Are Compound Bows Hard To Pull Back?

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Are Compound Bows Hard To Pull Back?
Are Compound Bows Hard To Pull Back?

As a hunter or target shooter, you have a variety of options available to you. You can opt for a shotgun, you can opt for a handgun, or you can even go for a muzzleloader. That being said, it probably is the bows that are more rewarding.

Of course, getting into archery isn’t easy and there is no shortage of choices available to you. There is the longbow, the recurve bow, and the compound bow. Choosing your weapon of just will require weighing a number of considerations like the weight, portability, and durability.

Sure, weight, portability, and durability are all important, but the first thing that must be considered is the difficulty of the pull string. If you can’t pull the string back, you aren’t going to be able to shoot very well.

Compound bows might be sleek and lightweight, but they are initially just as hard to pull back as the other bows mentioned. This is because at first, you will have to pull against the full weight of the bow. Once set in place, holding your string back for longer periods of time will be much easier.

Pulling Back A Compound Bow

When most people talk about pulling back a bow they are simply talking about the draw weight or amount of force it takes to pull the string in place. This force is one that is usually measured in poundage.

Do not be fooled by the namesake because the pounds of a bowstring is not necessarily equal to those dusty dumbells that have been sitting in your closet untouched. This is why most shooters and hunters like to test their compound bow in person just to make sure that they are choosing the correct weight. Here are some great hunting bows that you can adjust the poundage on.

At heart, compound bows are nothing more than a modernized version of Robin Hood’s weapon of choice. Today’s compound bow will utilize what is known as a pulley system. This system aids the shooter when they are pulling back on the drawstring.

Pulling Back Compound Bows

A modern pulley system like this will usually consist of one or more oval cams. A string will wrap around these cams to create more tension, which results in more power when the arrow is propelled forward.

However, this is not all the oval design is responsible for. The oval design of the cams also makes it possible for the shooters to make much-needed adjustments when shooting at moving targets. This is a feature that is known as let-off.

Along with this, the modern design of the compound bow makes it easier for shooters to know when the drawstring is fully pulled back in place. This is because the pulley system stops the string at a certain length. It should be pretty obvious to the shooter he or she has hit the stopping point.

Compound Bow Draw Weight Compared To Others

You just learned about the pulley system of a compound bow and how it works. What you really need to know is that this pulley system does not necessarily make it easier to pull the string into shooting position when compared to other bow models.

Once again, this will depend on the type of bow and weight that you choose. However, the let-off feature of the compound bow makes it much easier to pull the drawstring back over and over again. The initial pull might not be easier, but you will get more shots before you wear out your arms.

Just look at a recurve bow and compound bow that is weighted at fifty pounds. The initial pull is going to require the same amount of effort, but the climax of that effort is going to occur at different times.

The climax of the recurve bow will occur when the shooter is preparing to release the string and propel the arrow towards its target. This is not the case with the compound bow. The compound bow will climax right in the middle of the pull.

In fact, by the time the shooter has pulled the drawstring fully back, he or she will be experiencing far less draw weight. If there is a 75 percent let-off it will mean that the shooter is now only holding back 12.5 pounds of pressure.

Choosing The Right Weight For Your Compound Bow

How to Choose the Right Weight for Your Compound Bow

You have heard the terms poundage and pounds over again and again throughout this article. This is the amount of force that it takes to pull back the string of a bow and choosing the right weight can be somewhat tricky.

This is because the actual poundage of a drawstring does not represent actual weight. In addition to this, the muscles that it takes to pull back a drawstring are much more underdeveloped than other muscles.

Too much poundage and you might hurt yourself trying to get the arrow ready to be released. Not opting for enough poundage could mean that your shots come up shot because you don’t have enough force to propel the arrow forward.

Luckily, there are a number of tips that you can implement when you are choosing the correct poundage for your bow. A lot of this has to do with the proper form and placement of the arms. Experts will suggest making sure that your arms are at equal height with your nose when pulling back on the string.

While holding your arms at nose height if you are unable to keep both your arms and bow straight it means that you are pulling too much weight. Anytime you find yourself pulling down toward your feet or aiming higher it means that the draw weight is too great.

Not only do you need to be strong enough to pull the string back, but you need to be strong enough to hold it back. If your arms begin to shake and feel tried when you are holding back on the drawstring it means that your drawstring is too heavy.

If you are experiencing sporadic, unclustered shots on the field it probably also means that you are pulling too much weight. As a good rule of thumb, most small children should first try 10 to 20-pound bows, while the average adult should opt for a compound bow with 45 to 55 pounds of pull.

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