Archery is one of the oldest practices and sports in the world, it has been around for a very long time. It’s allowed generations the ability to hunt and protect themselves from threats. Although technology has come a long way since its beginnings, there are four major types of bows today. They are the traditional/longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows.
Each type of bow has its own unique characteristics, but they all function through the same basic concept. Essentially, a string flexes limbs, which propel an arrow through stored kinetic energy. While some people may argue that a crossbow is not necessarily a bow, it does technically qualify as one.
Let’s take a deeper look into each of the four types of bows as well as each of their advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional Bows / Longbows
The original bow and arrow design is now called a longbow. They are the oldest and simplest of all the different types of bows. Long ago these were made of a simple piece of wood that used a string. The string was generally made from animal gut, rawhide, sinew or plant fiber.
The ends of each limb had a notch where the string would fit with a knot that was tied to keep the string secure. This was the type of bow used by everyone from Native Americans to the Romans. It’s the original bow design that was used for both hunting and warfare at the time. Of course, like most everything today, these bows have become more advanced. Thanks to better technology and higher quality materials, they are much more accurate.
Longbows built today are generally made from either laminated wood layers or synthetics. The shape and function are still no different than they were hundreds of years ago. Longbows are extremely simple bows that don’t usually feature accessories such as arrow rests or sights.
Longbows also don’t have a set draw weight or length. Instead, they are made to have a specific draw weight at a specific length. For example, a bow might have a draw weight of 50 pounds when at 28 inches of draw. If the bow is drawn any less than 28 inches, the draw weight will be less. If it is drawn more than 28 inches, the draw weight will be more.
Like any type of bow, traditional bows have their own set of pros and cons. Take a look below and see what you may want to consider shooting this style.
Pros:
- Basic and simple
- Easy to use
- Still very effective despite how old the design is
- Often inexpensive
- Very few accessories
Cons:
- More practice and dedication to use accurately
- Less speed
- Less forgiving
- More potential to lose/break arrows
Recurve Bows
Recurve bows are a lot like traditional longbows, except the end of the limbs curve a second time (hence the name). The curve in the limb moves forward, away from the shooter. It is designed to produce and store more energy than that of a straight limb longbow. This gives the arrow much more speed and power when shot.
Some traditional recurve shooters don’t use modern sights or arrow rests just like a longbow. However, these bows have been updated and designed for use with modern-day sights, rests, and accessories. These modern day recurves obviously look very different than older bows and use modern-day materials. They do however, still function using the same basic design.
Recurve bows are very popular today. They have much more forgiveness and achieve greater speeds with a lighter draw weight than a longbow. For this reason, recurve bows are what you generally find at local archery shops for hourly rentals.
Just like every other type of bow on this list, they also have their own set of pros and cons. Many of these are comparable to longbows, with only a few minor differences. Take a look and see how these measure up to your expectations:
Pros:
- Simple and easy to shoot
- Very cheap (similar to longbows)
- Easy to maintain
- Faster and more powerful than longbows
Cons:
- Less powerful than compound and crossbows
- More skill needed for consistency and accuracy
Compound Bows
Compound bows are the result of modern technology looking to improve the ancient design of the bow and arrow. Invented in 1966 by Holless Wilbur Allen, compound bows were an entirely new design built with massive potential.
Compound bows have since become one of the most popular designs used by archers today. They see just as much use, if not more, as recurves in competition settings. They consist of multiple moving parts compared to longbows or recurves. The five basic components of a compound include:
- Riser
- Cams
- Limbs
- String
- String/cable assembly
The riser is the main part of a compound bow and holds accessories such as an arrow rest, bow sights, stabilizer, and limbs of the bow. The riser is typically made of aluminum or carbon fiber, giving it plenty of strength at the lightest weight possible.
Limbs are what produce and store energy when an archer draws the bow. They flex and spring back into their original position when an arrow is released. They work hand in hand with the cams (often called wheels) and the string/cable assembly. When the bowstring is pulled back, the cams will rotate, pulling the cables, which exert stress on the limbs of the bow.
