Compound bows come in a variety of shapes and sizes. One of the first things that you need to keep in mind is that a compound bow is a relatively simple device. It only has a handful of moving parts. It's not a computer. So therefore don't be influenced too much by advertiser's claims of superior technology in their model.
The best compound bow is not necessarily the most expensive or the bow with the most bells and whistles. You need to select a bow that is right for you. You need a bow that meets your needs. There are many different manufacturers of compound bows. They all have their differences. They all have many different prices. And they all have their own place in terms of compound bow users for which they are right.
Many archers are in search of the perfect bow. You know, a bow with a silky drawstring, a generous valley, and blazing fast performance. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as this perfect bow. No bow will have every characteristic of a perfect bow. You'll need to pick and choose which characteristics are most important to you.
Let's look at a few of the more important characteristics when choosing a bow:
Power
Bows don't create power. Instead, they convert energy from one form to another. A bow capable of 350 FPS is not necessarily more powerful than a bow capable of shooting 300 FPS, and the effort needed to draw the bow will be the same. Generally a bow has more speed because it requires more strength to draw it back. Therefore, generally a bow that takes less energy to pull back will generate less power. In other words, a compound bow gets its energy and speed from you.
Let off
With a standard bow, when you come to full draw you must release the arrow quickly otherwise you begin to shake. With a compound bow, you are able to hold the draw for much longer. This is known as let off.
It is common today for bows to have let off in excess of 75%. This allows the archer to spend a considerable amount of time prior to shooting without much discomfort. The average archer will find such bows very comfortable to shoot. If you are an advanced archer you may be more comfortable with a little less let off.
When you have a high let off there is a small reduction in arrow velocity. However the difference usually amounts to only a couple FPS. Many compound bows come with interchangeable cam modules which allow you to switch between different let offs.
Limb design
When you shop for a compound bow you'll notice both solid and split limbs. People who prefer solid limbs claim they offer better torsional stiffness and are more accurate than split limbs. People who prefer split limbs claim they are more durable and have less and shock than solid limbs. There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence to support either position. Evidence of this is that many manufacturers who used to make only one or the other, now manufacturer both.
Another advance in limb design revolved around recoil. Some manufacturers found that recoil could be abated with a higher limb angle. These higher limb angle bows are more commonly referred to as parallel limb bows. These bows may or may not be more accurate than other bows however they have become quite popular.
These are just a few areas to consider as you contemplate your purchase. Try out many different manufacturers, many different bow designs, and many different characteristics before you make your choice. Eventually you'll find the bow that is most perfect for you.
