{"id":2221,"date":"2022-05-20T09:09:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T09:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archerycare.com\/?p=2221"},"modified":"2023-05-14T11:28:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-14T11:28:31","slug":"recurve-bow-vs-compound-bow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archerycare.com\/recurve-bow-vs-compound-bow\/","title":{"rendered":"Recurve Bow Vs Compound Bow Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recurve bow vs Compound bow; this discussion can get stuck in your head when you\u2019d want to get one of these things. And both bow types<\/a> have their own fan zone and users and sometimes the fight just keeps on going.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Now, we don\u2019t know if you\u2019re a beginner or an expert but if you\u2019re a great bow enthusiast, we think after reading this article, you can tell the actual differences between recurve bow and compound bow.<\/p>\n

Which one\u2019s better? To be honest, both are great in their own zone. You can take either, or you can buy both so that you can use any of these bows whenever you need to.<\/p>\n

What Is A Recurve Bow?<\/h2>\n

It is a traditional bow type that comes with limb tips that are facing the opposite side of the archer when the bow is unstrung. The curved limbs bend towards the archers and enable the bow to store more energy, which results in faster arrow speeds.<\/p>\n

Recurve bows<\/a> mostly look like longbows. Compared to longbows, recurve bows can store more energy. In case you don\u2019t know what a longbow is, it is the traditional bow that people use to make with long sticks. They are less powerful and accurate.<\/p>\n

Recurve bows are used in Olympic archery<\/a> and were pretty popular for hunting and recreational shooting. These bows are typically made from wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. And can be used for both hunting and target shooting.<\/p>\n

Their sizes range from 48 inches (120 cm) to 72 inches (180 cm) long and can be used by both right- and left-handed shooters. Recurve bows are lightweight and they are very easy to carry.<\/p>\n

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What Is A Compound Bow?<\/h2>\n

This is a bow that utilizes levering system to make using the bow easier. Compound bows<\/a> come with cams, pulleys, and thick cables. The pulleys, cams, and cables enable the bow to store more energy, which results in faster arrow speeds and more power.<\/p>\n

The pulleys, cam, and cable system allow the archer to hold less weight in their arms, making it easier to aim and fire for extended periods of time. <\/p>\n

Compound bows are typically made from aluminum or magnesium. The use of compound bows has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among hunters and target shooters.<\/p>\n

These bows are now widely used in tournaments, as they offer both power and accuracy, along with comfy easy drawing.<\/p>\n

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Recurve or Compound – Which is Easy To Use?<\/h2>\n

Even though compound bows look pretty complex due to the cables, pulleys, and cams; compared to the recurve bow, compound bows are way easy and comfortable to use. All thanks go to the let-off feature of compound bows.<\/p>\n

Due to the let-off, when you are drawing the string fully, you won\u2019t have to hold back all the weight of force stored within the bow. And when you release the string, that won\u2019t affect the firing power. The reduction in weight is called the Let-off.<\/p>\n

Let us give an example so that you will understand better. If you are fully drawing a recurve bow that has a draw weight of 60lbs, once fully drawn, you will have to hold back the same force weight (60 lbs.) until you release it. So that the same energy will be imparted to the arrows.<\/p>\n

And what\u2019s different in the compound bow is, if you are using a compound that comes with 50% let-off and 60 lbs draw weight. With that, you will be pulling the string at 60 lbs force, but once you have drawn the string fully, the force weight will get automatically get reduced to 30 lbs.<\/p>\n

That means you will have to hold back half of the force weight. But when you release the string, the bow will transfer 60 lbs force to the arrows. That\u2019s the magic of let-off; you get the same speed and power with less effort.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong> In terms of easy use, compound bows effortlessly outshines recurve bows.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Comparison of Power Between Compound and Recurve<\/h2>\n

Both the compound bow and recurve bow are widely found with 70 lbs peak draw weight. And anything you want to accomplish with a bow can be accomplished with that weight. There are bows with higher draw weight but due to very low demand, they are now not seen.<\/p>\n

When the overall condition is ideal and uses the same length and weight of arrows, a compound bow with 70 lbs draw weight will be more powerful than a 70 lb recurve bow.<\/p>\n

