A compound bow, also known as a composite bow, is a type of bow that utilizes a system of pulleys and cables to leverage applied force and manipulate the limbs of the weapon. This system allows the compound bow to augment the draw-force curve, letting it rise to a high rate and turn it into a lighter ‘holding’ weight.
 
The arms of a bow of this type are more rigid as compared to longbows or recurve bows. The leverage system permits drawing the string easily, even with the rigidity of the limbs. The composite, or compound bow, holds the string with cams or pulleys. One or two of the pulleys has a single cable or two affixed to the other limb. The string turns the cams as it is pulled back. The cams then exert force on the cables, the result of which curves the limbs and holds potential energy.
 
The compound bow’s levering structure increases the force applied to the projectile when the string is drawn. One of the cams decreases the tension to the archer’s arm when the string is pulled to the fullest extent. Once drawn the low holding tension permits the archer to set the bow and string in a ready position for a longer period, as well as aim more accurately as opposed to recurve bows or longbows.
 
The materials that make up the compound bow are why the instrument is also called a composite bow. Due to its composition, this type of bow is rarely affected by rising or falling humidity and temperature, thus permitting the archer better velocity, distance, and accuracy than other kinds of bows. The compound bow is the most popular bow used in the United States, and is becoming more and more widespread around the world.
 
A Brief History of the Compound Bow
 
Before the second half of the preceding century, archery enthusiasts only had the recurve bow and longbow as their options. Hunting, target practice, and other activities dictate the type of bow a person needs. Big game hunting with bows usually necessitated the use of recurve bows, as this kind of power was best for bringing down moose, elk, and large types of deer.
 
Missouri was the birthplace of the prototypical compound bow. Holless Wilbur Allen developed the archery tool in 1966, and his invention was granted a patent by the US in 1969. The compound bow has since changed the practice of archery as a means of hunting or way of sport.
 
Currently, the compound bow industry has come up with a large variety of bows in different sizes, shapes, and colors, using different levels of technology. Due to this, an archer of any age, height, weight, and skill level can find a compound bow to suit his or her preferences and requirements.
 
Choosing Your Compound Bow
 
The contemporary compound bow is arguably one of the best hunting implements ever developed. However, it is still a good rule of thumb to look past the advertising made for these products, and look at the compound bow itself. The compound bow, in spite of what the manufacturing companies say, is not a very complex hunting or sporting implement. It does not rely on any other energy aside from the user’s exerted force. It also does not host a micro-computer to amplify or mitigate the energy when the bow is used. It is also made up of relatively few moving parts, and is constructed from fairly common materials. So the everyday compound bows sold in the market can only use so much high technology and cutting-edge design. Why then, are they marketed as products incorporating the latest technological advances?
 
Many bow hunters feel that the technological ‘advances’ these bows have will give them the upper hand, in terms of accuracy, ease of use, and the like. Of course, these advantages will help sell their specific products because the buyers need the non-existent ‘edge’. Chances are, the compound bow that just reached the market recently is not that different from the ones sold the previous season, or maybe even the previous years. Stick to the basics and what you know – get a bow that fits you and your activities, whether you use your bow for sporting or hunting purposes.

The compound bow is the product of technological enhancements to the traditional bows to make it easier for a person to use for recreational hunting and competitive sport. They have been ergonomically designed and have the benefit of being lighter in weight than rifles. However, there may still be some downsides to compound bows. Let us, therefore, take a look at and compare their advantages and disadvantages.
 
Advantages of Compound Bows
 
The best advantage provided by compound bows is the let-off. This is the reduction in the force that the archer has to apply to the draw string as the maximum draw length is reached. This provides the archer with more time to aim because he will need less power to keep the bow fully drawn. Let-off is made possible by the design of the cams or pulleys. Once they have reached the maximum point, the least amount of force is now required to keep the limbs bent. Thus, the let-off permits the archer to have a better aim at the target with a much higher maximum draw weight when compared to the recurve or long bow.
 
Compound bows also have draw stops that are provided by blocks that are covered with rubber. These draw stops ensure that the amount of force that is transferred to the arrow is the same for every shot. They also make sure that the archer can have a consistent anchor point. All of these characteristics provide for better accuracy.
 
Another advantage offered by compound bows is the fact that the distance, velocity and accuracy are not adversely affected by humidity and temperature. Bows constructed from natural materials are easily affected by humidity and temperature.
 
Another benefit that could be derived from compound bows is that the cams or pulleys are designed to directly regulate the acceleration of the arrow. Thus, there is a soft cam and a hard cam, and there are graduations in between. Those who are novices may want to use bows with soft cams for a more gentle release of the arrow. As they gain in expertise, they can shift to the harder cams to increase arrow speed.
 
There is also an advantage provided for users of compound bows in archery tournaments. This is the only category where participants are allowed to have a magnifying sight.
 
Compound bows are also provided with a mechanical release device that is attached to the draw string close to the point where the arrow is placed. With this device, the archer will only need to increase the tension a bit or squeeze a trigger to make a shot. This system ensures better accuracy compared to the application of the fingers.
 
Another advantage of compound bows is that they are provided with dampers and stabilizers. These devices minimize the movement of the bow as the arrow is released, thereby providing more accuracy.
 
Disadvantage of Compound Bows
 
There appears to be only one disadvantage of compound bows although some hunters still prefer the traditional bows claiming that they could aim and shoot faster with them. The one downside of compound bows is that they are generally lighter than the traditional bows. This means that they are more prone to movement errors by the archer at full draw.