Recurve Bows: Beginner’s Guide

If you are new to archery, then this article will really help you. Archery is tons of fun and improves your overall accuracy skills. Whether you use bows and arrows for hunting or sports.

Recurve bows are weapons of beauty and skill. Their compactness, efficiency in shooting, and less sophistication warrant their use even in the Olympic Games. This recurve ideology arises when the limbs bend away from you after shooting. By this mechanism, it amerces much energy to shoot an arrow far and fast. See our article on Compound bows if you’re more interested in modern bows.

Best Recurve Bows for Beginners

Bear Archery Titan Bow

Late teens and young adults use them.  It is a more advanced one with added features such as movable limbs and stabilizers. Discipline in the shooting is the critical element perpetrated here. That is due to organized shooting trials and training.

Pros

• It is suitable to use by both hands because of its ambidextrous riser
• The sight pin that improves accuracy in shooting
• It comes with finger rollers, armguard which ensures comfort handle
• The bow is of higher quality because of strong fiberglass limbs and hardwood rise.
• It is a take-down bow; hence the limbs are adjusted to provide a preferable draw.
• Easy to assemble.
• It is relatively cheap, which is a good thing for beginners.

Cons

• The arrow rest, finger tab, and string may break. The strand breaks if it is not appropriately waxed while the rest breaks from low-quality make.
•  It comes with metal clips and no finger savers; therefore it may injure your fingers 

Get this bow on Amazon.

Best Premium Bow

SAS voyager 62″Premium Takedown Hunting Bow

The SAS Voyager comes with a great versatile fiddle fitted with glass and fiber. It has a firm bolt and pin system, giving the bow the stability it requires.  

Pros

• Its takedown effect of the arc or bow curve is rampant with 62 inches.
• Has a firm pin and refined bolt system that brings stability
• It comes with the glass and fiber limbs, which are durable.
• Modified with quality hardwoods
• The string used is compatible.
• It is very smooth and quiet due to the takedown effect.

Cons

• It bears no pre-drill hole for sights.
• They are mostly made for right-handers, thus limiting the left-handed people.
• A bit expensive because it is a premium bow

Check out this bow on Amazon.

My Best Choice

Bear Archery Wizard Youth Bow

If you are still confused about which hand to use in a bow, then this one works diligently for both arms! That is because it has an ambidextrous riser. It has an incredible draw length of 22 to 28 inches and enough draw weight, making heavy to maximize the arrow propulsion. It is unique because it accommodates children because of its standard length.

Pros

• It works for both the left-handed and the right-handed.
• Its arrangement is neat upon delivery.
• It is packed with the sight pin and finger rollers.
• You can award the artifact as a gift to your kids due to its exquisite appearance.
• Very simple to assemble and use thereof advocated for the beginners.

Cons

• It has a thin string that can break.

Buy this fantastic bow on Amazon.

What to Know Before Buying a Recurve Bow

What Are The Types Of Recurve Bows?

Modern Recurve Bow

This bow has movable limbs that ensure accurate shooting, therefore has a significant takedown effect. These modern tools have the riser made of lustrous alloys like aluminum and wood. They are made of hard material, making the bows durable. Other accessories like quiver and stabilizer come with modern bows.

Traditional Bows

They have been used over the years and were made from a wooden stick by a material called Osage. However, for this one, you cannot detach the limbs; hence they have no takedown effect. This behavior also makes it one piece of the shot. If you miss, then you have to take the next blow carefully without readjusting the limbs. 

Children’s Bows

How fun would it be to hunt with your young one or aim the bull’s eye with him or her? That is made possible with a Wizard Youth bow. With affordable fiberglass, it makes it firm, reliable, and user friendly for kids to start. It offers 17-24 inches, which is relative to the kid’s requirement size.

The furnishing of the bow presents a brilliant, dazzling rise. There is also a carbon fiber arrow, exquisite target board, and a starter manual. The bow shapes their critical thinking and accuracy skills, and it also puts some sense of focus on them. So next time you are gifting your children try this one.

Which are the Different Parts of the Bow?

The following are some of the notable parts of a bow.

The string

It is like the propeller of the recurve bow. Every customization or modification done to the bow aims for the versatility of the string. By pulling the rise and limbs more massively, this will increase the draw force of the strand. Some filaments are unique with a premium tag like Dacron material. The best thread must be lightweight, durable, resistant to abrasion, and waterproof. 

A lightweight one will expand quickly while pulling and releasing. It, therefore, induces much inertia force to release the arrow with power. A strong thread is unbreakable, even with a higher pressure. Wetting of the string weakens its polarities, enhancing abrasion. Therefore consider a waterproof one like Polaris string or Dacron material. Some fibers like sisal thread, silks, and other natural fibers are also useful.