Even though both of the bows impart the same amount of force but the cams and cable string system of the compound bow make a more efficient flinging of arrows. And that results in more power. <\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Compound bows are more powerful than recurve bows.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Compound Vs Recurve Bow Durability Comparison<\/h2>\n

How durable a bow would be that depends on the material and construction. The better the material and construction, the longer the bow will last. Both the recurve and compound bows are constructed with varieties of materials. The limbs of recurve bows are made of top-notch laminated wood; the risers are made of either aluminum, carbon, or laminated wood, which are durable and promising materials.On the other hand, compound bow risers are also constructed with fiberglass, carbon, aluminum, etc. The limbs are constructed with laminated wood, the same as recurve bow. Both of these bows can be durable or fragile depending on the material and construction, so it isn’t possible to mention one as a winner.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Compound bow and recurve bow, both can be durable depending on material and construction.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Recurve Bow and Compound Bow Aiming<\/h2>\n

We have to get back to the let-off again because that makes aiming easy on compound bows. You will find compound bows in the market coming with 70 lbs draw weight and 80% let-off.<\/p>\n

With such a compound bow making accurate shots become effortless. When you make a full draw, you would be holding only 14 lbs force which is way too lightweight. And when the holding force is very low, it is obvious that you will be comfortable holding it which will result in accurate shots.<\/p>\n

Recurve bows lack that. As we have said before, with a 70 lbs draw weight you will have to hold back the same force weight. 70 lb force weight isn\u2019t a joke, it takes good effort and concentration which might make it hard for you to aim.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>It is easy to aim better with compound bows.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Related:<\/strong>How To Aim A Recurve Bow With Sights and Without Sights<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Recurve vs Compound Bow Maintenance<\/h2>\n

When it comes down to maintenance, recurve bows overtake compound bows by a good distance. In recurve bows, when the string snaps, you can re-string it manually by hand. And it is pretty easy to do.<\/p>\n

Not only string, even if limbs break, you will also be able to replace the limbs easily. All you need to do is, just bolt the new limbs, and you are done.<\/p>\n

But that is not the case with compound bows. Once your compound bow string snaps, you won\u2019t be able to use the bow without a visit to the pro shop. Due to the complex mechanism of compound bows, there are hard to maintain.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Recurve bows are easy to fix anywhere.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Comparison of Adjustability Between Recurve and Compound<\/h2>\n

You can\u2019t adjust anything in recurve bows. You can use different limbs to increase or decrease the power, but once you assemble your recurve bow<\/a> with one set of limbs that will deliver only one fixed power range.<\/p>\n

And in terms of speed, you can decrease the firing power by not drawing the string much but that\u2019s not adjustability.<\/p>\n

On the other side, compound bows allow you to adjust the draw length<\/a> and draw weight effortlessly. You will require a tool to adjust the draw weight<\/a> and length, and most of the time, the bow package includes the tool as well.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Compound bow is adjustable; recurve bow isn\u2019t.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Compound Vs Recurve Portability<\/h2>\n

Now, most of the recurve bows can be dismantled into different parts<\/a> for easy storage<\/a> and portability. The limbs can be taken out and risers can be removed. Which you can\u2019t do with compound bows. They are fixed and can\u2019t be taken down for portability.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Recurve bows are highly portable and easy to store.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Size of Compound and Recurve<\/h2>\n

Compound bows are usually smaller than recurve bows. A recurve bow of the same power as a compound bow is usually larger. A compound bow with a 70 lbs draw-weight will have a length of 30-32 inches. Where a recurve bow with the same draw-weight comes with a limb to limb length of 60 – 64 inches.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Compound bows are smaller than recurve bows<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Weight of Recurve Vs Compound<\/h2>\n

Even though recurve bows are longer than compound bows, they are lightweight. There goes a lot of parts into compound bows<\/a> such as thick cables, pulleys, risers, limbs, cams, etc., which makes compound bows weigh more than recurve bows.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Recurve bows are lightweight.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Compound Bow vs Recurve Bow Affordability<\/h2>\n

Compound bows are expensive as they consist of a lot of things. But a recurve bow is very simple which is why they are pretty affordable.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway:<\/span><\/strong>Recurve bows are affordable than compound bows<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n