Compound Bow : What is it?
| Compound bows have pulley systems, known as cams, located at each end to pull the bow strings. As the bow is drawn, the cams turn and pull the strings, reducing the amount of force needed to fully draw the bow. This design is more advanced and easier to use than traditional longbows or recurve bows. Most compound bows consist of a riser at the middle with two limbs attached to either side. The cams are installed at the tip of each limb. The risers are usually made of aluminum or magnesium, and the limbs use a combination of laminated wood, fiberglass, carbon foam, or plastic. |
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Kinds of compound bows include the following: |
Single cams
These compound bows have one round wheel, called the idler wheel, and an elliptical one called the power-cam. They are easier to operate and make less noise than other compound bows. Single cams are often hard to tune and are said to have uneven nocking. Hybrid cams
These compound bows use have two elliptical cams, one on each limb. The cam at the top is called the control cam, and the one at the lower limb is the power cam. They provide straighter nock travel, making them more accurate and easier to aim. Hybrid cams are also easy to tune and require less maintenance. Twin cams
These compound bows have two cams on each limb, which can be round or elliptical. They are faster, more accurate, and offer more level nocking than other compound bows. Twin cams have a relatively complex design, which requires more skill and maintenance. They are commonly used in competitive shooting. Binary cams
These compound bows also have two cams at each limb, but these are arranged so that the top and bottom cams move in relation to each other. They move independently of the limb, which offset common factors such as limb deflection and varying string lengths. Binary cams provide more consistent nock travel and faster shots. |
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Number of cams. Choose a one-cam bow if you want something fast, convenient, and easy to use. Two-cam bows rely heavily on timing and require more advanced skills. Draw length. Choose a compound bow with that matches your arm length. You can determine your proper draw length by measuring the distance from the edge of your fist to the corner of your mouth while in shooting position. Most shops can adjust your bow’s draw length for you. Draw weight. Make sure your bow is easy to draw, but not too weak. Bows with lower draw weights tend to have less force. A draw weight of 50 pounds is ideal for recreational hunting, but for target shooting, choose a more challenging draw weight for better accuracy.
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Do you have something to add to this guide? If your suggestion passes our editorial standards, we will add it in and acknowledge you as a contributor. ______________ CONTRIBUTIONS: Below are more tips from very helpful expert archers in the PSE forum: 1. The draw length from one bow to another can change as much as 1/2" to 1" depending on the bow and the cams. Most bows can be easily adjusted to the shooter but more and more bows are becoming cam-specific. 2. The cams on a compound bow do not reduce the amount of force required to fully draw the bow. The draw weight will be reduced by approximately 65% to 80% once the cams roll over and the person is holding the bow at full draw. But the full draw weight of the bow is required to be pulled before the cams roll over. |
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