Parts of a Bow

Bows have evolved quite a lot since their invention, but the mechanics associated with propelling an arrow have not changed much. Traditional bows use styles that mimic the primitive designs of the past, while modern compounds and competition recurves use advanced technologies and mechanical systems to achieve greater arrow speed. Nevertheless, all bows share certain features in common, and any aspiring archer should know these parts.

Strings and Cables

Bow strings are traditionally made of animal hair or plant fibers braided together in the same way a fiber robe is braided. Modern strings, however, are made from waxed fibers and can be braided or not. Recurves and longbows use strings that resemble the old braided kinds with woven loops on either end to fit in the string grooves on a bow. Modern compound bows, however, have a complex system of pulleys that requires a long string and two cables that supply the mechanical advantage necessary to draw the bow. These cables remain next to the bow when it’s drawn, and only the string propels the arrow.

Limbs

Bow limbs supply the force necessary to propel an arrow. When drawn, the material on the inside, or belly, of the limbs is compressed, while the outside material, or backing, is stretched. In this way, potential energy is built up on either side of the limbs and, when the drawn string is released, snaps the limbs back to their original shape. The material and design of limbs can be varied to change exactly how this energy transfer occurs. Primitive bows used wood for the main material, with bamboo, bone or animal sinew sometimes laminated over the wood to add extra strength. Modern traditional bows still use wood cores, although they are generally machined and laminated, but the bamboo and sinew have been replaced by fiberglass outer layers. Most compound bows use a specially designed fiberglass to achieve strength in a relatively short limb.

Grips and Risers

The thick part of a bow where the archer grips is called the riser. This area can be quite extensive, as in a compound bow or modern recurve, or it can be little larger than a hand grip, as in most longbows. A larger riser often means shorter limbs, which require greater strength but can yield higher arrow velocities. Riser size also contributes to the amount of hand shock felt by the archer. Compounds and recurves with large risers usually absorb more vibration than longbows.

Arrow Rests

The arrow rest, appropriately enough, holds the arrow as the archer draws. When the string is released, the arrow actually comes off of the rest, so its purpose is only necessary through the drawing phase of the shot. Arrow rests still vary considerably between bow types, however. Modern recurves and compound bows have large shooting windows that put the arrow rest at or nearly at the midline of the bow, allowing for stiffer arrows and greater velocities. Longbows and traditional recurves, however, have arrow rests that are placed considerably to the side of the midline. This requires the arrow to bend around the bow when shot, absorbing some of the force from the bow limbs and oscillating the arrow for the first few yards of flight. Many archers prefer this design, however, due to its more primitive appeal.