Compound Bows

The compound bow is a type of contemporary bow which requires the use of less force at full string draw compared to the other more traditional types of bows. Invented during the 1960s in Missouri by Holless Wilbur Allen; he was determined to find a better bow design as the long bow he was using at that time during hunting has become extremely frustrating because of its inaccuracy. It took him two days to design the compound bow with his father and though the compound bow was first invented in the 1960s, the modern compound bows that we know have only been around for the past few decades.

The compound bow is able to transfer more energy in the most efficient way possible to its arrow because of its consistency, rigidity and stability. Because it usually has stiffer limbs, the compound bow is nearly impossible to draw back without any assistance from its cams which are also known as the wheels and pulleys.

With the cams and a mechanical leverage put in place, this marks the major difference of a compound bow to the other traditional types of bows. With strings attaching to the cams, and there are also the existence of cables that is attached to both cams and the limbs. Whenever an archer draws the string back, the cam itself turns and that cause the cables to pull both limbs together to be able to store more energy.

The beauty of the cam is it assists the archer to pull back on the string with much more weight which is the process known as the ‘let off’. During the second half of the draw back cycle, ‘let off’ reduces draw weight by up to 70% which results to the archer holding lesser weight at full draw than when he started pulling back. There are of course, and not to be left out, the risers which are made by computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines and are made out of aluminum or magnesium alloy.

Add the fact that today's compound bows are lighter in design and are more durable. It is in the riser where most of the parts are attached to the bow itself: stabilizers, arrow rests, quivers, sights, etc. As for the limbs, those are attached to the riser thorough the limb pockets which help hold the limbs on.

Lastly, there is a wide variety of designs in today's modern compound bows. It is also a proven fact that archers can shoot farther using a compound bow because of the great amount of energy stored in the bow during full draw. More weight means more speed, making the arrow travel flatter and farther. Shooting with a compound bow provides the archer with great accuracy because the string is pulled back at the same point in every shot; the ‘let off’ on the other hand allows archers to be able to aim longer even at full draw. All of these results to a minimal error compared to traditional bows.