How To Choose Arrows for Compound Bow in 2023

Do you know what makes your bow worthless? It’s the wrong set of Arrows. That’s why having knowledge about how to choose Arrows for Compound Bow is important!

Some beginners make the mistake of equipping themselves with a high-quality and expensive bow, but they neglect to invest some time in reading about guides on how to choose Arrows for Compound Bow. The fact that you’ll be shooting will show that having a good arrow can really help improve your accuracy.

It’s the arrows an archer should value not the bow! If you don’t have good ones, then it doesn’t matter how great your bow is! Arrows are a necessary part of archery–they shouldn’t be taken as accessories.

But choosing the right set of arrows for your compound bow isn’t going to be an easy task. There are so many options out there, and all the details make it complicated enough to make anyone’s head spin! 

Archery is not simple; especially the decision-making process can be quite difficult.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner, experienced or somewhere in between, choosing the perfect compound bow arrows can revolutionize your archery experience.

This guide isn’t meant to be all-inclusive, but it will give you a solid base to start your own conquest of the search for the right set of arrows.

What Are Compound Bows?

The most common design for modern compound bows consists of a pair or more limbs joined at opposite ends by harnesses fitted with universal joints that allow them to bend sideways without touching each other when strung tautly like traditional bows (which requires the entire length between limbs tips to be straight) but can still spin freely on their axes because they are fixed only at one end.

You may find a variety of styles for the compound bow in the market but they showcase the same basic design.

Individual bows have wheels attached to the limbs and a bowstring. These help increase the ease of holding by storing energy as you drawback on your bow, making it easier for everyone to hold without having extra weight pulling them down.

Do you know what that means? That means when you use a compound bow, you can expect the draw weight to be reduced by 50 percent or more.

What’s so special about a Compound Bow?

Compound bows are the latest evolution of archery. What makes them unique is their pulley system, which allows for a custom “let-off” capability from any angle. With their increased efficiency and effectiveness, compound bows make archery easier than ever before.

The let-off is the point in time at which a compound bow will be drawn back to where it can hold the most weight. A compound bow could be drawn all of the way back and begin drawing weight during this short moment before being pulled fully.

Partly through the draw weight, the archer will reach its let-off point and its draw weight will be reduced to less than it was before.

The archer stays at the same weight until they have released an arrow. This allows them to take more time while they aim for greater accuracy.

Compound Bow vs. Traditional Bow

Different types of bows store energy differently. Generally, bows store the energy of flexed limbs to shoot arrows quickly. While this is not the case with compound bows, recurve bows and traditional bows.

Recurve bows store the energy directly to propel arrows, when you draw back the string, further than what was originally drawn. When you release and let go of the bowstring in order to fire an arrow, more power is transferred into it due to this stored force.

The more difficult you’ll find to pull back a traditional recurve bow, the faster it will launch the arrow.

The key feature of the traditional recurve bow is that when you’ve pulled it all the way back, in this state you are holding its full weight.

That means if the draw weight of your bow is 60 pounds, you are holding that much when you pull back on your string.

Compound bows have wheels on the ends of them which help to create the let-off points. These are called cams and they are designed specifically for this action. They reduce the total draw weight.

These cams will allow the archer to hold their bow at full draw a little longer and take the aim more precisely.

Plus, they can handle the bow more securely, meaning that you’ll have an easier time aiming, with increased accuracy.

How To Choose Arrows for Compound Bow?

When choosing arrows for a compound bow, there are a few things to consider. There are many different kinds of bows available and the sizes range from 3-pin, 4-pin and 5-pin. When choosing steel or aluminium arrows, you will have to select the right weight.

The arrow size also needs to be considered because it affects the speed and accuracy of your shot. Arrows also come in different points that determine how sharp they are, whether they bend on impact, and if they stay in straight paths. Here is a beginner’s guide on how to choose arrows for a compound bow.

Types of Arrows

Before we get into considering the specific arrows for a compound bow. Let’s start by diving into the types of arrows you can find in the market today.

Knowing what styles are available in the market and what styles and designs work best for your bow is crucial to making the right choice.

Wooden Arrows

If you prefer to shoot with wooden arrows, know that you have the old-school style. Go with it.

Although this doesn’t go with every arrow, generally wooden arrows tend to break easily.

