Best Bow For Beginners 2020 Reviews – Top Compound Bows For The Money

Has something or someone recently ignited your interest in archery? You also can become an archer. Archery is one of the world’s oldest sports, with the first set of bow and arrow used in 50,000 B.C. Bows are an indispensable part of archery and have been evolving throughout history. Starting as a piece of wood made with sinew, bows are now made with materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass. Bows are used for shooting arrows, and the art of shooting arrows with a bow is called Archery.

Performance in this sport does not come naturally but is a product of strength, endurance, and coordination. If you are new to this thrilling hobby, you are probably in the market for the best bow for beginners. With this buyer’s guide, we have narrowed down your choices to only the best bows based on customer ratings.

 

Top 5 Bows for Beginners

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1. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow

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Samick Sage’s Takedown Recurve Bow is one of the best starter bows in the market. So if you’re looking to invest into archery as a hobby, then very few get better than this. 

The bow is billed at an average price range of 85$ to 140$ and the price varies depending on the bow you choose to purchase with all coming at varying weight (25lbs-60lbs). The bow justifies its price with its sleek design which is made using high quality imported wood. The limbs are hard maple with fiberglass ensuring a sturdy frame. The limbs can also be purchase separately to increase or decrease weight as desired.

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  • 62 inch recurve bow with a maximum draw length of 29 inches.
  • Olive Dymond wood and hard maple laminated riser limbs
  • Includes B-50 Bow String 62/30 RH

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  • Sturdy frame and elegant design
  • Inexpensive

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  • Limbs tend to have sloppy fit on the riser.
  • Some customers have reported a loose sight bushing.

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2. Genesis Original Kit

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Genesis bows are one of the more older names in the archery business and they’ve built up quite a reputation for themselves. The Genesis Original Kit is one of their finest works and lives up to their standards. 

Billed at a fairly high price tag of 170$, it has quite an uphill battle to live up to its price but does so exceedingly well. It’s a great starter bow for kids and adults alike and you’re very unlikely to outgrow the bow due to its flexible draw length. It Includes a machined 6061-T6 aluminum riser, aluminum cam and idler wheel, sturdy composite limbs and high-strength bowstrings. In addition to that, it is built using single-cam technology which exempts it from tuning issues and the like. 

The kit comes with a bow, belt tube quiver, adjustable arm guard, five aluminum arrows, 3/16″ hex wrench and an Owner’s Manual.

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  • No specific draw length. 
  • Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 2.4 x 35.4 inches
  • Product Weight: 3.53 lbs

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  • No specific draw length requirement allows a beginner to grow alongside the bow.
  • Rigid and well-built frame.

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  • None

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3. RAPTOR Compound Hunting Bow Kit

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Predator Archery’s Compound Hunting Bow Kit is a fine product but one that has a hard time justifying its high price of 250$.

It boasts a fairly well-built compound frame and has cams which are fully machined aluminum with zero plastic. It has an axle to axle length of 30 inches and weighs 3.6 lbs. Its draw length is 24.5 inches but can be adjusted up to 30 inches. The compound frame allows 75% of the weight to be let off making it easy for newcomers to use. 

The kit comes with a 5 pin sight with light biscuit-style rest, a stabilizer, 4 arrow quiver, and string stop. Peep sight and d-loop come pre-installed.

Despite quality features all around, 250$ is fairly expensive to justify and can be off-putting, especially to newcomers.

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  • Draw length of 24.5 inches (adjustable up to 31 inches)
  • Draw weight 30-70 lbs

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  • Well-built.
  • Fairly good draw length

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  • Expensive

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4. Toparchery Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

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The takedown hunting recurve bow is a solid choice if you’re looking to invest in archery. Priced at 82$ it’s the cheapest entry on this list. 

The bow has a length of 56 inches with a rigid frame and a maximum draw length of 30 inches. It’s well polished and has excellent performance due to its high strength casting aluminum riser. The limbs are made of strong fiberglass with maple core and can be separately purchased to mess around with the weights as desired.

