The moment you hit your first target can be the start of a lifelong affair with the sport of archery. Archery can be incredibly fun if played with a right bow. Even for expert archers, choosing a compound bow can be a really difficult task as there are several brands in the market offering different models while claiming an easy aim and draw.
Best Compound Bow for Beginners in 2020
These Great beginner bows offer an incredible value along with high-quality products on a budget looking to master this storied art form. I have spent half of life in archery and bowhunting. After trying almost every brand and different compound bows, I am recommending these best compound bows for beginners.
Each of them is perfect in their own way leading the beginner to pave their way to a path of success in the sport of archery.
Quick Summary: My TOP 5 Picks
- SAS Rage 70 – My Top Pick
- Diamond Infinite Edge SB-1
- Raptor Compound Bow Hunting KIT – Best for Hunting
- Quest Radical
- Bear Archery Cruzer G2
1. SAS Rage 70
The SAS Rage by southland archery supply gives the best chance for shooters to develop their skill in archery.
This affordable beginner’s bow offers the shooters a long-lasting and a durable option. Don’t get fooled by the price as it gives you a lot more than you expect from a beginner bow as it shoots pretty accurate when you shoot it properly.
SAS Rage is where performance meets value in a sleek design. With a speed of 270 FPS, 35 inches axle-to-axle length and a decent let off, the SAS Rage is a real solid bow in itself. Accepting all standard parts and upgrades, the materials used in this bow are of great quality.
But Beware: if you are strong enough person then proceed to this bow otherwise the draw weight can be a bit heavy for a newbie. Being among one of the best compound bows for beginners, you will be pleased to own one.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 4.4 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 55 – 70 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 21” – 31” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 35” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 7” |
| Speed(fps) | 270 |
| Let-Off | 70% |
| Warranty | 3 year |
| Handedness | RH |
| Riser | Aluminum |
| Limbs | ABS(fiberglass) |
2. Diamond Edge SB-1
This Diamond archery bow is perfect for beginners. Its user-friendly design and wide range of adjustability bring it among the list of the best compound bows ever. Because of its easy setup it assures, the set and forgets tunability. This Edge SB-1 bow package by diamond provides an excellent price/quality ratio while meeting all your needs for target shooting as well as in hunting.
This bow can be set up at home and adjusted over time, so a teenager can begin with this bow and use it till years. It fulfills the need for beginners looking for all sorts of gizmos and gadgets.
This impressive shooting machine has caused an uproar in the industry. Though having a smooth draw, with little hiccups here and there it lacks a hard back wall. Still, at this price point, Its spec’s are hard to beat.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3.6 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 7 – 70 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 15” – 30” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 31” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 7” |
| Speed(fps) | Upto 318 |
| Let-Off | 80% |
| Warranty | Lifetime Warranty |
| Handedness | Both RH & LH |
| String | BCY BowString |
| Riser | Aluminum |
| Limbs | Aluminium |
3. RAPTOR Compound Hunting Bow Kit
Being built for beginners as well as intermediate archers, this bow packs more than enough punch to play. Offering you an outstanding value for money, the predator archery RAPTOR compound bow is accurate, fast and solid along with having durable and solid manufacturing.
Its good quality accessories are the biggest perk of this bow. The amazing versatility of this bow allows it to be used by both adults and children. Thanks to its draw weight and draw length ranges which are easily adjusted without using a bow press.
Raptor compound stands out of the crowd for its customer satisfaction and that’s why it is considered one of the best compound bows for beginners.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3.6 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 30 – 70 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 24.5” – 31” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 30” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 7” |
| Speed(fps) | 315 |
| Let-Off | 75% |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Handedness | RH |
| String | 452 x BowString |
| Riser | Machined aluminum |
| Limbs | Fiberglass |
4. Quest Radical
Producing some successful and innovative bows in recent years, the Quest Radical by G5 primarily aims beginners while featuring a wide range of draw weights and draw lengths. These user-friendly bows tend to be moderately priced with easy adjustments in a variety of ways. It has solid specs to appeal a wide range of shooters positioning it among the best compound bows for beginner.
This is a vicious bow offers a long service life. It assures to take you to a point where you will be better than a beginner. As the weight has wide adjustability, it’s a solid choice for both beginners and experienced shooters.
