Compound Bow - Arrows Used

Arrows Used

Arrows used with compound bows do not differ significantly from arrows used with recurve bows, being typically either aluminium alloy, carbon fibre, or often a composite of the two materials. The only notable difference is that the spine of the arrow, which is a measure of its stiffness, is not as great for a compound bow as it would be for a recurve bow of the same draw weight (power). This is due to the fact that a compound bow will accelerate an arrow more gently and linearly as the cam unwinds so flexing the arrow less, as compared to the explosive acceleration of an arrow from a recurve bow where the full power of the limbs is applied to the arrow as soon as the string is released.

Wooden arrows are not recommeded for use with compound bows due to the higher overall forces that are applied to the arrow being more likely to break the arrow, possibly driving parts of the broken arrow shaft into an archer's arm.

Manufacturers produce arrow shafts with different weights (mass), different spines (stiffness), and different lengths in the same model of shaft to accommodate different draw weights and lengths, matched to archers' different styles, preferences and physical attributes.

Arrow stiffness (spine) is an important parameter in finding arrows that will shoot accurately from any particular bow (see Archer's paradox), the spine varying with both the construction and length of the arrow.

Another important consideration is that the IBO (International Bowhunter Organization) recommends at least 5 grains of total arrow weight per pound of draw weight, this means a bow that draws 60-lbs would need at least a 300grains finished with tip arrow.