One huge downside to this overall solid product is that it’s only designed for right-handed shooters which is a total bummer for a left-hander like me. But if you’re right-handed you can’t go wrong with this one.

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  • Maximum Draw Length: 30 inches
  • Warranty: 1 year

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  • Rigid frame and elegant design
  • Inexpensive

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  • Not available in left-handed orientation.

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5. Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow

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Diamond Archery’s Infinite Edge Pro Bow is by far the most expensive bow on this list priced at 350$ and though the quality is there, it’s not exactly beginner-friendly and should be left for more advanced archery.

It’s available in both handed orientations Wide draw length range between 13 and 31 inches and can accelerate arrows up to 310 ft/sec. It has a redesigned cam which allows for a smooth draw. The draw weight is adjustable from 5 to 70 lbs of force. All these features make the bow fairly flexible.

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  • Product Dimensions: 34 x 12 x 5 inches
  • Product Weight: 3.1 lbs
  • Draw length is adjustable between 13 and 31 inches.
  • Adjustable draw weight.

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  • Available in both orientations
  • Flexible
  • Well-built

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  • Expensive
  • Not beginners-friendly.

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Buying Guide: Bow for Beginners

The process of learning archery is an adventurous and exciting one. However, you cannot start without having the best bow for beginners. Having your own gear will make it easier for you to quickly hone your skills. We created this buyer’s guide to help pick out the best bows available for beginners and also show you the criteria used in picking them.

What Are Bows?

Typically, a bow is made of a flexible strip of material, like wood, that is bent by a string. This string is stretched between the ends of the strip. Some bows come with advanced features like scopes. A lot of people narrow the types of bows to Traditional Bows and Compound Bows. However, they can be broken down into seven main types, namely: Recurve bows, Takedown bows, Longbows, Compound bows, Yumi bows, Reflex bows, and Crossbows.

Your accuracy in archery will improve remarkably when you have a bow that is fitted to the draw length, as well as arrows that are cut to the perfect length. You will find yourself more comfortable shooting when your gear fits comfortably.

 

Factors to Consider

Bow technology continues to change with the introduction of different archery levels. As a beginner, your focus should not only be on choosing a long-lasting bow that will give you a remarkable archery experience. Here are some important factors you should also consider when in the market for the best bow.

 

Accessories

Your bow cannot work without the right accessories. So, you have to shop for the right ones in order to set your bow up for shooting.

 

Arrows

When choosing a bow, have the arrows in mind also. Bow arrows are made from several materials to suit different purposes. Some of the materials are wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, and fiberglass.

 

Arrow rest

It is important to take your arrow rest into consideration when buying the best bow for beginners. This simple accessory can help to hold and support your bow. Arrow rests are of different types:

Containment rest: Hunters favor this type of arrow rest most likely because of the way it encircles their arrows.

Drop-away rest: This is one of the most popular arrow rests these days. You can use this type of rest to hold your arrows in place. The drop-away rest helps to pave the way when you release the string.

Shoot-through rest: Popularly called the prong, this type of arrow rest has the simple task of making a cradle for your arrows. The shoot-through rest has a spring fitting that makes it drop downwards and forward when you are shooting. Also, it keeps the arrows above the rest.

 

Quiver

When getting a bow, do not forget the quiver. This is what allows you to safely transport your bows. What this quiver does is surround the broadheads and keep them safe.

 

Release

This is another important factor you should consider when buying a bow. It is important to understand release before making a purchase. There are different types of releases, namely:

Trigger release: The trigger release is usually triggered by the archer’s index finger. It is easy to adjust the length of the trigger from the tripper. You can buckle it around your waist.  

Hand or finger release: This type of release comes in a T-shape. It is often held by two or up to four fingers. In order to allow the bow release, use your thumb finger. 

Automatic release: This is a very interesting type of release. To use it, you have to preset the timer in order to prevent it from firing between zero and six seconds. The trigger is activated when you pull your bow back.

