Compound vs recurve: which bow should you shoot?

Compound vs recurve comes down to your goal. A recurve is simple to own, and it has been the Olympic bow since 1972. A compound uses cams to cut the weight you hold. Beginners often group arrows sooner with one. Both are good bows, so pick the one that fits what you want from the sport.

This guide compares how the two bows work and how they feel at full draw. You will also learn about upkeep, cost, the rules, and hunting. Then you can try both before you buy.

Find a range to try both bows. Look up ranges and lessons near you, then book a session on each bow. Find a range near you

TL;DR

A compound uses cams and cables to cut the weight you hold at full draw. A recurve has no let-off, so you hold the full weight.
Recurve has been the Olympic bow since 1972. Compound makes its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Beginners often group arrows sooner on a compound. Coaches like the recurve for teaching form.
You can change a recurve string at home. A compound usually needs a bow press.
Try both with club gear before you spend money. Our directory lists ranges and lessons near you.

How each bow works
Draw weight, let-off and what you feel at full draw
Accuracy and the learning curve
Maintenance and fitting
Side by side
Competition: distances, targets and divisions
Bowhunting: which bow is the better tool?
Cost of getting started
Which bow fits you
Our perspective
Find a range and track your progress
FAQ
Sources

How each bow works

On a recurve, the limb tips curve away from you. When you draw the string, the limbs bend and store energy. You hold the full weight at full draw, and you let go with your fingers. World Archery calls the recurve "the modern evolution of traditional bows."

A compound adds cams, which are the wheels at the limb tips. It also adds a set of cables. As you draw, the cams turn, and the weight drops near full draw. That drop is called let-off. Compound archers usually shoot with a release aid, a peep sight and a scope that magnifies.

Here is the short version. A compound asks you to tune your gear and shoot it the same way each time. A recurve asks you to build a shot you can repeat with your own body.

Draw weight, let-off and what you feel at full draw

You will feel this difference in your first minute.

On a recurve, the weight climbs as you pull. At full draw, you hold the peak. A 30 lb recurve puts all 30 lb on your back and fingers while you aim. That is why new archers start on light limbs.

On a compound, the weight peaks part of the way back. Then it drops. Archery Insider gives an example. A 60 lb bow with 80% let-off leaves you holding about 12 lb.

This has two effects.

You can hold a compound longer. You have time to check your sight and wait for a gust to pass. On a recurve, your muscles set the clock.
Compound archers often shoot higher peak weights, since they do not hold them. That gives them faster arrows and a flatter path. Recurve archers pick a weight they can hold with good form for a whole session.

Do you have a shoulder or back problem? Talk to a doctor or a physical therapist before you choose a draw weight. A coach can also start you on limbs that are light enough to practice safely.

Accuracy and the learning curve

A compound tends to reward you sooner. The release aid, the peep sight and the scope take away some of what can go wrong. Archery Insider says beginners often shoot acceptable groups sooner on a compound. It also says coaches like the recurve for teaching, because "there is no let-off to hide behind."

Here are both sides.

A recurve start teaches stance, anchor, back tension and a clean release. Those habits carry over if you switch later.
A compound start can be more fun early, and that keeps some people shooting. If you want to hunt or compete with a compound, you do not have to start on a recurve.

Coaching counts for more than the bow. USA Archery says you will pick up the sport quickly with the help of a certified instructor or club. Book a few lessons with a coach before you buy either bow.

Maintenance and fitting

The two bows are not alike here.

A recurve is simple to own. You can change the string at home with a bow stringer. The limbs come off, so you can move up in weight with new limbs and keep the same riser.

A compound needs more shop work. You usually need a bow press to change the strings or cables. A shop often sets the cam timing and draw length for you. A compound also has a fixed draw length, so it has to be set to fit you. Get measured first. Then buy from a shop or club that can fit the bow.

Arrows are different too. World Archery says recurve arrows usually bend side to side as they leave the fingers. Compound arrows tend to bend up and down. Arrow stiffness, called spine, is picked in a different way for each bow. A pro shop or a coach can match arrows to your bow.

Our pro shop and rental listings show shops that can fit and tune either bow.

Side by side

Feature	Recurve	Compound
Weight you hold at full draw	The full draw weight	Less, because of let-off
Release	Fingers	Usually a release aid
Sight	No magnification on an Olympic recurve	A magnified scope
Home upkeep	String changes with a stringer	A bow press for strings and cables
Fit	Limbs come off and can be swapped	Draw length fixed by the cams
Olympic Games	Yes, since 1972	From the Los Angeles Games in 2028
World Archery distance	70 meters	50 meters
Hunting	Used at closer range	The most common hunting bow in North America
Learning curve	Groups tighten more slowly	Groups tighten sooner

Competition: distances, targets and divisions

The rules change with the bow.

