Compound Bows  

The compound bow is a modern invention since the 1980s that is basically a bow that uses pulley and cables to fire an arrow.  It is most often used for bowhunting and field archery.  Its main advantages over other bows are that it offers superior accuracy, speed and it travels farther distances.  In addition, it is not negatively impacted by changes in temperature and humidity. 

So how does a compound bow outperform other bows?  It does this through its use of pulleys and cables.  They work synergistically together to make it so they are easier to hold a full draw.  What essentially happens is once you pull the draw back   This results in the archer being able to hold a heavier bow which translates into greater accuracy, speed, and distance.  

Makeup of Compound Bows 

Today’s bows are normally compression molded and made from several levels of fiberglass yarn that were placed in a liquid resin bath.  These bows are better than their wooden predecessors because they can withstand more extreme temperatures and can withstand more wear and tear.  In addition, a number of bow manufacturers are starting to include carbon in their decision.  The thinking is this will make the bow more rigid.   

The cables and strings of today’s bows are now made of all synthetic materials.  These allow for greater speed for arrows when compared to the previous steel cables of yesteryears.  Also, thinner strands yield faster speeds than fatter ones.   

Trend toward smaller bows continues.  The bow length of compound bows continues to become smaller and smaller with sizes going as small as 29 inches, but the norma averaging around 35 inches.  The reasoning for this trend is that short bows are usually faster and bowhunters like its smaller size because it is easier to get through brush.   

Companies and Prices 

Compound bows have wide range in prices with a rough range of $300 up to $1000. However, most bows fall into the $500 to $800 range. In addition, youth compound bows and bows designed for women tend to be cheaper. You can expect take off around $100 compared to their counterpart bow made for men. Popular companies that produce compound bows include: Darton, Diamond, Alpine, BowTech, Browning, Champion, Fred Bear, Golden Eagle, Hoyt USA, High Country, Martin, Jennings, and many others.

*To get some information about traditional bows, take a look at Traditional Bows.