Bow Limb (2024)

FAQs

How long should my bow limbs be? ›

If you shoot less than a 25″ bow, you should consider a 64″ bow (short limbs and a 23″ riser). If you shoot more than a 31″ draw, you should consider a 72″ bow (long limbs and a 27″ riser).

In archery, a recurve bow is one of the main shapes a bow can take, with limbs that curve away from the archer when unstrung. A recurve bow stores more energy and delivers energy more efficiently than the equivalent straight-limbed bow, giving a greater amount of energy and speed to the arrow.

The limb is attached to the riser, which is the middle part of the bow that the archer holds onto when shooting. The limb is usually made of a flexible material, such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or wood, and is designed to store energy when the bow string is pulled back.

The most difficult bow for novice archers to use would likely be the Compound Bow. While the Recurve Bow and Longbow are both lightweight and require skill to master, the Compound Bow has additional technological features that make it more complicated to handle.

Take each limb down to ½ inch thick.

Recurve bows shoot faster and more powerfully than a long bow because of the number-three shape. At the tips, the bow curves out toward the target. The draw length on a recurve bow is more important than on a longbow. A traditional bow's bowstring can be drawn back as far as you are able to pull it.

The anchor point may be the corner of your mouth, your cheekbone, or your chin. Practice will help you determine your best anchor point—one that's both comfortable and provides the most accurate shooting. Your fingers should touch the same anchor point each time you draw the bow.

Recurve bows are the most technically designed traditional bows. The curvature of the limbs stores more energy than the straight limbs of a longbow, giving archers a leg up in the speed/power department. Recurve bows can be one-piece or breakdown bows, where the limbs can be removed from the riser.

Penetration increases with the projectile's speed and weight. Bullets travel faster than arrows, but arrows are heavier than bullets. Nevertheless, if you calculate the momentum and kinetic energy of arrows, even the most potent bow seems much less lethal than a firearm.

The heaviest documented hand bows are the 166 pound Mongol bows reported by the Italian monk Carpini in the 13th century and the 240 pound Manchu bow used by a champion in 18th century China.

What kind of bow is impossible to tie? ›

Imagine That Toys - Q: What bow can't be tied? A: A rainbow!

Bow Length

The old rule was if you had a short draw length, less than 28 inches, you should shoot a 56 or 58-inch bow. For 28 to 29½-inch draw lengths, a 60-inch bow would perform best. For draw lengths over 29½ inches, a 62-inch bow would be the best choice. I've found 60 inches to be a happy medium.

Limbs come in short, medium and long lengths. A 25-inch riser with short limbs measures 66 inches tip to tip, but when fitted with medium limbs it measures 68 inches. Even longer limbs make a 70-inch bow.

Release length matters—you shouldn't have to reach for the trigger. The trigger, when the length is adjusted correctly, should rest near the second knuckle bend of the index finger. A common mistake many archers make is adjusting the length so they trip the trigger with the tip of their finger.

Bow and stern lines should typically be at least 2/3 times the distance between the boat and the dock.