Although archery has been around for thousands of years, modern technology has made for some incredible additions to this age-old sport. One of these is the compound bow let off. Let’s take a look at what exactly let off is, how it works, and why it can be a major advantage in archery!

What Is Let Off?

Let off is a percentage of the draw weight of a compound bow that a shooter holds at full draw. The higher the let-off, the less weight you hold while at full draw. You still have to initially pull back the entire weight of the bow during the draw cycle. Although, once you come to full draw, the let-off kicks in and significantly reduces the amount of draw weight you have to hold.

You can find compound bows that have let off all the way between 60% and 90%, depending on the brand and model of the bow. The percentage number is the weight you hold. For example, let’s say the bow has 70 pounds of draw weight and the let-off is 85%. This means you’ll pull back 70 pounds but only have to hold 10.5 pounds of weight at full draw. Let-off allows you to comfortably hold and aim a compound bow while at full draw, making them much easier to use and learn with.

How Does Let Off Work?

Compound bows use a system of cables and cams in order to store energy. This stored energy is what is used to propel arrows forward at amazing speeds. The cams are found on one or both ends of the bow (depending on the model). They are the round metal parts that guide the bowstring when pulled and create the stored power of a compound bow.

Thanks to the elliptical shape of bow cams, an archer can pull back on the bowstring with ease. This simultaneously brings the bow limbs closer together to create stored energy. As you draw the bowstring back, the cams feed you more and more string. They will also rotate while they do so. Once you get to a certain point in the draw cycle, the cams start to rotate faster than usual.

As you approach full draw, you eventually hit peak draw weight or the highest amount of weight that you are pulling back. From there, the bulk of the draw weight will begin to transfer to the limbs of the bow instead of in the string and on the shooter.

Once the draw weight you are pulling shifts into the bow’s limbs, the weight you’re pulling changes dramatically. This is when you know that you have reached the let off (also called the “valley”). As you fire the bow, the full draw weight is then transferred back into the string from the limbs via the cams. This gives you exceptional power without the need of holding it while at full draw.

Compound Bow Let Off Pros and Cons

Many archers believe that let-off on compound bows only come with advantages. While it’s true there are many major benefits to shooting with a let off, there are also a few potential downsides. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks to be aware of:

Benefits Of Let-Off:

Less Holding Weight

The biggest and most obvious advantage that let off provides is the ability to hold less weight while at full draw. Unlike a traditional bow, compound bows do not require you to hold the full draw weight once at full draw. Traditional or recurve bows do not have let off at all. Instead, the draw weight will gradually increase as you pull back the bowstring. The further back you pull the bowstring, the higher the draw weight becomes.

When you get to full draw with a traditional bow, you must then hold the entire weight while you aim and eventually shoot. This can become very tiresome, especially if you need extra time to properly aim the bow. With a compound bow, however, you will be holding much less weight while at full draw and can comfortably do so without much fatigue.

After you come to full draw with a compound bow, you’ll be able to hold much less weight for significantly longer than if you had to hold the entire draw weight. This allows you to focus on your form and the shot rather than all of the weight you just pulled back. Increased time to focus and aim leads to more accurate and comfortable shooting.

Less General Fatigue

Another big advantage to having let off is the ability to shoot more and experience less general fatigue that comes along with shooting. Since you’re not holding full draw weight with every shot, you won’t tire as quickly or easily. This means you can shoot much more than you normally could with traditional archery. Not only does less fatigue help you maintain accuracy, but shoot more arrows in one session.

Easier to Learn and Practice With

Because of the let off that compound bows have, they are very fast and easy to use. With a let off, you can focus on other aspects of shooting such as proper form and aiming instead of struggling with the draw weight while at full draw. This makes them ideal for anyone, including beginners and youth, who are just starting out and want to master the basics without worrying about a heavy draw weight.

Drawbacks Of Let-Off:

Bow Arm Fatigue

One potential downside to shooting a bow with a high let off is the risk of bow arm fatigue. If you are shooting a heavy bow, fully set up with a stabilizer, quiver, and maybe even a side stabilizer, it can feel pretty heavy. Shooting higher draw weight and lower let off can help to offset this weight. When shooting an extremely high let off, your bow feels heavier and can lead to dropping your bow arm. This negatively affects your accuracy and also limits the amount of time you can shoot. This is why professional compound shooters use less let-off, as it offsets the heavier bow they generally use.

Bad Form

Another downside to using a higher let off is that you are more prone to using improper or bad archery form. Because your muscles are not as active, this can lead to dropping your arm and failing to properly follow through with your shot. Let off will significantly reduce the amount of effort it takes to hold a bow at full draw while shooting, so your arms, shoulders, and back do not have to work as hard. While this makes shooting easier, it can be bad for your accuracy and can cause major shooting issues if your form is bad.

Finding Your Ideal Compound Bow Let Off

Finding your ideal let off will most likely vary depending on what you intend to use your compound bow for. Other factors such as your stature, strength, bow preferences, and accessories will also come into play when deciding on what your perfect compound bow let off should be. Consider your intended use for your compound bows, such as target archery or hunting!

Target Archery Let Off

Most expert target archers prefer compound bows with a lower let off. This allows them to offset the heavier weights of their bows that are set up with additional accessories such as heavy stabilizers. Compound bows that are set up for competition are often very heavy and big, so a lower let off works in conjunction with the bow. Many will prefer to keep their let off around 60% to 70% let off, with 65% being one of the most popular choices. Of course, this can and does vary from every bow, its make, model, draw length, poundage, and adjustments.

Hunting Let Off

When it comes to bow hunting, more let off is generally considered ideal. The most common hunting compound bows have anywhere between 80% to 90% let off as shots can take a while to properly align on an animal. Hunters also shoot from awkward positions and may have to wait longer than intended for moving targets to remain stationary or clear from obstructions. A higher let off allows the archer to hold for a longer period of time at full draw. Hunting compound bows generally have fewer stabilizers and are more lightweight as well.

Final Thoughts

Compound bows are amazing tools that give shooters the ability to use let off to their advantage. Let off has plenty of great advantages, but depending on your setup and needs, could also have some downsides as well. Understanding let off helps you master the art of archery and become a more prolific shooter!