Difference Between Compound and Recurve Bows

Recurve Bow

• The distinguishing feature of a recurve is the reverse curves at the ends; from the handle, the bow limbs curve gracefully toward the archer, then curve away at the ends. These reverse curves "re-curve," giving the bow its name. The recurve design produces a faster and more powerful shot than a traditional bow of comparable draw weight.

Traditional Bow

• The traditional bow is often called a longbow, though the terms are not actually interchangeable. A traditional bow is one that does not have the reverse curving limbs; the bow shape is a simple arc from one end to the other. If the bow is about five feet or taller, it's a longbow. A bow made from a single piece of wood (or other material) is called a "selfbow."

Compound Bow

• The newest style of bow is the compound bow, invented in the mid-20th century. This bow features pulleys and/or cams on the ends of the limbs, with a long string that criss-crosses the bow multiple times. One limb usually has an elliptical cam, which produces a sudden reduction in the draw weight of the bow when a certain point is reached. Compound bows build up considerable force, which allows for a more accurate shot.

Which One Is Best?

• As usual, "best" is a relative and subjective term. Which bow is best for a given archer depends almost entirely on the archer's temperament, personality, preferences and goals. The recurve is a transitory form between the other two and serves as the "default" option. The real difference between traditional and compound shooting is the difference in the archer.

The Archer's Personality

• The difference between traditional shooters and compound shooters lies in the archer's way of looking at archery. To some degree, traditional and recurve archers are purists: They are process-oriented and want to know that the shot is 100 percent the result of their effort and shooting technique, without any assist from "gadgets." In some extreme cases, "paleo-archers" shoot hand-carved bows exactly the way cavemen would have, complete with flint-tipped arrows. By contrast, compound shooters tend to be goal-oriented; they want the highest score possible, as quickly as possible, by any means necessary. There is a plethora of shooting aids to assist in this effort: mechanical releases (triggers), stabilizers, illuminated sights and scopes. It's possible for archery to be as simple or as complicated as the archer chooses.

Other Factors

• Compounds are the preferred bow for hunting, though many hunters also choose to give the prey a "sporting chance" by limiting the kind of equipment they will use. Compounds are also used in pro tournaments, which sometimes involve cash prizes.

  Recurve is the standard bow for the Olympics and international competitions. Archers who aspire to Olympic gold are required to shoot recurve. Recurve archers tend to shoot in target competitions rather than field archery, 3-D archery or hunter rounds.

  Traditional bows are favored by a wide variety of shooters, especially those who shoot for personal satisfaction and are not too interested in competition, though there are tournaments specifically for them. These bows are also popular in hunting, field archery and 3-D archery, as well as among historic recreationists, such as the Society for Creative Anachronism.