Due to its adjustable draw length, it accommodates a good variety of different sized shooters. This premium product is a real pleasure to use.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3.9 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 40 – 70 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 26.5” – 31” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 29.5” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 7.12” |
| Speed(fps) | 340 |
| Let-Off | 75% |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited warranty |
| Handedness | RH |
| String | BCY X Bowstring |
| Riser | Aluminum |
| Limbs | Aluminium |
5. Bear Archery Cruzer G2
Being among the original innovators of the compound bow market, Bear has been making innovative and superb products for more than 60 years. Allowing maximum versatility, this bow is engineered for all skill levels and ages. This is ready to hunt bow which is equipped with six trophy ridge accessories. Being excellent value for money, performance meets value with a sleek design in Bear archery Cruzer G2.
This bow is easy to maneuver in tight quarters having an axle-to-axle length of 32 inches. This is a good choice for beginners needing a short bow for hunting.
Available for both RH and LH, this super versatile bow is a must have for an aspiring bow archer. The string compressor of this compound bow does an excellent job. Offering a degree of customization, Bear Cruzer G2 indeed goes among the top best compound bow for beginners.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 5 – 70 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 12” – 30” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 32” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 6-1/2” |
| Speed(fps) | 315 |
| Let-Off | 70% |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Handedness | Both RH & LH |
| String | BCY BowString |
| Riser | Machined aluminum |
| Limbs | Endura Fiber |
6. Genesis Gen-X
Genesis compound bow is among the first bows designed to be used by children, youth or beginners, helping to boost their interest in archery.
Gen-X bow is ideal both for shooting and hunting while ensuring increased accuracy and fun. Purely crafted to perform and designed to entice, this sturdy bow is made in US abiding the highest manufacturing standards. So this sound investment will withstand usage over a lot of years.
Having a sleek design, this bow is available for both left handed and right-handed people. This genesis bow like other genesis bows has a zero let-off with light draw weight so that it can be used by any family member either that be a child or adult beginner.
Without a let-off, this bow feels similar to a recurve bow when you draw it. Because it doesn’t need to be tailored individually for each user, thus bringing it in the category of best seven bows designed for beginners.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3.4 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 25 – 40 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 21” – 30” |
| ATA Length (inches) | 35.5” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 75/8” |
| Let-off | 0% |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Handedness | Both RH & LH |
| String | Factory Standard |
| Riser | Aluminum |
| Limbs | Composite |
7. SAS Siege
SAS Siege gives the best chance to beginners for developing their talent in archery. Offering good specs, this solid bow offers a respectable maximum speed of 206 FPS.
This bow can be instinctively finger shot as well making it great not only for beginners but also for experienced archers that have already used a recurve and want to try a compound now.
It gives the shooters right gear of durability and high-quality shooting. Well, looking at specs and features, I feel it is a solid pick and it must be included in the best compound bows for beginners.
This bow shoots as accurate as other models of compound bows that cost three to four times more. With an unbeatable price point, this bow is one hell of a starter compound bow.
Key Features:
| Weight(lbs) | 3.5 |
| Draw Weight Range(lbs) | 40 – 45 |
| Draw Length(min – max) | 29″ |
| ATA Length (inches) | 41.5” |
| Brace Height(inches) | 7.5” |
| Speed(FPS) | 206 |
| Let-off | 70% |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
| Handedness | RH |
| Riser | Aluminum |
| Limbs | Compressed ABS limbs |
Final Words
Finding a new bow can be a real nightmare for beginners, especially because there are so many different choices to choose and pick from.
Many of these bows deliver on pro recommended fronts without leaving a dent in your pocket. If you are searching for a powerful and accurate beginners bow, you can easily choose one from the above all time best compound bows for the beginners in the market offering great let-offs and a smooth draw ensuring accuracy at your hands.
Happy Shooting!
What to Consider when Buying the Right Compound Bow?
BEFORE GOING TO BUY THE COMPOUND BOW YOU HAVE TO KNOW:
Shooting with a compound bow is no easier than with a classic. The shot is not more physical but does not work the same muscles, shooting technique is also important. If you shoot 30 lbs in a classic, you will surely pull 50 lbs in a pulley.
Compound bows attached by cams and cables, used the lever system thus providing a mechanical advantage to the archer by exerting less physical poundage while at full draw. Today the archers are lucky to have the opportunity of choosing among literal warehouses of compound bows.
