Archery Recurve Bows – What Makes Them Special?

Recurve archery is a popular archery technique with competitors everywhere. Recurve archery is a competition in the Olympics and there are several variations on this performance. Archery recurve bows are the favorite bow for all competitive archers. This article will outline the features and benefits of the archery recurve bow.

For Competitive Archers

The competitive bow archer wants his arrow to fly further and hit the target more accurately than his competitors. Enter the archery recurve bow. Each edge of the recurve bow is engineered so each edge of the bow has an outward arc, away from the bowman, towards the target. The string touches these recurve sections of the bow. This design adds more tension to the bow and string, creating more energy when released and the arrow travels further.

Below is a small sampling of Archery Recurve Bows currently on eBaY:

Draw Length

The recurve bow size ranges from 48 inches to 70 inches in length. A standard target bow is about 66 inches in length. To help with stability, it is recommended that a recurve bow be no less than 58 inches in length. Your draw length (how far you can pull the arrow back when cocking) determines the size of bow you should choose. The draw length is determined by measuring your arms spread out to each side with your palms facing forward. Have someone measure your arm length from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of your other middle finger. Take that measurement and divide it by 2.5, thereby arriving at your draw length. If your draw is less than 28 inches, choose a bow between 62 and 66 inches long. If your draw is more than 28 inches, choose a bow between 66 and 70 inches long.

Nocking the Arrow

To load a recurve bow, you release the string and bring the bow down so it is pointing towards the ground. The shaft of the arrow is positioned on the arrow rest located at the bow window. You then place end of the arrow, where the notch for the bowstring is located. This is 'nocking' the arrow. A 'nock' is a small plastic or metal part of the arrow located at the end and is characterized by a V notch. The standard arrow has three vanes and you should place it so one vane is pointing away from the bow. This individual vane is regularly in a special color and is called a cock-feather or an index fletch.

Drawing the Arrow

When the arrow is in position, the bow is held by the bow hand and the string plus the arrow are held by three fingers of the draw hand. The arrow is placed so the index finger is on top and the next two fingers are below the arrow. The string is drawn by the first or second joints of your fingers. Then you raise your bow.

Popular for Bow Hunting

This bow is also enormously popular in the world of bow hunting. When the hunter is stalking his prey he needs to consider a few things. He wants a lot of power in his shots as he needs to make each shot count. The length of his bow needs to be light enough to tramp all over the outdoors without wearing him out carrying it. It also needs to be a comfortable length so when he's walking through brushy areas, the bow doesn't get snagged in the brush.

Best Bet

So now you know a little of the history of the archery recurve bow, why it is the bow used in competitions and how the bow is designed. You also know how to load your arrow into the bow and why that arrow goes so far with accuracy. If you want a good competition or hunting bow, the archery recurve arrow is your best bet.

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