World Archery sets the standard distance at 70 meters for recurve and 50 meters for compound. Recurve archers shoot at a 122 cm face, while compound archers shoot at an 80 cm face. Recurve matches use a set system, and compound matches use the total score.

Recurve has been the only Olympic bow so far. That changes in 2028. World Archery says compound will feature at the Los Angeles Games for the first time, with a mixed team event.

World Archery has three bow types at its events. They are recurve, compound and barebow.

3D archery is big in the US. The ASA and the IBO both run 3D events on foam animal targets. IBO rules set its targets at unmarked distances. ASA runs some classes at known distances and some at unknown ones. Check with the host club before you buy gear for one event. Our 3D and tournaments listings show upcoming events.

Do you want to see where you stand, whatever bow you shoot? Our free handicap calculator turns your scores into an ARC Rating. Lower is better, and a perfect round scores 0.

Bowhunting: which bow is the better tool?

Archery Insider says the compound is the most common hunting bow in North America. Field & Stream says compounds are "generally accepted as the tool of the sport." It also says the recurve "remains a deadly tool in the hands of those who master it."

The reasons are plain. Let-off lets you hold at full draw while an animal settles. Faster arrows drop less over hunting distances. Recurve hunters tend to take closer shots.

Hunting rules change from place to place. Many regions set a minimum draw weight. Read your state's current rules before you buy a bow to hunt. If you hunt in Texas, our Texas bow season guide covers the season and where to practice.

Here is a good rule. Practice out to the longest shot you would ever take, in weather like the hunt. Keep going until every arrow lands in the vital zone. If your arrows miss it, shorten your limit.

Cost of getting started

Prices change by shop and by season, so we won't quote one number. Here is how the costs work.

For a recurve, you buy a riser, limbs, a string, a sight, a stabilizer and arrows. Since the limbs come off, you can start light and replace only the limbs later.
For a compound, you buy a bow that is set to your draw length and weight. Then you add a release aid, a sight, a rest, a stabilizer and arrows. A big change in draw weight may mean a new bow.

Borrowing is the cheapest way to compare. USA Archery says most of its clubs will have gear for you to use your first time. Take a lesson on each bow before you buy either one. Our lessons and coaching listings and our beginner's guide to archery are good places to start.

Which bow fits you

Use these points instead of a gut feeling.

Start with your goal. For Olympic-style target archery, pick a recurve. For hunting or the tightest groups, pick a compound. For fun with friends, either one works.
Think about your body. If holding weight is hard for you, compound let-off may suit you better. On a recurve, you can start with light limbs.
Count the parts. A recurve has fewer of them. A compound has more to tune, and it needs a bow press.
Ask your local club which divisions it runs. Ask which bow its coaches teach, too.
For kids, look at youth programs. USA Archery says its clubs run programs for children as young as 8. Our youth programs listings show clubs that run them.

Our perspective

Archery Ranges USA is where archers find a range, log their scores and earn an ARC Rating. When people ask which bow to buy first, our answer is simple. The bow matters less than your first month of coaching and a range you can get to every week.

We suggest you try both with club gear before you buy. A bow you enjoy is a bow you will shoot, and shooting is what builds skill. Your first pick does not have to be your last.

Whatever you shoot, log your scores. Your ARC Rating puts every bow style on the same scale. That way, a recurve archer and a compound archer can each see where they stand and watch the number drop.

Find a range and track your progress

Are you ready to try each bow? Start with the archery ranges directory and look for lessons and rentals near you. Once you are shooting, the free Archery Scoring App logs your scores so you can follow your progress.

FAQ

Which is more powerful, recurve or compound?

At the same peak draw weight, a compound usually stores more energy. It also shoots the arrow faster. That comes from the way the cams shape the draw. For hunting, power also depends on arrow weight and where the arrow hits.

What bow is used in Olympic archery?

Recurve has been the only Olympic bow so far. It is shot at 70 meters on a 122 cm face. World Archery says compound will join the Olympic program at the Los Angeles Games in 2028, with a mixed team event.

Is a recurve or compound better for a beginner?

It depends on your goal. A recurve builds core form, and it is simple to look after. A compound gets you grouping arrows sooner. The best test is a lesson on each bow with a coach.

Is a 45 lb recurve enough for deer?

We can't give one safe answer that fits everyone. Many regions set a minimum draw weight, and the rules change from state to state. Check your state's current rules. Beyond the legal minimum, you need a bow you can draw smoothly and shoot well at a distance you have practiced.