These recurve bow archery tips will help you be a better archer.
- A good quality, well maintained recurve bow should easily last you 20 years or more.
- Traditional bows are made from wood, horn or bone and other organic material.
- Modern recurves are made from carbon fiber, aluminum, fibreglass and metallic alloy.
- A recurve bow is capable of shooting an arrow up to 300 FPS.
- A recurve bow can shoot an arrow as far as 100 yards or more.
Archers who are familiar with a recurve bow and know how to achieve success with one are generally considered a ‘cut above’ archers who say, choose a compound bow.
Yes, compound bows are more powerful and much quicker, but they may not suit those who are looking to achieve more in a technical sense. It will take a bit more time to master a recurve bow, but the extra time is an investment as the experience is very rewarding.
Your learning curve will be much flatter if you have some practical archery tips up your sleeve, like the options presented here.
So allow me to introduce you to…
4 Cool Tips That Are Worthwhile Knowing
Here are a few tips that will help you be a better archer ~
- Use a Double Anchor Point to Get the Right Stance
For the first anchor point, choose a high region of your face, and for the second anchor point, choose a lower region. You could, for example, position your bow hand so as to keep the knuckle of your index finger just at the start of your ear as you rest your thumb beside your lips.
- Draw from an Appropriate Arrow Length
Use your dominant eye to look at your target while you draw with your bow string. If the draw is too long, you will have an unsteady anchor. Your best bet is to draw your bow straight from the middle of your face.
- Train Your Archery Muscles Beforehand
Archery requires you to have a strong body. Both the upper body and the lower body will need to be strong for good posture. So practice the archery draw, do arm exercises to strengthen your front shoulder and your back shoulder.
- Master the Release Trigger
For the perfect release, shorten the extension shank so that your jaw touches the first joint of your palm. Use all the fingers to set off the trigger.
How Long Do Recurve Bows Last?
If you can find an experienced archer who can provide some help in buying a recurve bow you will more than likely end up with a good quality bow that, if maintained regularly, should easily last you 20 years or more.
Generally speaking, bows start to deteriorate bit by bit so the duration of a bow’s life will very much depend upon the quality of the materials that were used to make it. But we’ll get to that.
The saving grace is that along with the arrows, you can also get other parts of your bow replaced in case it does break off or get damaged at some point. But although most bows can be repaired, not all bows are fixable.
So, to get a better value for your purchase, by making sure that your bow can be repaired with spare parts, it’s better to get one that has been made within the last 10 years if you’re considering purchasing a used bow.
A 10-year old bow will have a scattering of current technology available should it fail somehow.
Some factors that decrease the lifetime of a bow are bad physical form while shooting, overusing the bow while not taking care of it properly, accidental dry firing, improper storage and irregularity in maintenance.
A recurve bow has two limbs and a riser. These should be checked for wear on a regular basis and if you detect any signs of damage on these parts of the bow, replace them so that you can prolong the life of your bow.
Your bow will age naturally and gracefully as time goes by.
One thing you can do to help reduce the wear and tear on your bow is to use the correct draw weight and draw length, and by practicing the proper stance while you shoot.
Get rid of unnecessary damaging habits like putting any amount of torque on the limbs of the bow. Experienced archers will be able to make their bows last longer.
Also, be aware that the weight and type of your arrow will have an effect on the bow. Most recurve bows will last longer if you use lighter weight arrows.
Regularly tighten the bolts before you start shooting and protect your bow by using a waterproofing lubricant to ward off moisture and reduce corroding.
What Are Recurve Bows Made Of?
You have two options to consider when you’re buying a recurve bow, they’re available in a traditional style and a modern style and each option is made from wildly different materials.
For the traditional bow, it gets its curves from heat and/or force and wood is the primary material that’s used. Animal horn or bone are other materials used in traditional bows.
Modern recurve bows are made from a number of different materials.