The compounds are even featured distinct design improvements unlike the other bows (recurve and traditional) and are acknowledged overall for providing superior speed and accuracy. If you are a newbie and want to buy a new compound bow but are in the midst of it and have trouble navigating all the bells and whistles, it might only take you a few minutes to browse here and get a big read.
Qualities of a Compound bow
The compound bow is very fast (boom speed generally greater than 300 feet / sec). The compound bow is more accurate thanks to its sight system. The power is accumulated thanks to the pulleys at the beginning of the arming phase.
Once the compound bow is pulled back, only a portion of the actual power of the arc to be held remains (about 25%). The compound bow has an adjustable power range of 10 lbs. The extension of a pulley is fixed and adjustable by changing the pulley module (some have a setting on the pulleys).
Power of Compound bow
The power is expressed in pound (#). Compound bows generally have an adjustable power over a range of 10 # (sometimes 15 #). The choice of power is extremely important because it will condition your shooting comfort.
CHOOSE THE POWER OF YOUR BOW ACCORDING TO THE LIST BELOW:
Recommended power range for a Compound bow
- Very small child (27-35 kg.) 10-15 #
- Small child (35-50 kg) 15-25 #
- Large child (50-65 kg) 25-35 #
- Woman of small build (50-65 kg) 25-35 #
- Medium-bodied woman (65-80 kg) 30-40 #
- Sporty teenager (Boys 65-75 kg) 40-50 #
- Man of small build (60-75 kg) 45-55 #
- Woman of great build (+ 80 kg) 45-55 #
- Man of average build (75-90 kg) 55-65 #
- Man of great build (over 90 kg) 65-75 #
Types of Compound Bows
There are different types of compound bow in the market classified based on the cam system they use. The most popular types are single cam, dual cam, hybrid cam, and binary cam. Quad cams and hinge are the less common designs and finding them is a little harder.
Single Cam
They are also known as a solo cam or one cam. This cam has an idler wheel at its top and an elliptical power cam at its bottom. These cams are quiet and easy to use but are a bit harder in tuning when compared to other designs.
Dual Cam
They are also known as twin cams because they use two cams at every end of the bow. These cams may be round or elliptical. They are highly accurate and feature high velocity with a level nock travel. They require frequent maintenance and tuning due to their highly complex design.
Hybrid Cam
This design has a control cam at its top end and a power cam at the lower end. They require less maintenance and are quite easy to tune but have reduced nock travel.
Binary Cam
They resemble the twin cams. The difference here is that instead of the limbs of the bow, the upper and lower cams are bound to each other. They enhance a high velocity and have a level nock travel but again translate frequent maintenance and tuning because of its highly complex design. After studying different cams it’s time for you to choose one among them.
Compound bow’s Technical Specifications
For choosing a right compound bow for yourself, you must keep in mind their certain specifications so you can make your buying decision according to these specifications.
The pulleys (CAM SYSTEM)
ROUND WHEEL / Soft CAM (round pulleys) / LESS AGGRESSIVE:
A bow with round pulleys is very flexible. The power peak is reached gradually and is very brief. The maximum let-off is also reached gradually after the peak. These type of pulleys are very flexible and easy to arm but they do not store much and the boom output speed is low.
These pulleys have been used for ten years and many shooters prefer their flexibility (especially fencers and instinctive).
MEDIUM CAM (CAM-CAM, hybrid CAM) / MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE:
Medium Cam is often called a single cam or one cam. These are more aggressive cams, the power peak is reached faster during arming and the maximum let-off comes suddenly. They store more energy than round pulleys and the speed is greater.
Shooting a bow with medium cams is harder than with even round pulleys. This type of pulley is suitable for most shooters since they offer a compromise between comfort and performance. Bows equipped with Medium Cams generally have a moderate IBO speed between 295 and 310 FPS.
HARD CAM / VERY AGGRESSIVE:
Hard Cams are optimized for maximum storage of energy and speed. The peak of power is very quickly reached and maintained almost during all the shooting and the let-off arrives very brutally. This type of cam stores a lot more energy and offers an IBO arrow output speed of 320 FPS or more.
Shooting with hard cam is much harder and dry compared to other kinds of pulleys with equal power. They are certainly not recommended for everyone. But, for shooters who want the highest possible arrow speed, Hard Cams are the best choice.
