How To Adjust A Compound Bow
Looking for ways on How To Adjust A Compound Bow? Then you’re on the right track. A compound bow has great features that will help increase this accuracy and power.
Generally speaking, the bow is a long-range weapon, generally speaking, these bows have been designed around that balance point so that an arrow will fly faster than ever before, making hunting a small game easier than ever before.
To improve accuracy and performance, modern archery bows often include mechanical devices such as pulleys and cables to store energy for later release by an explosive force in the form of compressed air from a tank strapped on either side arm’s length above your head.
Traditional bows require a lot of skill to use effectively and are more difficult for beginners. On the other hand, compound bows come with an auto-safety that prevents it from shooting if the string is pulled too far back but doesn’t interfere with aiming or firing when properly used. The use of a traditional bow requires you to have some extra-level skills to make your shots accurate.
One of the advantages that compound bows have is accuracy. With traditional bows, when you are shooting a target at long ranges, your arrow would not hit where it was aimed as easily as with a compound bow because there will be additional forces in play to make sure your shot hits the mark and stays on course.
Additionally, since this type of bow has only one limb that shoots forward instead of two limbs like other archery equipment such as recurve or longbows do, they don’t require much practice time before being able to shoot accurately again after an extended amount of time without using them.
This means that anyone from children who want their first experience playing around outdoors with friends and need some hunting skill can use these easier-to-use rifles even if they aren’t extremely experienced shooters yet.
If you’re thinking of buying a new bow and trying to figure out how much it would cost, let us tell you that it’s dependent on the type of compound bow you want and how much money you are willing to spend.
The price range will also depend on the features such as draw length, speed, weight-to-power ratio, or string quality that each bow has. They may range from $199 or less and touch $1000, reaching top-class bows.
According to experts, learning how to adjust compound bows is essential as it will allow you greater customization when practicing with different types of arrows or against different hunting animals.
Adjusting the bowstring also ensures that each arrow is fired using minimal effort for consistent results over time. And in this article, this is what we’re going to guide you on.
Things to know before Adjusting your Compound Bow
Learning about and adjusting a compound bow is like teaching someone an array of different parts. The various parts serve in different ways for your needs, and knowing how to adjust them properly means you have more control over the bow’s performance.
This guide goes over the various components of a compound bow and their purpose. If you’re curious about how compound bow parts work, read our guide which has the detailed information to satisfy your curiosity and need for knowledge.
CAMs
CAM stands for Compound Arrow Module, which is a round disk that attaches at both limb ends of your bow. It functions by minimizing the weight of the compound bow when you pull on its string. This allows you to get the same levels of energy as if using traditional bows but with reduced weight.
Limbs
Compound bows contain flexible limbs that are attached to the riser. Limbs in compound bows function to provide more stability, accuracy, and strength. Limbs can be made of aluminum or carbon fiber (fiberglass) reinforced with metal inserts.
Sometimes limbs may have a stabilizer mounted at the end for increased durability when hunting from high terrain. When you pull back on the bowstring during archery, the limb is what stores and releases the energy generated.
Riser
The central part of a bow is the hand-grip. It must be strong and durable but not allow flexing. The shape of this piece can vary in order to achieve different feels and tones, from very hardwood on one end to soft or rubber-coated fiberglass on the other.
This section also has thin strips of metal all over it for durability as well as personal preference. So, here is the vital part you need to take into consideration while doing the adjustment of your compound bow. The part usually has aluminum or carbon fibers in it so that the weight of the compound bow can be reduced.
Bowstring
The bowstring on a compound bow is the part that releases an arrow when you pull back on it. Today, a typical bowstring contains composite fibers like Vectran and Dyneema with limited stretching and higher durability.
Cable slide
A cable slide is not the same thing as a bow or archer quiver. The primary purpose of this device is to keep out cables that may be damaged by arrows traveling through them, usually due to their size and weight. Cable slides can also protect the person carrying it from getting caught in an arrow’s line if they happen upon one with which they were unfamiliar while hunting.