Riser

It is like the ‘engine’ of the bow, and the center of all operations, which means it coordinates everything. When shooting, you must align this component to the target you want. It is located between the limbs, where other parts are attached. The use of aluminum, carbon fiber ensures durability and effectiveness. The wooden rise, however, breaks easily when wet.

Rise Handle

The aluminum or wooden riser is hard and may sore your hand. Therefore there it has a handle that prevents such a situation. The handle should have a spongy material that absorbs sweat when handling. These grips also enhance comfort.

Limbs

They are the top and bottom tip of a bow. The accuracy of the object lies with this component. If the limbs misalign, you mess up the shooting. They store that kinetic energy, which develops to propel the arrow. Some artifacts have these limbs bent to increase this energy and pressure in obtaining maximum shooting power and strength.

Effective attaching of these parts to the riser is crucial because they influence the shooting process. 

Stabilizer. 

If you do not want to drift after drawing an arrow, consider using stabilizers. These accessories include long, short, and extension rods. You can still fix a dampener at the end of these rods to absorb more vibration. These components reduce that vibration and the resultant noise.

Arrow Rest

It is a point where the arrow rests when pulling the cord, and makes the projectile firm and rigid when positioning the aiming target. It is either metallic or plastic that is attached to the riser.

Nock

 It is an arrow’s pin or notch which enables the arrow to clip on the strand while shooting. This mechanism instigates an accurate shot. 

Clicker

An archer needs a balancing component of the arrow and limbs’ force. A metallic clicker is significant for such activity. That is because it clicks to alarms the archer of the preferable draw length.

A sight

It is an adjustable component that ensures consistency in the shots an archer makes. The pin backtracks to remind the shooter he or she drew the arrow earlier.

What are The Types of Forces in a Bow?

Sometimes shooting an arrow seems like a mere twitch. However, do you know how many forces are responsible for achieving that? These are the forces that are induced and transmitted to the arrow to create a powerful, accurate, and quick shot.

The Potential and Kinetic Energy 

Potential energy is the stored elastic energy of the string, the rise, the limbs, and your hands. These energies multiply to become that kinetic energy that will propel the arrow to its target. The way you pull the string back, the kinetic energy will push forward the arrow.

Draw Weight

Your fingertips ignite this force. The more effort you apply on the bow, the full capacity to release the arrow. The draw weight force achieves that. It is, therefore, the effort required to draw a string to maximum pull. The weight of the bow should correspond to your weight. If you pull a more massive bow, it will prove challenging to draw it hence faltering an accurate shot.

That is the reason why you should start with lighter objects as a beginner. As you continue training, you will gain the muscle of pulling heavier ones.  Your physical strength, stamina, momentum, and skills influence this attribute.

Draw Length

It refers to the measure of your bowstring pull. Always differentiate between draw weights and draw length and do not use them interchangeably. With the former, it is a measure of pulling energy, while the latter is the pulling size. Drawing a bow balances the reaction force of the arrow. If you pull too high or too short, it inconveniences your accuracy shooting.

Inertia Force

It is a type of force that involves the mass over circulatory motion. It tends to change with velocity. In this case, the bow and the arrow rotate when you apply effort to them. If you use higher force, the resultant inertia accelerates the torque motion, affecting the speed and the arrow hits. The more you change your hand position, the different inertia makes the arrow hit different spots. Always be consistent if you do not want that to happen. 

How to Make a Laminated Recurve Bowstring Locally 

Sometimes it is useful to make these parts from home. That will save you that extra penny you would use to buy one. The knowledge of the forces and the components of the recurve will help you in creating one. Ensure you have all materials for making the two limbs, and a riser. 

For the riser you need;

• 3 inches hardwood
• a pencil and a piece of paper to make sketches 
• glue
• wood rasp 
• sandpaper
• resin
• jigsaw
• A paintbrush.

For the limbs, ensure that you have a measuring tape, one set of skis, an excellent saw, drill. Paint and round wood file

Do not forget the string and an arrow. The following are the steps of making the bow.

Make a nice sketch

Draw on a piece of paper on how you want the riser to appear. You can use YouTube recurve bow hunting tutorials to know how it should look. Draw many sketches to attain the most appropriate riser drawing. Mark the arrow rest, handle point, riser length, and your hand’s angle into that riser.

Choose the wood and lamination.

Select the wood and cut it with a saw to the preferred measurements. Use hardwood like mahogany as it is durable.

Laminate the design you had in paper into the wood using glue and let it dry for about twenty-four hours.

Cut the design

Trace the paper’s design using a pencil and accurately cut the marked lines corresponding to the plan. The frame you design should look precisely with the picture you drew. Use an excellent jigsaw to cut the framework.

Shape and furnish 

The frame now appears irregular and desolate with hovering grains. Use a rasp or sandpaper to smoothen those surfaces. Let the texture be as subtle as possible while taking care of the frames angle. If you compromise those angles, you will falter the layout design.

