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Compound bow
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The compound bow is a contemporary bow that requires less force at full draw than other more traditional bows.
The compound bow can transfer more energy more efficiently to the arrow due to its rigidity, stability, and consistency. Since the limbs are stiffer, the bow would almost be impossible to draw back without the assistance of the cams (also known as wheels and pulleys). The existence of cams within a mechanical leverage system is the major difference between the compound bow and a traditional bow.
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The compound bow is a contemporary bow that requires less force at full draw than other more traditional bows.
The compound bow can transfer more energy more efficiently to the arrow due to its rigidity, stability, and consistency. Since the limbs are stiffer, the bow would almost be impossible to draw back without the assistance of the cams (also known as wheels and pulleys). The existence of cams within a mechanical leverage system is the major difference between the compound bow and a traditional bow. The compound bow has the string attached to the cams, and there are cables attached to both the cams and the limbs. When the archer draws back the string, the cams turn causing the cables to pull the limbs closer together and store more energy. Cam assistance in the pulling of the limbs allows the archer to pull back much more weight; this process is known as let off. Let off reduces the draw weight by 60 to 70 percent during the second half of the draw back cycle, and an archer then holds less weight at full draw than when he started pulling back.
Compound Bow History
The compound bow was invented by Holless Wilbur Allen in Missouri, in the 1960s. Allen was determined to find a better design for a bow because the long bow he was hunting with caused much frustration with its inaccuracy. With the help of his father, the compound bow took only two days to design. Though H. W. Allen first invented the compound bow in the 1960s, modern compound bows as we know them have only been around for the last few decades.
Construction of a compound bow
The risers are made by computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining, and they are made out of aluminum or magnesium. Today's bows are designed to be lighter and more durable than in years past. The riser is where many accessories are attached to the bow, such as: stabilizers, sights, arrow rests, and arrow quivers. Limbs are attached to the riser via limb pockets. Limb pockets help hold the limbs on and there are several different designs of these in today's modern bows.
Cams or pulleys vary in size depending on the draw weight and draw length. The cams contain modules that are either set to a single draw length or adjustable within a range of lengths. The main types of cams on today’s compound bows are single cams, hybrid cams, dual cams, and binary cams.
Silencers make compound bows quieter and more shock resistant than that of older bows. Less shock and vibration in the bow means better accuracy. Silencers can be added to the riser, limbs, strings, and accessories.
Advantages of shooting a compound bow
- You can shoot much farther with a compound bow since there is more energy stored in the bow at full draw. You can shoot more weight and that means more speed, and the arrow will travel flatter and farther.
- Shooting a compound bow provides better accuracy since the string is pulled back to the same point every time, and let off allows you to aim longer at full draw. There is minimal error unlike a traditional bow.
- The use of a release aid makes shooting a bow much more consistent than using fingers. There is less contact on the string and therefore less room for error. The bow string can be released either by a trigger or back tension.
Arrows for the Compound Bow
The arrows used with the compound bow are either constructed of aluminium or carbon. Carbon arrows may cost a little more but are more durable than aluminium. Carbon arrow shafts are stiffer and will not bend, unlike aluminium arrows. Then there is a carbon wrapped, aluminium arrow. Arrows have a wide array of different diameter shafts to choose from.
Compound Bow Accessories
There are many accessories that can be added to the bow depending on what the bow is planned on being used for. If the bow is being used for hunting purposes it might have such accessories as a sight, stabilizer, arrow rest, and arrow quiver. If the bow is used for target shooting there will most likely not have a quiver attached, it depends on whether the archer prefers to shoot with one.
Compound Bow Brands
Hoyt, Mathews, Bow Tech, Browning, Darton, PSE, Pearson, High Country, Ross, Bear, Alpine, Archery Research, Martin, Parker, McPherson, Reflex, Mission, Oneida, Diamond, Cabela's and others.
See also
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