Types Of Archery Bows And Arrows Explained

Posted by Rosalie Galvez on February 16th, 2021

The evolution in equipment, rules, and techniques indicate the fact that people still cherish the old ways while keeping room for innovation and modernity.

There should come as no surprise that archery bows and arrows come in many forms, sizes, and shapes. If you are just starting out, you should know which one will suit your goals as well as your personal style.

Archery Bow Types

This used to be a battle weapon, which has now been replaced with guns. But that does not mean you cannot enjoy it as a hobby or cannot compete at a professional level.

Before you do either, it is best to know what tool you are going to use.

So, the following are some of the most common types of archery bows:

Recurve Bow

Many of the novices in the field of archery starts their journey with this classical bow. This does not imply that this bow has nothing to offer to the pros. It is because many of the modern versions of this recurve bow are used in Olympic competitions.

The unique, signature shape of this bow lends it the name. Its central part, which makes the better part of the bow, curves towards the archer, and its tips go in the opposite direction. The configuration facilitates the archer in covering more distance with less power while shooting the arrow. That is the main reason why these recurve bows are used to teach archery.

For beginners, the version with two bow limbs, a riser, and a balancer is used to give them much control to shoot the target.

For the sake of portability, the modern iterations of these bows can be disassembled because of their modular construction. In addition to that, this recurve bow can accommodate a more skilled archer by giving room to install sights, pressure buttons, stabilizers, etc.

This is an excellent bow for beginners and intermediate archers. It provides necessary support without sacrificing range accuracy and power to hit the bull’s eye!

Compound Bows

Compound bows were developed back in the 1960s. They are still considered to be the most modern archery bows today. As the name suggests, they are not simple and basic and can come with all the options and extensions you can find for your bow. They employ an intricate system of cords and cables, pulleys and unique cams, and other customization options. This aids the archer in holding the weight of a heavy draw.

No matter the bells and whistles on this bow, you need great strength to draw this bow. When you do that, the pulley system comes into play and lets you hold the draw for a much longer duration. This way, you will have much focus on the aim without worrying about muscle fatigue.

Contrary to other basic and more classic models in archery bows, these bows are exclusively made of synthetic materials that can last for many lifetimes. This implies that they are not much susceptible to humidity and fluctuations in temperature.

It is not a great fit for beginners and intermediate archers. The reason is its expensive nature and the complexity of its operations.

Longbow/ Traditional Bow

Again, these archery bows are popular for their simplicity and no-nonsense character towards the goal – hitting the target with accuracy. These simple bows have a long, slightly curved body that measures in length the same as the archer. As for the customization options like arrow rests or sights, they do not have room for these, owing to their medieval origin.

They are not even for pros but for a limited number of aficionados that have proper training and expertise in handling this piece of equipment. It is because they are much difficult to aim and require more strength to draw when compared against modern bows. Also, they are no match for the velocity.

Aptly known as the medieval bow, longbows were used for the first time during a battle around 1298. Since its introduction, it became a dominant weapon, owing to its ability to throw projectiles to the enemy lines. In the ballads and epic poems from that era, many poets had claimed that the victories at multiple battles were due to this lethal weapon.

Until the 16th century when other iterations of bows and other projectile-throwing weapons were refined, longbows had enjoyed the dominance to be the most effective tool of war, especially during sieges and defense.

It is a simple piece of wood with no break, and certainly no room for customizations, like sights, pressure clickers, etc. In the modern world, beginners cannot work around this bow due to the lack of support systems and big frame. Therefore, they are still reserved for the masters of archery because of complex operations and other predicaments.

Crossbow

In ancient China, around 600 BC, the crossbow was one of the most effective weapons on the battlefield. Contrary to other bows in this list, this bow offers a short horizontal position. Earlier, they were the best weapon choice for the warriors in the ancient Chinese dynasty, now they are mostly used for sport and hunting.

This has more of a mechanical structure. The crank mechanism attaches the string with a trigger mechanism. The whole setup will be locked in place until the time comes and the archer lets the trigger loose.

Crossbows offer a much lesser shooting range when compared to compound bows and recurve bows. They also require much draw weights to match in the distance with modern versions of archery bows.

These types of bows find much of their use in target archery. Target archery is not a light sport and is subjected to state regulations which are often strict. So, you need to know your way around what is permissible by law and what is not if you are wondering about taking up that bow.

It is not suitable for beginners due to heavyweight draw and other operational complexities.

As we have explored different types of bows with their apparent pros and cons, now we will discuss some of the types of arrows. This way, you will have well-rounded information about the complete archery setup which will help you in making the right decision in buying the gear.

Archery Arrow Types

After going through the types of bows and their corresponding properties, you have a pretty good idea about one part of the gear that will complete your archery equipment. It has been observed that new archers have some knowledge about almost every aspect of archery, but they are speechless when it comes to arrows. For them, all arrows are the same, in the meaning that they fly away when an archer loses the draw.

There is a fair reason why it is hard to master different types of properties of arrows. They are so many and come with similarities that make it hard to distinguish one from the other.

Now, we will discuss some of the arrow types based on the material they are made of. The reason is that the composition plays a significant role in how an arrow shoots and land on a target.

When you think about arrow types based on their building material, there are four major categories.

Wood

This indicates to the ways of the past; the trail of the original arrow!

In the times of their introduction, they were revolutionary and captivating, in both literal and figurative sense, in both parties at a battle. Even, they were more of a breakthrough in their time, when compared to that of their later successors.

They are made from one of the most abundant materials found on the surface of the earth – wood. This makes them very economical. Since they are made of natural material, you should expect changes in the structure due to the changes in humidity and temperature. The most common cases recorded are for warping. Still, they are the best option for the archers who are just learning the skills.

One other thing that sets them apart from other types is the change from one piece to another. This is the reason every wooden arrow flies differently from other wooden arrows.

They are revered by traditional archers for their natural feel and the legacy they carry, but they are almost never used in competitive events. All things aside, making wooden arrows is fun in itself. Also, you will find many pro archers showcasing their own wooden arrow renditions.

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