The benefit of all this technology is the ability to shoot a high poundage bow while holding very little weight. When someone draws a compound, it’s challenging at first until you reach the “valley”. The cable system creates a 60% – 90% “let-off” in the valley, making it easy to hold for a long time.
For instance, if your bow was 60 pounds, it would be harder to pull at first, but you’d only be holding 12 pounds at full draw (60*.8 = 48lb let-off).
While this may seem complicated, they are actually pretty simple. Compound bows are way more effective and efficient than bows our ancestors used. This is why they have become so popular these days. You’ll find they are much more accurate, fast, and fairly easy to use.
However, compound bows are not without a few faults, which I’ve outlined below.
Pros:
- Very accurate
- Extremely fast and powerful
- Quiet when shooting
- Less skill needed to be effective
- High-quality construction
Cons:
- Harder to maintain
- Generally more expensive
- Harder to tune, adjust, and repair
Crossbows
While many people either love them or hate them, there is no denying that crossbows are a part of the archery world. Crossbows are essentially a compound or recurve bow that is mounted horizontally on a stock. This is similar to that of a rifle stock and shot using a trigger instead of a release.
Crossbows are drawn back using a cocking device that helps a shooter pull back the string and lock it into place. From there, the trigger is used to set off the string and send a crossbow arrow (referred to as a bolt) downrange.
Crossbows are generally used with a much higher draw weight than other types of bows. However, an archer does not hold the weight himself, they rely on the locking device and trigger to shoot. This is why a cocking device is often needed just to load your standard crossbow.
Crossbows have a few different pros and cons than the other traditional style of bows on our list.
Pros:
- Extremely accurate
- Safety and trigger help prevent misfires
- Very powerful
Cons:
- Usually expensive
- Harder to use
- Heavier and bulkier
- More laws for crossbows (hunting and range rules)
- Can be loud compared to other bows
One thing to be aware of is that most archery ranges do not allow crossbows at the range unless there is a designated area. The reason for this is that they are so powerful, they tear up and pass through traditional archery targets. This becomes an added expense and safety hazard for the range. So, check with your local range rules before you take your crossbow.
The Best Bow for Beginners
So which type of bow is best for a beginner? This depends on a number of factors, but technically a beginner could start out with any one of these bows. A few things you may want to consider are things like your experience/comfort level, your style, your budget, and your intended use.
Are you an experienced archer that wants to take their shooting to the next level? Then you could easily pick up any one of these bows and be fine. For a complete beginner, you may want to consider that bows like a compound or crossbow might seem a little harder to use at first. But these may actually help you shoot better in the long run. This is because of more forgiveness thanks to their speed and accessories.
Another thing to consider is your style. Do you want a more traditional challenge/look? Then the longbow or recurve is going to be just right for you. Both of these are more traditional, while both the compound and crossbow are more high-tech and modern.
Last but certainly not least, you must consider your budget. This is going to be one of the most important factors when deciding on a bow, but you should not let it dissuade you from the type of bow that you want.
For example, if your intention is to shoot on occasion with very limited expense, you may want to shoot a recurve or longbow. Yes, it takes longer to become proficient, but the cost can be quite minimal. Modern bows are generally more expensive, but each type of bow will have models specifically designed for beginners. These are usually at excellent price points, so you can really shoot any style you prefer.
After thinking over a few of these things, take some time to decide which style you are most interested in. Once you’ve decided, you’ll find a few links below to bows you may want to try as a beginner. Whether you choose one of these or not, you’re well on your way to making an informed decision.
Traditional Bow Options:
Recurve Options:
Compound Options:
- Diamond Prism Compound Bow
- Diamond Edge SB-1 (very similar to what I shoot)
Crossbow Options:
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different types of bows available today. Each one is a little different and will have its own unique style, equipment, and skill needed to use it. So which one is the best for you? It’s honestly whichever style you decide to pursue. Whichever one you decide, make sure to put forth the effort and practice. I’ve shot thousands of arrows and it’s amazing how you can still learn something new and improve your shot after years of enjoyment. So, get out there, start practicing, and have fun!
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