Are there any differences between women’s compound bow and men’s compound bow?
We have the answer for you. Are you ready?
The only difference between women’s compound bow and men’s compound bow is… size. Everything else though? The same because women are just as capable at archery as men.
Mechanically, there are absolutely NO differences between a woman’s compound bow and a man’s compound bow. In fact, “women’s compound bow” wasn’t even a concept until a few years ago when more women started participating in archery.
Before that, most women simply bought smaller bows geared towards young adults. But thankfully, the archery industry wised up and created a market for women by making bows that are just as functional as men’s except a bit smaller.
Women’s Compound Bow
The steps to find a women’s compound bow and a men’s compound bow are exactly the same. There are three factors that you must take into consideration in order to choose the best compound bow for you.
1. Draw Weight
The draw weight is the amount of strength needed to bring a bow to full draw, or the position that the bow is in when someone is about to shoot an arrow. This is also sometimes called the “draw strength.”
The draw weight of each person is different and it depends on a lot of factors. It depends on the person’s size, arm length, fitness level, and experience. For women, these are the recommended draw weights calculated by average bodyweights:
- Small frames (100-130 lbs) = 25-35lbs.
- Medium frames (130-160 lbs.) = 30-40lbs
- Large frames (160+ lbs.) = 45-55lbs.
If you are a beginner, most experts recommend a lower draw weight because you can always increase your draw weight once you build up your strength. Most compound bows have adjustable draw weights.
The problem with starting with a draw weight that is too high for you is it can ruin your experience, lead you to bad habits, and in some cases, cause injury. Every time you draw your bow, you are exercising certain muscles in your back and arm and over time, you will get stronger. But if you overexert force each time to draw your bow, you can cause damages to your arm and back in the long run.
A comfortable draw strength is one that you can hold your bow in full draw for a few seconds without exhaustion.
2. Draw Length
The draw length is the distance between the grip of the bow and the bowstring when it’s at full draw.
Draw length is important because it tells how far back you need to draw your string before releasing the arrow. Women, on average (not always) have shorter arms than men, which means shorter draw lengths.
To determine your draw length, simply follow these steps:
- Grab a partner and a measuring tape.
- Stand with your arms open wide (like you’re making the letter “T”). Don’t slouch but don’t overstretch either, you should be relaxed.
- Ask your partner to measure your arms’ length from one middle finger to the other middle finger.
- Take this number and divide it by 2.5.
- Roundup this number to the closest 1/2 inch and now you have your draw length.
When you have a bow with the correct draw length, you can shoot with more ease and accuracy. The correct draw length will also encourage good form.
3. Eye Dominance
Each person is naturally more dominant in one eye than the other. Although this is debatable in archery, it is generally recommended that you pick a bow that lines up with your eye dominance. This means if you are left-eye dominant but you are a righty, you will pick a left-handed bow.
This may sound strange to some of you but there are lots of reasons for why you should shoot on the same side as your eye dominance.
In order to determine your eye dominance, here’s what you need to do:
- Put your arms straight out in front of you and form a small triangle with your thumbs and pointing fingers (small enough that you can just peep through it).
- Aim the triangle at something specific in the distance (about 7-8 feet away.)
- Close one eye and see if you can see the object you picked through the triangle.
- Close your other eye and do the same.
Which eye were you able to see the object you aimed at? The eye that you were able to see the object is your dominant eye.
A small percentage of you will be able to see the object with either eye, in which case then, you can decide which side you want to shoot on.
Other Factors
Overall Weight of Bow
Most beginner compound bows weight somewhere between 3-6 lbs. It’s not a huge difference but if you’re practicing for hours each time, this can make a huge difference in your endurance and stamina. If you are a smaller framed women, you might want to pick one slightly lighter.
Arrow Speed
If you are a beginner, chances are, this won’t concern you much. But if you want to compete or hunt eventually, this might interest you. Arrow speed is calculated in feet per second or fps. The higher the number the better.
Choose Your Bow Today
A women’s compound bow is not much different from a men’s compound bow aside from the draw weight and draw length.
The recommendations here were determined by average women sizes and strength. If you are a smaller or larger woman, or if you know you have above or below average strength, use your judgment to pick something that works best for you. There is no shame in picking a smaller bow or lower draw weight because aptitude in archery is not about what you shoot with, it’s about how well you shoot.
Lastly, make sure you go to the store and test out bows in person. We can provide you with all the information in the world but without picking up a bow and feeling it in your hands, there is no guaranteed way to pick out the right bow for you.
If you don’t know where to start, check out our list of “The 8 Best Compound Bows for Women” and “6 Easy Steps to Buying the Best Value Compound Bow.“
