flatter over distance and retain the power necessary in hunting situations.

2. Let-Off

Let-off refers to the reduction in holding weight when at full draw. The fact that compound bows use cables and cams to store energy means you’re able to use less energy when holding at full draw. Let-off is calculated as a percentage of your total draw weight. For example, a 60-pound draw weight with an 80% let-off would be 12 pounds (60 x .8 = 48 : 60 – 48 = 12 pounds).This means you’re shooting/pulling a 60 pound bow, but only holding 12 pounds while at full draw (in the “valley”).

3. Draw Stop

Compound bows have a feature called a “draw stop”. This feature provides an archer with a consistent end range at full draw. This benefit provides consistency as it prevents you from overdrawing once you reach the end of your draw (aka “back wall”). Over and under-drawing the string introduces inconsistencies in your shooting, so this feature essentially removes that inconsistency.

4. Bow Sights

Compound archers use a common accessory called “sights” to aim and achieve higher accuracy. Modern sights offer bubble levels, fiber optic pins, moveable sights, scope sights, and more to support accuracy. The type of sight you choose depends on your style, but no matter which sight you choose, all of them will greatly improve your accuracy.

5. Release Aids

Release aids are what you use to pull and hold your bowstring. This can be achieved using fingers or a mechanical release. While you can use fingers, most compound archers today use a mechanical release. Choosing to use a mechanical release reduces contact with the string, helping to reduce human error. There are a number of mechanical release aids available, so do your research, test, and choose what works best for you.

6. Stabilizers

Stabilizers are weights added to your bow for a number of benefits. They reduce vibration, noise, and stabilize your bow through increased inertia. This results in improved balance, which supports your ability to aim and hold for improved accuracy. Choosing the right stabilizer for your compound bow requires you to figure out the ratio of length and weight that works best for you. This may take some trial and error but is well worth the effort.

7. Arrow Rests

Arrow rests are designed to support your arrow through the entire draw cycle. Upon release, some rests drop down/away while other rests remain fixed in place. No matter the design, modern rests are specifically designed to reduce and even eliminate interference with the arrow. This results in accuracy not seen before in more traditional forms of archery.

8. Accuracy

Modern compound bows are extremely accurate. So accurate in fact, that a bow is usually more accurate and precise than the archer using it. The technology continues to improve, making this bow type one that’s faster, easier to shoot, much more accurate, and much more efficient than ever before.

9. Distance Shooting

Compound bows provide additional speed and power, allowing for long distance shooting. If you’re interested in distance shooting, know that today’s compound bows offer a maximum shooting distance of about 350 yards! While this is very impressive, know that it is extremely difficult to be accurate out to distances that far.

Getting Started With Compound Archery

Choosing the right bow means finding one that fits you. You simply can’t shoot to the best of your abilities without a bow that fits you properly. If you happen to be a beginner and feeling overwhelmed, you should visit your local archery shop to get the help you need. There are a lot of options available and they can help guide you in the right direction.

If you’re looking to buy a compound bow, use the information below to help you get started. As you progress, you can always modify your bow and/or equipment at a later time for better results.

Buying A Compound Bow

Compound bows offer a lot of flexibility. Even so, you must find one that supports your draw length and desired draw weight. This is crucial as the wrong draw length or draw weight will quickly become an issue.

You can shoot a higher poundage compound vs. a recurve because of the let-off, but you need the strength to pull it back to the “valley”. If you’re “over-bowed”, you’ll have a hard time pulling it back and potentially hurt yourself…so don’t do that!

Draw length is also crucial as this measurement not only decides the size of your bow, it also determines the size of your arrows. While most compound bows offer plenty of adjustment, you need to be sure you fall within the range of adjustability. If you need to measure your draw length, we’ve provided a draw length calculator to help you get started.

Also know that longer bow lengths equal more stability, and fewer problems with hand torque. Larger brace heights are also more forgiving of human error, so take note of these measurements when looking over bow specifications.