Make the limbs

Use an object that is bent with a suitable angle, such as skis, hockey sticks, or any curved item. Measure the appropriate arm’s length and lay them on the table by the riser frame. 

Attach the arms

Use a measuring tape to measure the endpoint of the rise and the ski’s length on both sides of the frame for the two limbs. Test them by attaching them with masking tape. If that inclining angle is suitable, decide on permanently connecting them. Use drill bots on both riser ends that correspond to the tape location. Drill holes that you will fit the required bolts. Finally, attach those limbs with the bolt. 

Attach the strings to the limbs

Use the suitable string and fasten it to the appropriate shooting range. Have a target object and an arrow. Shoot, and you will realize the effective positioning of the thread to the limb. Attach that string to such a location.

The bow length corresponds to the string length or fewer inches more. Or else, use a tape to measure the bow from top to bottom limbs. That measurement should have an equal height as the bowstring to use.

Paint and furnish 

Finally, keep on furnishing the object and paint it appropriately. Check how mesmerizing the bow looks. Otherwise, enjoy the work of your hands.

How to Shoot a Recurve Bow for Beginners

What Qualities Do You Require?

Composure

If you want to shoot the projectile accurately, you must be composed and focus on your target. Turn a blind eye to any distraction, as this will hamper your accurate shot.

Accuracy

Demonstration of accuracy depends on how you shoot the arrow.  Ensure the limbs, the string, and the rise are intact. This attribute comes from frequent training. 

Discipline. 

You must draw an arrow most appropriately while considering that all the components are intact.  Follow all instructions given by your instructor.  

The Steps to Making a Perfect Shot

Eye and Hand Dominance

Determine your dominant eye and hand. The eye will help you to focus on the target. Whether right or left arm, the effort you apply will trigger a powerful shot. Some people always close their recessive eye and open the dominant eye to focus accurately

Get the Right Posture

Identify your posture. The stamina you exert from the ground extend the draw length to trigger a powerful shot. Be on that upright stance, relax your hand, and focus on your targets like the bull’s eye or the animal’s neck.

While using your preferable hand, incline the bow to your shoulders. Stretch your hands, one hand touching the rise and the other pulling the string. Ensure the arrow is clipped to the strand and focus on your target. 

You must prepare your hand grips on the bow. Composure is the key to the success of this operation. Then adjust your bow limb. If the first shot was inaccurate, repeat the test. Remember, you are using a takedown recurve fiddle where you can readjust it. Adjust the string relative to the limbs then draw the arrow again.

Get into Action

There are a lot of things to keep in mind while drawing the arrow. Focus and concentration will help you at this point. Picture your target and keep it in mind. Incline the rise to the position of it. Pull the shot with one blind eye to increase that accurate picture. While releasing the arrow, use calculated effort, letting your muscles should feel that impact.

Finally, review your shots. What went wrong, and how close you were to the bully eye? Do some of these questions linger in your mind? Therefore try another chance, this time being more composed and accurate.

See also our bowhunting guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to carry a recurve bow

If you are dealing with takedown bows, you can disassemble the bows into movable parts. That makes it convenient to carry them. However, if you want to carry it whole, follow the following instructions.

• First, make sure the bow corresponds to your height. Then ensure all movable parts like the string, limbs, arrow rest, and others are firm and tight. 
• Cover the object with non-abrasive material like cotton clothing or blanket.
• Slide it on your back and ensure it lies proportionate with your shoulders. The upper arm should rest on the front shoulder and the lower arm close to your waist.  
• Ensure it does not wrap you tightly or fall on your neck and throat. If it covers you tightly, consider loosening it, and if it is wobbly, tighten it. 
• Walk free with it and confirm if you are comfortable while carrying it. 

What’s the procedure for unstringing the bow?

Never be tempted to remove the string by hand as you can injure yourself. However, use a bow stringer that is efficient in doing this operation.

• Commence by placing the stringer’s pocket on the lower limb arm. Or else, use the larger pocket, if the bow has two pockets, on the upper bow’s arm. Ensure the saddle fits correspondingly over the bow’s arms.
•  Start by looping the end over the upper and lower bow’s arm and fix the pad against the curve or below the cord’s nock.
• Hold the bow in an inverse position while stepping on the bow stringer. Exert the pressure to force the strands cord to loosen so that the string can pull out.
• Continue pressing until the string is baggy, lift that bowstring out of the upper nock. Use the same procedure on the other limbs. After removing the string, take out the stringer carefully.

How should I hang or store a Recurve Bow

After you finish with your activity, a question on how to store a receive bow is essential. You can hang the receive bow on your wall. Pin it by the string on the nail. However, this is not the safest way. The wooden material does not go well with humidity. Excessive heat also dampens it. Consider a sealed cabinet to store them, which prevents such issues. Consider a hard case made of glass or plastic for that matter.