Compound Bows
Compound Bows — More Than Just a Bow
There's a moment every archer remembers. The first time they drew back a compound bow and felt the let-off kick in — that sudden drop in holding weight at full draw. Everything goes quiet. You're steady, you're aimed, and you've got time to breathe before you release. It doesn't feel like what you expected. It feels better.
That's the thing about compound bows. They're technical, yes. But that technology exists entirely in service of making you a more accurate, more consistent shooter. Every piece of it has a purpose.
What the cam system actually does for you
The cam system reduces holding weight at full draw by anywhere from 65 to 90 percent depending on the bow. That means less fatigue at full draw, longer and steadier holds, and cleaner releases. You're not fighting the bow at the moment that matters most — which is the whole point.
Speed is the other side of it. A solid mid-range compound will push an arrow well past 300 FPS, with better options approaching 340 or beyond. At field archery distances that translates to a flatter trajectory and less drop to compensate for. Once you've shot a compound at distance, going back to slower platforms takes some adjustment.
Who shoots compound bows
Competitive target archers make up a large part of the compound bow market in the UK — and for good reason. The precision achievable with a well-tuned compound and a good release aid is genuinely difficult to match on any other platform. Field archery, 3D archery, indoor and outdoor target shooting — compound bows perform across all of it.
Beginners are increasingly starting on compound rather than recurve too. The learning curve is real but the payoff tends to come faster, and most people find the experience more immediately rewarding than wrestling with a heavier draw on a traditional setup.
Specs worth understanding before you buy
Draw length is the one people overlook most. A compound bow is engineered to be drawn to a specific length — your length. Get it wrong and every shot feels like a fight. Most bows have an adjustment range built in, but confirm that range covers your actual draw length before you commit.
Draw weight is next. For field and 3D archery most shooters settle somewhere between 40 and 60 lbs — enough for flat, confident shooting at practical distances without the bow becoming physically demanding over a long session. Axle-to-axle length affects handling and forgiveness: shorter bows are more compact and manoeuvrable, longer bows tend to be more stable and forgiving on the shot.
Buy compound bows at Buy Archery
We stock compound bows from EK Archery — set up and ready to shoot, not just a bow in a box. Whether you're buying your first compound or upgrading to something more capable, there's an option in the range worth your time. Free UK shipping on orders over £100.
Browse below and find the bow that's going to grow with you.