How to Understand a Compound Bow
Archery's compound bow is a modern update of the traditional recurve bow that uses a combination of technology and basic physics to make an extremely powerful bow. While the compound bow looks complex, understanding a little about its construction clears up confusion.
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Instructions
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Take a look at the rigid structure of the bow, the riser, and orient the bow right side up so that the grip is slightly below the vertical half-way point. Look at the upper part of the bow that curves toward the string, called the upper limb, and the corresponding lower part, the lower limb. Also identify the stabilizer insert that rounds off at the grip.
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Look at the cams, or wheels, on the top and bottom of the compound bow. The top wheel is the idler wheel and connects a number of strings to the cam on the bottom. The outer most string is the bow string while the inner string that crosses itself is the buss string.
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Understand the materials of the compound bow's parts such as the limbs, which are generally made of super-strong and sometimes aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. The other strain-bearing parts of the bow are usually magnesium and aluminum. The wheels, or cams, are often constructed of a strong plastic since they take none of the force of the bow.
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Measure the length of the middle axle, the distance between the 2 limbs, or refer to the bows' specifications to decide what's right for your style of archery. Easter tree archers prefer shorter middle axles on account of the compact size of such bows. However, the shorter the middle axle the more difficult it is to gain accuracy in your archery.
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