Cables
The cables and their attachments help transfer tension to the bowstring. The cable is also responsible for a lot of other functions, like increasing or decreasing power when it needs to be used so that energy can go exactly where it’s needed.
How to Adjust A Compound Bow
The first step in adjusting your bow is determining where you want it set so that it will be comfortable for you while hunting and shooting practice time comes around. Once you know this, find out if there is a specific place where you can adjust your preferred set-up without any hassle or complications.
However, after learning about the components of a compound bow and what its functions are, you can adjust it so that it performs as effectively as possible. Here’s how you adjust a compound bow draw length and weight according to your own body size.
Know your Draw Length
The appropriate length for your compound bow is determined by the type of shooting you are doing. The correct length for your bow is a personal preference and will depend not only on you but also on the type of draw weight that you are shooting at.
Using the compound bow cams, you can easily achieve a draw length that fits your needs. Talking about the most flexible bows you can range from 30 inches to 15 inches or less on flexible bows.
Modular cams or adjustable cam systems are also used in most modern compound bows for ease of use. This makes them great for beginners and people who don’t know their draw length yet. In the case where some bows still use specific preset draw length cams, you will need to purchase a cam appropriate for your desired draw length separately.
But here is a key point to remember. If you don’t know how to install the cam, or if the instructions aren’t clear enough, it is best that you go and have your compound bow pro shop do it for you.
How Do I Know My Ideal Draw Length?
Haven’t measured the actual draw length before? To determine the proper draw length, use this method: Stand normally and hold your arms outstretched with your palms facing forward.
Standing in a position with your hands lined up properly, have someone stand with their arms extended out in front of you. They should hold a tape measure or ruler that they can span from the middle fingertip of your one hand to the other.
This number will be divided by 2.5. As you will shoot the bow more often, you’ll get a feel of whether your draw length needs further fine-tuning; just set it at this starting point for now and make adjustments as needed. Here is a calculator, you can use to calculate your ideal draw length.
Know your Draw Weight
The draw weight is how much force it takes to pull the compound bow’s string back and release. If you have a bow that is set at too much poundage, your form would suffer and shooting accuracy can decrease significantly. To ensure proper shot placement the first step in adjusting the draw weight is locating limb bolts on a compound bow.
These can usually be found at the center of a bow, near its limbs, and are located in big circular knobs. When you decide how much to increase or decrease your draw weight by changing either limb bolt, it’s important to remember that both bolts must be adjusted together for success – so make sure they’re locked into their respective risers with locking bolts just below each top or bottom limb before starting!
The adjustment of the draw weight of your compound bow is done by tightening or loosening both limb bolts. It can be accomplished using the short arm of an Allen wrench that must have been present in your package.
For increased bow draw weight, tighten the bolts on the riser, clockwise.
If you want to lower the draw weight of your compound bow, first tighten all of the bolts that hold its limbs on. The Step, to be followed next is to unscrew the limb bolts one 360° revolution (counterclockwise). Use a bow scale to check the poundage, and continue to do the same (one 360° revolution counterclockwise) at a time, until you get the draw weight according to your desire.
How Do I Know My Ideal Draw Weight?
To figure out your ideal weight, sit down on a high chair with your feet off the floor and pull back the bowstring. To find out the most resistance point, try to identify which point on your bowstring has the most tension.
“Drawing back” means pulling it taut to increase its length. If you feel comfortable on the weight when pulling, then the pull strength is at an appropriate level. Always consider aiming for a draw weight that feels like it suits your own needs and comfort levels.
If you need to decide which draw weight to start with, use the average standard weight:
| Average Human | Average Weight | Ideal Draw Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller child | 45-70 lbs | 10-15lbs |
| Kids | 70-100 lbs | 15-30lbs |
| Smaller frame women and boys | 100-130 lbs | 30-40 lbs |
| Larger frame women and boys | 130-150 lbs | 40-55 lbs |
| Men | 150-180 lbs | 45-65 lbs |
| Bowhunters and 3D archers | 150-180 lbs | 50-70 lbs |
| Muscular men and larger frame men | Above 180lbs | 65-80+ lbs |
Keep in mind that these are simply average ideals and guidelines: be careful if you’re uncomfortable drawing your bow with the amount of force needed – where it can affect the accuracy and can also lead to injuries. Your upper body strength, experience, and shooting style will change over time. And this would eventually result in changes to your draw weight.