The bow’s beautiful curved limbs can be made from wood or smooth carbon foam which is a very light material. They are then finished with layers of fibreglass for improved protection and presentation.
Carbon, carbon fibre, metallic alloy of magnesium and aluminum are used to strengthen up the structure.
Bows for beginners may even feature plastic and synthetic materials instead of wood, this helps to cut cost, reduce weight and performance is more constant and predictable.
These bows were developed in 1931 and since then the basic design has pretty much stayed the same because it works perfectly and it doesn’t require much modification.
Modern technology was incorporated into the structure in the most sophisticated way. Advanced materials are used to make the limbs of the bow, carbon foam is used to build the limbs while the lamination is done with carbon fiber. The combination creates a superior release mechanism.
However, recurve bows made of bamboo are also quite often seen to make their rounds in the market. The riser on this somewhat ancient bow is most often made with modern materials such as carbon fiber or aluminum.
Quite a contrast really.
Carbon Foam is Excellent for Absorbing Energy
This is why it can last a long time without breaking apart under the force of the impact. If you maintain a steady back tension and good posture, the net result of the shot won’t produce any noticeable recoil either.
On top of all, carbon foam is quite porous, dense and resistant to erosion and heat as well.
The carbon fibre used for lamination, on the other hand, is also quite an ideal choice. That’s because it has great tensile strength, high resistance to temperatures and heat, plus it’s stiff but has a low weight.
How Fast Can a Recurve Bow Shoot?
This is not a standalone measurement as other factors contribute to the speed of this bow. Some examples are the draw weight, the draw length, the material of the limbs and the bowstring, and the weight of the arrows you’re using.
But to generalize, these bows have a speed of 225 FPS, which is quite fast. A longbow, for example, will have a speed of about 300 FPS.
Recurve Bow Effective Range
There are so many variables to come into play which will have an effect on range however your bow will have a potential range of somewhere in the vicinity of 60 to 100 yards. On the other hand, if you practice regularly and improve your form you’ll be able to utilize the full potential of your recurve bow and your range will increase.
These bows can generate quite a good amount of force due to the way in which the curve of its riser interacts with the wind. Therefore, a recurve bow can be more successful when it comes to hunting.
Success lies in how effectively you can release the arrow to shoot through the air. Target practice will help you to hone these fine skills.
But longbows with their flat-out D-shaped configuration will be much slower than recurve bows regardless of your technique; thus, the force of the wind will have a toll on them.
If you’re thinking about bow hunting, the recurve bow is definitely the better option for the job.
Conclusion
We hope that you make the effort and consider these recurve bow archery tips that we have accumulated for you in this article. There’s no doubt that, if you do, you’ll experience greater enjoyment from your archery.
FAQ's
“How Far Can a Recurve Bow Shoot?”
- Generally speaking, Recurve bows have the potential to shoot hundreds of yards, being able to achieve this depends on draw weight, wind speed, the weight of the arrow, etc, etc.
“When Were Recurve Bows Invented?”
- The oldest written record that mentions the use of recurve bows was has been dated to the 8th century BC.
“Are Recurve Bows Good for Hunting?”
- Just about every recurve bow is good for target practice however, they’re not all suitable for hunting. Minimum specs would be 40lbs draw weight for smaller game.
“How to Measure Recurve Bow Length?”
- A recurve bow length is measured from the tip of one limb to the tip of the other limb whilst the bow is in an unstrung state.
“Ever Heard of a Double Limb Bow?”
- A double limb bow has significantly more power than a single limb bow. It gets it s power from 2 limbs springing back to their natural position.
“What Do I Look for When Buying a Used Recurve Bow?”
- Walk away from any that have holes and/or cracks in any part of the wood. Place the bow on the floor and bend it, it’s not a good sign if any of the cracks get bigger.
“How Far Can a 50 lb Recurve Bow Shoot?”
Using a professional quality recurve bow in tip top condition and strung with a brilliant string will have the ability to shoot up to around 200 yards, weather permitting.