The casual archer who might get the opportunity to pick up a bow and fire a few arrows at a target during a holiday at a luxury resort will have most likely only ever fired a recurve bow. These bows are what most people think of when they think of archery at all. But the recurve bow is not the most popular, nor the most used, type of bow for the majority of recreational archers. That distinction lies with the compound bow.
So why do most people prefer to shoot compound bows? It all comes down to a few important factors, the speed with which the bow can be fired and the accuracy with which the bow can be fired. The compound bow improves both areas.
The way in which a compound bow works is by using a system of pulleys and wheels, known as cams. To put it very simply, this system helps the shooter pull the string back without expending too much effort. In order to get tremendous speed out of the bow the force that must build up is tremendous and the cam system takes up the weight of the draw so that it doesn’t feel too heavy in the shooter’s arms. It’s the strain on the muscles that will quickly start to affect the accuracy of the shot.
The majority of technological advances that comes out of the archery industry, and the area in which the manufacturers put the most effort, is in the cam systems of the bow. The faster the bow can shoot and the least vibration it generates, the better the customers will react. Everyone is looking for an accurate bow that has plenty of stopping power.
All of that being said, it doesn’t necessarily follow that faster is better with some very reliable bows shooting below 300fps. When it all comes down to the bottom line, as long as your bow feels good in your hand and fires without sending shockwaves up your arm, then you should be well satisfied.
A very reliable bow such as the Hoyt Katera would serve any archer, whether they are just starting out or have had years of experience.