A Beginner's Guide To Choosing The Right Archery Bows

Each type of archery has a particular bow that archers use to shoot. For a beginner seeking to buy his or her first bow, it is advisable to make enquiries at the nearest archery shop. One can also seek the help of a more experienced shooter or an archery coach. Irrespective of the archery style, the size of the bow will depend on several factors such as the shooter height, draw length and age. Below is a beginner's guide to choosing the right archery bows.

There are three main types of bows used in archery: recurve bows, compound bows and traditional bows. Recurve bows are the only ones allowed at the Olympic Games. Many archers also use them in 3D archery and field archery. Compound bows are well-known for their extensive use in 3D and field archery, with many archers also using them in target archery. Traditional bows are used by archers in all major types of archery, including target, field and 3D archery.

Bow weights as labeled on bows is not an indication of recommended draw lengths or draw limits for the bow. It is merely a standard measure for comparing bows. The weight of a bow changes at roughly 5% for every inch of draw. In the case of longbows and short recurve however, the rate of change will be slightly more. When choosing a bow, it is important to consider the bow weight that the shooter will be holding when he or she reaches full draw. Whichever is chosen, one should bear in mind that power means nothing without control. The shooter must be able to control the bow's weight for successful archery.

When choosing the length of an archery bow, the shooter should consider his or her draw length. Longer bows can be drawn more smoothly and held more steadily when lining the target. On the other hand, shorter bows can be maneuvered more easily. As the draw length of all bows increases, they undergo a non-linear increase in weight. Just because an archery bow is too heavy does not mean that it can stack. This term 'stack' is used to describe a bow increasing at an excessive rate for its particular type. For recurve bows, the shooter will have to reach that point as he or she has uncurled the curve. A preferable bow is one that still has a relatively smooth drawing at the shooter's anchor point.

When choosing archery bows, it is advisable to consider either a takedown or a one-piece bow. Takedown bows have their advantages such as interchangeable limbs and utility of compact travel. In addition, they are more stable in the shooter's hands due to their heavier physical weight. On the other hand, one-piece bows do have their merits. For one, shooting with a one-piece bow is considered more traditional. Also, this bow is definitely lighter in someone's hand. The shooter 'totes' a takedown arrow while a longbow almost floats along and a one-piece recurves. In reality, one-piece bows do not draw smoother or shoot faster than takedown bows. It's just that sometimes they are more fun to carry.


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Helen Cridland is an expert in all things archery. Click on http://www.combataustralia.com.au/compound-bow/ for more insights about Compound Bow.