Eye Dominance
Choose a compound bow which matches your dominant eye because your brain automatically gets the information of sighting on a target. You must know your eye dominance before choosing the right compound bow because if you are left dominant and choose a right dominant compound bow, you can’t shoot comfortably and accurately. Same goes for vice versa.
Handedness
A right-handed archer will pull the bowstring with the right hand and hold the bow with the left hand and vice versa. This selection is not made based on the hand holding the bow rather it’s made by the hand with which you pull the bowstring.
Draw length
Compound bows are designed in a way to be shot from full draw position only. You need to find out your draw length and match the compound bow to your draw length. This is a very vital factor because if your draw length does match with your compound, your shots will be all in vain.
The mechanical systems on compound bow control your draw length. So the shooter’s physical size must match the compound bows mechanical settings just like matching afoot to a shoe. The mechanical adjustments of every compound bow have a limited range. Though many companies have target audiences and intend to fit their engineered bows to these audiences.
Typically brands offer their compound bows with extensions for every 1/2 inch (rarely 1/4 inch). Often the elongation is fixed on a compound bow, so you must choose it to avoid having to change the elongated modules or pulleys.
1 FEET = 30.48 cm
1 INCH = 2.54 cm
To define its length in a very SIMPLE WAY:
- Spread the arms crosswise (without forcing, take a natural posture) and measure the total distance to the fingertips (middle finger).
- Divide the centimeters by 2.54 to get inches.
- Divide the result by 2.5 and you get your precise length.
- If the result is between 2 extensions, for example 30.69 “you must choose a 30.5” arc.
You can easily measure your draw length at home or a local pro shop. Once you find your draw length, select a compound bow whose draw length matches yours.
Draw Weight
The maximum pounds you need to pull for bringing the bow at full draw. In a compound bow, you hold almost 20 % of the draw weight because of its let-off feature. You must start with low draw weight and then crank up the poundage once your shooting muscles build up.
The more the draw weight, it allows a greater arrow speed. It’s harder to draw heavier weights. For a big hunting game, many states usually have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.
You should pick a weight which feels comfortable to draw in less than ideal situations as for hunting in extreme weathers you can hold a heavy draw weight for long.
Let-Off
If a compound offers a greater let-off, you will end up holding less weight for longer periods. The modern compound bows feature almost 65-80 percent let-off which is of ample help to the archer as he has to hold a minimal weight at full draw. This is an important aspect to consider while choosing the right compound bow.
ATA length
The first thing to consider while choosing a compound bow is the size of the bow also known as ATA length. This is the length from the top axle of the cam to the bottom axle of the cam.
It has a very significant impact on your ease of shooting. The average compound bows these days range somewhere between 30” and 32”.
- Below 32″ is called SHORT
- From 32″ to 38″ MEDIUM SIZE
- Beyond 38″ LONG BOW
These short ATA measurements allow the hunters to maneuver the bow with ease in ground blinds and tree stands. These small ATA measurements might create bow torque which has a magnified effect and are less forgiving as compared to longer bows.
Brace Height
The perpendicular distance between the risers grip and bowstring is its brace height. It’s a general rule that a bow with long brace height is much easier to shoot. Long brace heights are more forgiving than the short ones.
This distance is usually between 6” and 71/2”.
Although fast bows usually have a shorter brace height still they can be responsible for minor breakdowns in shooting form. You might need to make such tradeoffs while choosing a compound bow.
Bow’s Weight
If you are planning to lug around the woods for hunting, you must consider a light bow. Although they might be noisier than the heavier bows, they still eliminate the tiresome factor once you head towards the woods.
Other things to Consider
- Once you have selected a compound bow based on the above-mentioned factor, don’t buy it right away without considering these important things.
- You must find it replace and repair policies because don’t forget human beings can always make mistakes. So you must know about these policies before buying your compound bow.
- You must read its warranty policy. Buying compounds which arrive with factory warranty are of great help later.
- Must read reviews of customers about the specific bow you have selected. In this way, you will come to know about the pros and cons of this specific bow you are planning to buy.
Conclusion
It’s recommended to opt for a simple and well-designed bow rather than a highly technical one if you are a beginner. For getting more enjoyment out of shooting a compound bow, select the one which is comfortable to shoot.
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