 

Sights

Look out for the sights that have up to five pins. They come in different sizes and styles and are usually a worthy investment.

 

Arrow Length

Ensure that the arrows you choose are cut to your length. As a way of ensuring your safety, make sure the length of your arrows matches your bow as well as your draw length. When you hold your arrow at full draw, it has to be long enough to conveniently sit on the rest and not fall off. When hunting, the broadheads are not supposed to sit too comfortably against the rest. Shafts that are too long will not fly properly.

 

Bow’s Draw Length

This is one of the most important considerations for archers. Picking a bow with the wrong draw length is just like picking a shoe size that will not fit you. The length may either be too long or too small for you. This can result in you making wrong shots.

In order to avoid issues when taking shots, have the right bow draw length. This will allow you to enjoy your bow to its fullest potential. You will also enjoy the amount of energy your bow will release. If you are not sure what your bow length is, ask an expert.

To find your draw length, take measurement of your arm span; measure from middle finger to middle finger, dividing by 2.5.

 

Bow’s Draw Weight

As a beginner, the key to finding the right draw weight lies in your ability to draw your bow all the way to the back smoothly, while doing little or no large arm movements or gyrations as you get it back. People who struggle to get their bow back after drawing their bow chose the wrong draw weight.

The starting point or center of archery is the weight of the bow. Try adjusting to the weight of your bow so you can master the art of archery. If you are getting a bow for hunting, the average weight for men is within the range of 63 and 65 pounds. For most women, the average hunting weight falls within 40 and 45. However, if your bow is for target archery, you may want to choose draw weights that are far less than that.

Start with a bow that you can shoot lighter weight with, then increase the weight gradually as your strength increases.

 

Traditional Bow or Compound Bow?

One of the most important decisions you will have to make as a beginner is whether you want to shoot a traditional bow or a compound one.

Typically, a traditional bow is a recurve or longbow. These bows have no pulleys or wheels. This “stick and string” kind of bow is good for people who prefer tradition and simplicity.

Meanwhile, compound bows have no pulleys or wheels on them. They are the preferred option for people who are interested in increased accuracy, speed, and better range.

 

Benefits of Bow for Beginners

If you are still not sure you need to get a bow, here are six benefits of archery that you should consider:

Boosts Confidence

As you work on polishing your skills with the bow, your self-esteem also gets higher. If you stay committed to practicing regularly, you will achieve more confident bow shots when competing against yourself as well as against others.

Enhances Balance and Coordination

With regular practice comes better coordination. Without balance, you cannot achieve archery success. In order to aim and make a perfect shot, your body has to be very still. With time, you will learn to have complete control over the balance of your body in order to have more accurate shots.

Helps to Burn Calories

The art of drawing your bow, even for thirty minutes, can be exhausting and make you lose as much as 140 calories. If you draw your bow regularly for about an hour every day, the benefits are equivalent to what you will gain after a gym session.

Improves Focus

When using a bow, you have to concentrate on the target, its form, and ignoring distractions from your environment. Having a great practice session involves staying calm and focused. You will have to learn how to efficiently deal with high-pressure situations.

Increases Strength

Obviously, a proper draw will have you relying on your arm muscles, shoulders, chest, and core. It is almost like weightlifting since you will have to learn to hold a draw for many seconds at a time so that your aim will be efficient and correct. Doing this regularly will increase your strength.

Maintains Mental Health

Archery is good for your mental health and wellbeing as it ensures you clear your head in order to become one with your arrow. You will learn to aim precisely, which is a great way to learn to overcome distractions and procrastination. In addition, your organizational skills will also improve.

 

Did You Know?

All the different types of bows work for almost everything, but some of them are just easier to use for specific things.

 

Expert Tip

Keep in mind that you can always upgrade your bow and other accessories later. It is also advised that beginners start with a simple bow and a basic setup, then upgrade as required.

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