They are actually recommended for recurve or longbows, so it might be ideal to avoid these if you’re shooting a compound bow.

Fiberglass Arrows

This is a typical choice of arrows for beginner archery programs, because they’re inexpensive and somewhat good in quality. They are comparatively more durable than other beginner’s arrows, which makes it a better choice for beginning archers.

This material comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.

They do tend to splinter, and some shooting ranges may even fail them altogether. 

Additionally, they are heavier than other projectiles due to their design. They don’t have as much accuracy when used with a long-range bow, and they’re more suitable for use on a recurve bow rather than compound bows which would be needed for hunting large game.

Aluminum Arrows

If you’re looking for the best price our aluminum arrows are perfect for providing the most value for your money. The first thing that should be noted is the reason these arrows are cheaper than carbon ones. They’re also less noisy and come in a wide variety of spines, which makes them more comfortable when you’re using an archery bow.

Hunters typically opt for carbon arrows because they are lighter, which then translates into better speed. This means hunters can place the arrow in less holes and penetrate more easily. However, aluminum arrows come with a drawback: the arrow will likely be heavier than other materials used so it requires thinner shafts to get comparable speeds and penetration levels.

A disadvantage of aluminum arrows is that they are prone to bending. Sometimes they can be fixed, but sometimes they cannot be recovered after such a mishap.

Carbon Arrows

These arrows are considerable in terms of speed, weight and strength. They’re lightweight, fast and can sustain pressure.

Another advantage of these arrows is that they are less prone to wind drift, which means your shots are more consistent and accurate.

And considering their price they are more expensive than other equivalents, especially aluminum.

Composite Arrows

These arrows are high-performance and great for accurate long distance shooting. They feature a straight design with uniform spines that provide maximum speed, accuracy, and penetration without the risk of accidental deflection.

These are great for compound bows, as they’re useful in providing accuracy and speed. However, beginners should not purchase these; it is also more costly than other models of bow sights.

Vanes vs Feathers?

The little fins at the end of an arrow are called Fletchings. They help stabilize the flight for better accuracy and spin in order to create a more smoother and accurate shot.

Let’s take a minute to decide if you are going to pick plastic or an arrow made out of feathers. Feather arrows have more flexibility, but they also absorb moisture much faster than those with vanes.

Plastic is tougher and less likely to break in game play while it is easier on the bow string; however it absorbs humidity differently so your arrow will be able to fly farther with greater accuracy when used in wet conditions like rain or misty days. It’s up for you which one works best for your needs!

What is Vanes

Vanes are the pieces of plastic that help fletch a bow. They’re typically more durable than regular feathers and capable of withstanding weather conditions.

Vanes are shorter than feathers and have a blunt profile, which makes them easier to use in close quarters where you need to shoot from around obstacles or inside objects (such as deer stands). 

Compound bows are an option for people who want to hunt different types of game. And the ability of vanes to handle tough weather without breaking is one reason that these compound archers often use them for fletching their arrows. They are also equipped with less wind drift, which makes them ideal for outdoor shooting.

What is Feathers

Feathers on the end of an arrow are often attached to primary flight feathers from turkey wings, which make them lighter and more flexible than vanes.

However, they can still hit the bow’s riser – and disruption inaccuracy might occur.

Feathers provide better aerodynamics for enhanced flight distance but may require more skill when shooting indoors or through narrow spaces such as doorways or windows

Feathers are the favorite of archers because they provide both versatility and accuracy. They have been commonly used by archers and hunters for centuries, especially indoors. They are known as one of the most accurate tools when it comes to indoor shooting.

There is one downside to feathers: they get waterlogged from rain. This makes them hard to shoot outdoors in the weather, which can be challenging!

How to Choose Correct Arrow Points?

When picking out your arrows, also figure out what type of feathers and arrowheads you like the best. This will help determine which material is most suitable for you to achieve a specific shot. And at the larger part, it’s going to be decided by your personal preferences and goals.

What type of bow are you using? And what will it be for?

For those who prefer vanes, it’s important to note that these are smoother than feathers because they don’t have any nooks or crannies where dirt can get caught in them during transportation and use.

Coming to the choice of the appropriate arrow points for game hunting, there are a few options to choose from. The two most common categories consist of target practice and bow hunting arrows.

