Compound
VS
Recurve
For this comparison, I am going to assume a full target setup for both bows so including both a sight and stabilizers attached to both bows.
This is why I won’t be including more traditional bows like a longbow or flatbow
Shooting Differences
The difference in shooting these two bow styles are as simular as they are different.
If this sounds confusing don’t worry it isn’t, where they are similar is the basic stance and draw/loose.
This is the stand with 1 foot on each side of the shooting line look at the target, draw the string to your face, and keep inching the string back till you lose the arrow
The compound has a couple of big advantages over the more traditional longbow/flatbow recurve bow, this allows compound bows to be a lot more accurate; this doesn’t mean taking up compound makes things easier as you still need to work on your form to get good groups, especially at long range, and the performance bar is set higher for a compound bow over a recurve.
These advantages are as follows:
1) The sight, rather then using a pin to aim as you would on a recurve you have a scope. This is a housing containing a pin (if you wish) a magnifying lens and a spirit level.
This may not sound like a big difference but it is for 1 having the lens means you can put stickers for different aiming aids on it so if you don’t like a pin don’t worry put a hollowed-out circle or any style you wish all of which are provided with your scope. The lens also allows you if you choose to put a lens in your peep sight that gives you a telescopic view of the target.
2) Let off, this is a % set by the manufacturer of the bow that reduces the total hold weight of the bow. While true the physical bow is heavier than a recurve the holding weight can be as much as 60-70% less than an equivalent recurve bow so if your draw weight is 45lbs with a 60% let off you are only holding around 18 lbs at full draw allowing you to take your time while taking your shot.
3) Release aid, this is a mechanical shooting mechanism that a compound archer uses to take the shot rather than having to rely on their fingers. This means it’s much easier to execute a clean release of the arrow than your recurve counterpart.
An extra advantage but is not related to how you actually shoot, is arrow speed, alot of compound bows release the arrow at 300 + fps; while a recurve at high poundage and using a light arrow will usually start to cap out at 275 fps.
Please note that the scope and release aid are extra costs when first purchasing your bow so a compound setup will be a little more expensive to start off with, opposed to a recurve
Differences in Equipment
For the most part, these 2 bows are very similar in equipment needed when first purchasing the bow but there are a couple of differences that do matter
1) The Bow
Both bows are identical in the required parts: a riser, a set of limbs and a string. The main difference here is that on compound bows all 3 pieces come together because a compound bow can’t be taken apart quickly and is designed to stay strung 24/7. Compound bows though have a wide range of options for setting the draw length and draw weight. The values can vary depending on the bow you buy.
For recurve these 3 pieces must be gotten separately but can give a few more personal preference choices to begin with compared to a compound.
2) Release aid vs finger tab. Recurve bows use a finger tab which is basically a leather barrier between the string of the bow and the archer’s fingers. The purpose is to protect the skin on the archer’s fingers during shooting. There are many different styles, there is no right or wrong option here its all personal choice
3) The Sight
For both bow styles the sight mechanism’s are identical, both having the ability to measure movements up/down and left/right, the level of options your sight will give you will depend on the model of sight you get though as a rule the more expensive the sight the more micromanagement options are available.
The only differences are in the sight pin; a recurve bow will just have a sight pin connected to the sight mechanism. Compound bows as a rule with have a sight scope which is a small aperture having a lens and a spirit level, as mentioned above. For the sight pin you can fit a sight pin if you choose or you can use a sticker of various circular shapes from a donut with a hole in the middle or a big dot for 2 examples