Barebow Equipment

Fitting Yourself With A Bow:

Recurve bow setups will range in length from around 48 inches to 72 inches, which most target and college club bows averaging around 66-68 inches.  The following guide provides estimates of how long your bow should be:

          Draw Length:               Bow Length:

            >27 in.                          64 in.

            24-29 in.                       66 in.

            27-31 in.                       68 in.

            29+ in.                          70 in.

When buying your bow setup, pay close attention to the size options of the riser and the limbs if you're buying a take-down setup.  Unlike one-piece bows, you will have to calculate the length of the riser and the length of the bow limbs to make sure the whole setup is the length you require.  For a majority of bow manufacturers, they follow this guide:

          Riser Length:               "Short Limbs"      "Medium Limbs"     "Long Limbs":

           (Short) 23 in.                   64 in.                      66 in.                         68 in.

           (Long)  25 in.                   66 in.                      68 in.                         70 in.

Additionally, your choice of riser and limb length impacts your performance.  Be sure to find a good balance that works for you.

Long risers with short limbs = Faster, tendency to stack, less stable
Short risers with long limbs = Slower, less stacking, more stable


Selecting A Riser:
          Cast Risers:
Cast risers are very common and are usually on the cheaper end of the market.  They are made using a mix of aluminum and magnesium and are popular with low to mid range bow types.  It is not ideal to pair cast risers with limbs over 30#s, as you may damage the riser.

          Forged Risers:
Forged risers start off as bars of material that are hammered into shape under high temperature and pressure.  There risers are very strong due to the process and tend to be on the more expensive side.

          CNC Machined Risers:
Hand machined risers are made using a computer controlled method, machined until they weight around three pounds in weight.  These risers are on the expensive side but are strong and lightweight, in comparison to cast and forged risers.


Selecting Limbs:
Limbs come in different materials, lengths and draw weights to suit archers of different sizes, shapes, and preferences.  Getting the correct-size limbs can reduce the effects of stacking, making it easier to hold the string longer, and getting limbs with heavier draw weights can allow the archer to reach longer shooting distances.  Additionally, different limbs have difference purposes (ex. limbs made for hunting bows can be much shorter than limbs made for target shooting) so ensure proper research is done so the limbs fit the archer and the primary purpose of the bow.

          Materials:

Laminated Wood & Fiberglass Limbs

These limbs perform well in stable climates with constant temperature and humidity.  These types are prone to stretching and warping when the climate varies significantly.

Laminated Wood & Fiberglass & Carbon Fiber Layers

The additional layers of carbon fiber help strengthen the limbs and reduce the tendency to twist and warp.

Carbon Fiber Limbs/Foam Core Limbs

Modern carbon/foam limbs are highly impervious to climatic changes, and are therefore the most consistent.  They also resist twisting to a much higher degree, especially at the limb tips where they are weakest.


Selecting Strings:
String Loops = Fits over the ends of the limbs to secure string to bow setup.  The top loop of the string will be larger than the bottom loop so it can slip over the limb when de-strung.

Center Serving = Thread wrapped around the center of the string where fingers are placed.

Nocking Point = Position where the arrow is nocked to the string.  Can be indicated with metal beads or a small piece of thread to maintain consistency.

String Wax = Wax applied regularly to the string to keep it in good shape.

          Materials:
Dacron Strings
Dacron is long-lasting and it is slow.  The slow speed is due to the excessive stretch on each shot.  The stretching process removes energy which would otherwise be used to propel the arrow.  The stretching does have the advantage that it is kinder to the bow limbs and riser and therefore is ideal for bows with wooden risers or limbs.

Kevlar Strings
Kevlar has a tendency to shear easily, resulting in frequently broken strings (usually just below the nocking point). Kevlar is also susceptible to moisture and so must be waxed carefully.

Spectra/Dyneema Strings
Spectra fibre is very long lasting and can last more than 100,000 shots. It is not susceptible to moisture and can be twisted as much as required. These are the lightest and fastest of the materials available. 

Angel Dyneema Strings
Angel Dyneema is the choice of many top archers because of its quality, consistency and smooth-feeling shooting characteristics. It is also a little lighter than an equivalent string made from other materials because it has no wax (even though the label says it is waxed).

Dynaflight Strings
This kind of material is best suited for the compound bow, where creep is an issue for buss cables.  The material is very stable and comes with a light wax content.

Fastflight Strings
This bowstring is the choice for a large percentage of archers. It lasts almost indefinitely, with proper care, and has a little stretch. This often comes heavily waxed and the first job is often to remove some of the wax to prevent wax loss during shooting from affecting the tune too much.

          Brace Height:
The brace height is the distance from the string to the bow, starting at a 90 degree angle from the deepest point in the grip.

          Bow Length:               Brace Height:       
            64 inches                    7.75 - 9 inches
            66 inches                    8 - 9.25 inches
            68 inches                    8.25 - 9.5 inches
            70 inches                    8.50 - 9.75 inches

          String Length:
The string should be around inches shorter than the AMO length of the bow.  (AMO refers to the total length of the bow.)  When buying a string, an "AMO 66 String" (for example) will properly fit an "AMO 66 inch bow", however the actual string itself will be around 63 inches in length.

Over time, the string may stretch or the archer will want the string to be slightly longer/shorter.  The string may be slightly twisted or untwisted to take/give the extra length, however different types of string can only handle so much twisting/untwisting before problems occur.


Selecting Arrows:

[Click to enlarge]

          Materials:
Fiber Glass
These arrows will be much heavier and are only good for training/beginner purposes.  Additionally, they tend to be very stiff and good quality arrows tend to come in sizes too short for adult archers.  They are commonly used as a cheap arrow for endurance training and for bowfishing due to their durability.

Wood
These arrows are popular for traditional archers, less useful or ideal for competitions.  They are more fragile than other arrows, although they tend to be lighter in weight and can last if taken care of properly.

Aluminum
These arrows are cheap and are popular for indoor competitions.  They tend to be heavy but can be easily straightened whenever they become bent.  Since these tend to be wider, they are more favorable at indoor competitions as they have a better chance of breaking the line on a target.

Carbon
There are pure carbon then hybrid carbon-aluminum arrows available.  These arrows are more on the expensive side and are lighter and faster than other arrow types.  These arrows will tend to shatter rather than bend, resulting in the complete destruction of the arrow.  Since these are light arrows, they travel farther for outdoor competitions, but are more susceptible to cross winds, pushing them off target.