How to Tell the Difference between a Right- and a Left-Handed Bow

When learning archery, the type of bow used is an important factor. Left-handed and right-handed bows exist, though the two bow types vary only slightly in overall appearance. An archer must choose which hand to use to hold the bow and which to use to draw and release the string. Both right-handed and left-handed bows are widely available from the majority of bow and arrow manufacturers.

  1. Basics

    • Left- and right-handed bows perform the same function, propelling arrows through the air at high speeds. They differ mainly in how an archer fires them. The left-handed bow is drawn with the left hand and held with the right, while a right-handed bow is held in left and drawn with the right.

    Arrow Rest

    • The only physical difference between the two types of bows is the arrow rest, a small piece located in the middle of the bow, where the archer rests the arrowhead while lining up the shot. On the right-handed bow, the arrow rest is on the right-hand side of the riser, while on the left-handed bow the rest sits on the left side. Some types of longbows do not include a fixed arrow rest, making them appropriate for right- or left-handed archers.

    Stance

    • Right-handed and left-handed bows accommodate players with left or right side dominance, as is done with equipment in many sports. The left-handed bow allows players with a dominant left eye to line up a shot with this eye, as opposed to a right-handed bow which is aimed with the right eye. Which stance an archer takes is not only dependent on the dominant eye, but also on which arm is stronger.

    Dominant Eye

    • In order to choose the best bow for you, determine if you are left or right eye dominant. To find this, follow the advice given by archeryexchange.com; ask a friend to stand 5 feet away. Hold your hands out, with your fingers pressed together and your thumbs in an L. Tilt your hands towards each other to form a triangle-shaped hole, then look through this hole and focus on your friend. The eye that your friend sees through the hole in your hands is your dominant eye.