Basic Equipment Guide
- Bow Types
- Arrows
- Arrow rests
- Pressure Buttons
- Sights
- Stabilisers
Bow Types
Type of Bow |
Description/Use | Pro's |
Con's |
Longbow
|
Traditional bow originally made from the heart and sapwood of the Yew tree although now made from a number of types of wood including lemon wood. A simple bow without any aids to sighting or balance of the bow. The power of the bow (30 - 80lbs) comes from shape and size of the limbs and the amount of tapering along their length. The string is usually attached to horn or composite material nocks to protect the limb ends. |
Traditional bow which gets back to the basics Kits allow you to make them yourself. |
Consistency of aim and grouping requires experience and skill One piece construction means that carrying,handling and storage can be an issue |
Flatbow
|
Traditional bow from North America originally made from lemon wood. The term flat bow is used to distinguish them from the english longbow as the flatbow has a generally flatter section on the limbs than the longbow. | Traditional bow which gets you bas to the basics | Consistency of aim and grouping requires experience and skill |
Recurve (Classic or Hunter)
|
The recurve bow is the natural development of the longbow. The recurve refers to the fact that the end of the limbs curve back on themselves. This inflection in curvature allows the effective string and limb length to change as the bow is drawn and the arrow released. This in turn increases the acceleration of the arrow meaning that bows with lower draw weights can propel arrows at far higher speeds. The hunter or classic recurve bow is usually made of laminated wood and is made in one piece. |
Traditional bow that gives you the advantage of the recurve | One piece construction means that carrying,handling and storage can be an issue |
Recurve (Take-down)
|
Like the hunter or classic this type of bow uses the inflection on curvature of the limbs to increase arrow acceleration. Unlike the classic, the takedown recurve is designed with separate limbs and riser allowing the archer to upgrade or change the configuration of the bow much more easily. The riser can be made of laminated wood, cast or forged metal or composite materials and the limbs made from wood and glass fibre through to carbon fibre and carbon foam technology making the modern take-down the choice of most recurve target archers. |
Modern bow that gives you the advantage of the recurve and is modular so upgrades and easier. | Bows with metal risers can be heaver than traditional wooden bows. |
Compound
|
The compound bow is the furthest along the line of development from the traditional bows. Whereas the recurve bow uses some mechanical advantage of limb inflection, the compound bow uses pulleys and cams (eccentric pulleys) to increase the arrow acceleration and decrease the effort required to draw the bow. Modern compound bows are significantly shorter than the equivalent recurve allowing them to be taken more easily around forests on field archery rounds. Modern compound bows also make use of the latest materials technology increasing their power significantly. |
In the right hands Compound bows can be significantly more consistent that recurves. | Scoring systems are adjusted to take account of the compounds higher consistency. |