For Target Practice

Target practice is a great way to hone your skills, but using arrows that are only made for targeting foam or other soft targets can make it difficult. That’s why you should purchase tips with screws you screw into the tip of your arrow and ones that have glue on them so they stick securely onto the string of the arrow.

If you want to improve accuracy, find arrowheads that are narrow shaped around the tip. For higher durability, consider finding arrowheads with more of a bullet-like shape to them.

For Hunting

Broadheads for bowhunting come in different sizes, shapes and styles. They are designed to be effective on a variety of games and bows – without the need for your own personal touch.

The most effective hunting weapons for small games are flat heads. For bigger prey, pointed heads would work better. Broadheads come in a variety of designs and some even have multiple blades.

These heads are specially designed for penetrating skin and muscles. They don’t work on other surfaces, so use them only with the target material.

Things to consider for Compound Bow Arrows

After having discussed all of the different options, it’s time to consider the actual question: How are you going to decide on your arrows?

Regardless of your personal preferences, it can be difficult to choose among the different options available to you. But we are here to help out, check out some helpful steps below:

Always determine your Draw Length

To determine your draw length, we need to find out what it is. You can go and ask an archery store or a sports goods store that sells archery products to measure your draw length.

A special arrow will be provided. It’s just a matter of drawing it with your bow and then having someone inspect the measurement to determine how far you’ve drawn it back.

It can be hard to gauge what is the right draw length for you, so going to a professional is always recommended! They can also recommend some arrows that will work best for you.

If you don’t want to do that, for some purpose or the other, then it will lead you all the way out to an archery store and spend your hard-earned money on something that might be wildly inaccurate (or even just not accurate enough).

To escape that, what you can do is then take a tape measure from the tip of your left middle finger till it reaches the one on your right. Next, divide this number by 2.5.

In order to keep your hand safe while shooting, it’s best to take the number of your draw length and add one inch. It makes sense that the arrow should just be a little bit longer than your draw length in order not to hit you in mid stroke as you’re pulling back on the bowstring.

Choose correct Arrow Weight

Next, you need to pick the perfect arrow weight. You first need to decide what weight you are looking for. Remember that this includes all components of the arrows-shaft, point, fletches and more. You can determine what weight is best for your bow by:

The weight of your arrow is determined by the draw weight, which should generally be between 5 and 8 grains per pound. For target practice, you might want to go with a lighter-weight arrow because it will fly faster and penetrate better than a heavier one.

However, for hunting, you would need something much heavier so that it can hit its target from a long distance without losing too much speed or penetrating too deeply into the animal.

This rule isn’t necessary to be followed. Anyhow compound bows can operate with any arrow weight between 5 and 8 grains per pound of draw weight. What you need to strictly follow is not to choose an arrow below five grains because that could result in serious damage to your bow.

Choose correct Arrow size

The size of the arrow determines the speed and accuracy of your shot. The right size depends on how much power you need. If you need more power, then a 4-pin or 5-pin would be best for you. But if you are just starting out, a 3-pin is recommended because it will give you an easy time shooting at slower speeds.

Straightness and Arrow Spine

Ensuring that your arrow is properly constructed can be difficult, but the result can greatly increase in shootability. One of the most considerable things about your arrow is the spine. The arrow spine is a complicated yet important part of making an accurate shot. Arrow spine measurement is the stiffness of your shaft. The lower the number, the more rigid and less flexible it will feel.

Do you know why this is important? It is important because a shot with the wrong arrow spine can make it hard to shoot accurately, or even impossible.

Keep in mind that picking the right arrow spine takes time and effort. Especially If you’re picking an arrow spine online, don’t worry about the shape or size at first. You’ll want to try out a few different arrows until you find one that’s exactly what you are looking for.

The first thing to focus on is becoming comfortable with your bow and arrows, then it is time to learn more about arrow spine. Second, see how much the tip weight will change depending on what kind of release you need. You can get an idea about the Arrow spine chart here.

Conclusion:

The conquest to choose the right compound bow arrows is not going to be an easy one. There are different styles of arrows, tips, and arrow length to choose from.

Measuring the weight and length of a bow is crucial in selecting the right compound bow for you.

Now that you have gone through the guidelines, it’s time to get started on your journey towards living out your archery and bowhunting fantasies.