An archer who starts out being a beginner will need to increase the draw weight (and often draw length) as he or she improves in strength and/or body size. Conversely, you may have the need to increase the draw weight of your bow if you’re after to take down a big game or may like to decrease it for an archery competition.
Watch this video to get more idea about determining your Draw length and weight:
Adjust Your Field Points
Adjusting the field points is important. These are small metal arrows that are placed on the ends of your bow’s limbs. They act as stabilizers and help keep your bow steady for use.
To adjust your field points, place them on the ends of your limbs and tighten them by turning them clockwise or counterclockwise. You’ll need a wrench to do this, so make sure you have one with you before you start adjusting them!
With this adjustment out of the way, it’s time to move onto making adjustments to the rest of your equipment. This can be done by loosening or tightening screws on various parts of the frame or limbs, such as string rests, limb bolts and limb lock nuts.
Next, tighten any screws that hold your nocks (arrows) in place into their respective slots then adjust these nocks until they are aligned correctly with the string rest slots at about two-thirds back from where they were originally set.
Now that all of the parts are adjusted correctly, it’s time to make adjustments on your release so that it is synchronized with when you pull back on your bowstring when aiming an arrow at a target. This can be done by pulling up or pushing down on a small lever located above your trigger finger notch (the notch where you would normally grip your compound bow).
Adjusting Stabilizer Tabs
One of the most common adjustments on a compound bow is adjusting the stabilizer tabs. The stabilizer tabs are located at the front and back of the bow, and they are designed to stabilize the bow during its draw. They also prevent the bow from twisting when you’re in your shooting stance. To adjust them, follow these steps:
- 1) Find both screws that are present on either side of each stabilizer tab.
- 2) Loosen both screws by one full turn. This will allow you to move the stabilizer up or down without stretching it too far.
- 3) Tighten both screws with equal force, being careful not to over tighten them or you’ll break your screwdriver!
- 4) Repeat steps 1-3 for both tabs in order to get all four screws adjusted equally.
- 5) Tilt your bow 45 degrees so that it’s parallel to the ground, then tighten all four screws evenly until there is no more movement at all (you can now shoot arrows while standing).
Some Precautions to remember while Adjusting Your Compound Bow
It’s important that you should tighten the limb bolts to a specific torque setting for maximum performance. Avoid tightening the limb bolts too much when adjusting the draw weight, as it may damage your bowstring and cams.
It’s important to keep in mind that you need to check your user’s manual for maximum tightening time. This will prevent damage to the piece being worked on and cause unnecessary stress on any joints it comes into contact with. It can also be helpful if future repairs are necessary, as adjusting how long it takes before reaching max torque could save your bow from irreparable damage.
Make sure that all the screws are safely secured after a compound bow has been adjusted. Doing so will prevent dangerous bolts from disengaging while using it.
Closing Tips
– Keep in mind that it is important to remember the basics of archery before you adjust your compound bow. This includes knowing how to properly hold your bow, what type of arrow should be used, as well as how to spot your target and aim.
– When adjusting a compound bow, always make sure that you have a firm grasp on the compound bow when making adjustments. This will ensure that you do not lose control of the bow and cause an accident.
– Practice makes perfect! Before you go out hunting with your new compound bow, spend some time practicing with it at home. This will allow you to become familiar with the adjustment process and get used to shooting with it before heading out into the wild.
– Make sure that you are using proper safety equipment when adjusting a compound bow. It’s not uncommon for accidents to happen when someone is adjusting their own compound bows. It is always best practice to wear gloves and eye protection while operating a compounding bow.
Hope this guide on How To Adjust A Compound Bow is going to help you in your next compound bow practice!