Buying Arrows

Compound bow arrows are made using aluminum, carbon, or a mixture of these materials. Be sure to buy the right “spined” arrow for your draw length & draw weight. Arrow manufacturers make this easy as they offer arrow spine charts to ensuring you’re making the right arrow choice. Use large diameter arrows for shooting indoors and small diameter arrows for shooting outdoors. Large diameter arrows support stability/accuracy while small diameter arrows support distance. When choosing fletching, feathers and plastic vanes are available, but most compound archers choose plastic vanes.

Buying A Rest

Don’t underestimate this important accessory as arrow rests play a large role in accuracy and distance. Popular compound arrow rest options for new archers include drop away arrow rests: ideal for target archers, 3D archers, and hunters; launcher rests: best for target archers; and containment rests: a good option for hunters.

While choosing a rest may seem a little overwhelming, know that you’re never stuck with just one rest forever. As you progress, you can find new rests that better support your success as an archer.

Buying A Sight

There are a number of bow sight options available, so there is plenty to choose from. Some sights have magnification while others do not. Most sights have small circular devices called “pins” to help archers accurately shoot at different distances. Some sights include one pin while others have, three, five, or even seven! Popular options worth looking into include single-pin adjustable sights, fixed multi-pin sights, and multi-pin adjustable sights. Your shooting style and intention helps determine the right bow sight for you.

Buying A Release Aid

Mechanical release aids are very popular among compound archers because they increase accuracy by reducing user error. While you can shoot a compound bow using fingers, using a release aid will result in improved accuracy, assuming proper form. If you decide to shoot using a mechanical release, there are a number of release styles and designs. Examples include caliper, thumb, hinge, and tension release aids. Knowing which release aid works best for you takes research, testing, and practice in order to shoot with accuracy.

Buying A Stabilizer

There are many options available for compound bow stabilizers. Your choice depends on your archery style and shooting intentions. Stabilizers work by increasing inertia and reducing vibration upon release. A well-balanced bow supports your ability aim, hold, and execute a good shot. Stabilizers come in a variety of lengths and weights, so you must find one that matches your bow and supports your shooting preferences.

For example, a bow hunter may have a short stabilizer while a target shooter may have a long stabilizer to further increase stability. A long stabilizer greatly increases stability, but is not practical in hunting situations.

Buying A Wrist Sling

Gripping or grabbing your bow grip upon release introduces errors into your shot. For this reason, archers use a finger or wrist sling. Slings are one of your must-have compound bow accessories as it allows you to maintain a loose grip while keeping your bow in place. A relaxed bow hand grip helps reduce hand torque that negatively affects accuracy. By shooting with a sling and keeping a relaxed grip, you’ll be sure to increase accuracy with proper form.

Buying A Peep Sight

Peep sights are small, hollow, circular tools installed in a bow’s string. Their purpose is to act like the rear sight of a gun, helping align and narrow your field of vision to shoot with accuracy. The type and size of peep sight you should choose depends on your needs, as there are a few different designs. We have another article all about peep sights if you’d like to learn more.

Tuning Your Compound Bow

Once you buy a compound bow, shooting with accuracy requires a proper tune. Don’t underestimate the importance of tuning your bow! Tuning requires you to make modifications to the arrow rest/nock point, cam timing/position, arrows, sights, and more. Bow manufacturers establish specifications for their bows, so following these specifications supports optimal performance.

The majority of modern compound bows are not difficult to tune as long as you’ve made all of the right choices, i.e. the right arrow spine, the right draw length, the right draw weight. If you feel you’re able to tune your compound bow yourself, great! Just be sure you know exactly what you’re doing. Otherwise, visit a local bow shop and have a professional tune your bow to fit your needs.

Conclusion

Compound archery is a great choice if you enjoy the challenge of precision marksmanship. Modern compound bows offer many benefits that support power, efficiency, and accuracy. Getting started with compound archery may seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than you may think. With a little time and practice, you’re sure to start shooting with accuracy and precision as a compound archer.