How to Shoot a Recurve Bow

Co-authored by Clay Hayes

Last Updated: February 8, 2024 Approved

Archery has become a popular sport recently. The recurve bow’s popularity is in part due to it being the weapon of choice for Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of The Hunger Games. By choosing the right bow and arrows for your body and purpose, along with practice and coaching, you will be able to hit targets accurately and consistently.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Selecting a Bow

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1
Decide on the purpose of your bow. Recurve bows are used for one of two purposes: for target archery or for hunting. These bows are essentially the same, with one fundamental difference: the draw weight. This is the amount of power you’ll need to draw the bow. Decide if you’ll use your bow primarily for target archery or for hunting.^{[1]
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- Your bow will need a higher draw weight for hunting.
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Choose a suitable draw weight. Draw weight on a bow correlates to how hard you have to pull in order to draw back the string on the bow. To select your ideal draw weight an adult beginner should start between 18 and 24lbs of draw weight. Children should start even lower. ^{[2]
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- Choosing a low draw weight will result in less speed and power in your shooting but will allow you to get proper form and technique.
- If you're a beginner, shoot with a lighter bow with regard to the draw weight. Don't choose a bow that's too hard to pull back. If it seems too easy, move up a weight.
- Younger people should also choose a lower draw weight.
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Bows come in different lengths. The average teenager and adult should use a 66 or 68 inch bow. ^{[3]
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Decide if you want a take-down bow. A take-down bow is one that dismantles for easy portability. The bow’s two limbs can be separated from the rest of the bow. This also allows for easier servicing of the bow.
- A take-down bow also makes the draw weight flexible. You don’t need to buy a whole new bow if you decide to raise your draw weight; rather, you’d just need to purchase new limbs for the bow.^{[4]
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It is a good idea to see how well you can hold and shoot a bow before you settle on purchasing it. Try out some different options at a local archery shop. This place will likely have several sample brands and styles.
If you are going to purchase a bow, consult an expert at the sporting goods store to fit you for a bow that takes height, draw strength, and handedness into consideration.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Choosing Arrows for Your Bow

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1
Measure your draw length. Your draw length is the length that your arm can draw the bowstring back in order to shoot the arrow. Spread your arms out to either side of your body and hold them parallel to the ground. Have someone measure the exact number of inches from one middle fingertip on one arm to the middle fingertip on your other arm. Divide this number by 2.5. This gives you your approximate draw length, it should be checked by a professional before you purchase anything. ^{[5]
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- Your arrow length will be 1-2 inches more than your draw length.
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Choose the arrow material and weight. Most arrows are made of either aluminum, wood, or carbon, which keeps them relatively lightweight. Fiberglass arrows are an option for youth bows and bowfishing. The arrow weight can vary in the shaft. The heavier the arrow shaft, the deeper it will sink into a target. If you are using an arrow for target practice, you don’t need the arrow to sink in very far. If you are using it for hunting, however, you do need the arrow to sink in through skin and bone.
- Carbon arrows may explode, so if it hits something hard, flex it listening for cracking sounds. If you hear them, don't shoot the arrow. Many people have had arrows through their hands because of this.
- Aluminum and wood arrows will bend if they hit something hard, although they can be straightened.
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Consider whether to get vanes or fletchings. Vanes are plastic rudders that steer an arrow. You can shoot them using a whisker biscuit rest or fur rests. Fletchings are feathers. They are used when shooting off the shelf to avoid deflection of the arrow.
- If you are shooting outdoors, opt for vanes, as they are rain-proof.
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Make sure that hunting arrows for large game (deer, elk, etc..) have broadheads. If you are planning to get arrows for hunting, make sure they have suitable heads made of strong materials with good piercing power.
- For small game, use judo, field, or blunt tips. Broadheads will rip apart your game and ruin it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Gathering Other Equipment

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1
Get a target. Shooting a recurve bow is not as simple as picking up the bow and some arrows alone. If you plan on practicing someplace like your backyard as opposed to a range, then you will need to purchase a suitable target that won’t ruin your arrows. Targets are available online or at sporting goods stores.
- Alternately, make your own target with 2 firm hay bales. Wrap them in shade cloth to tighten them up.^{[6]
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An armguard goes on the forearm of the arm that's holding the bow. Its purpose is to protect your arm if the string hits it. These can be purchased at sporting goods stores, outdoor stores and online.
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Buy a finger tab. A finger tab is a strap of leather that protects your fingers from the tension of the string as you pull it back. Your finger tab goes on the fingers that will be drawing back your bowstring with your pointer finger above the arrow and middle and fourth below. You can also touch your thumb to your pinkie behind the string to keep them out of the way.^{[7]
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- You can also choose a glove for the same purpose, although they are more expensive and not used by Olympic archers since they may make extra contact with the string, throwing off the accuracy.
4
Purchase a bow stringer. Put the string on a bow with this. It will bend your bow limbs if you string without one. They are a necessity when participating in archery.
Depending on the bow you rent/purchase, it may or may not come with additional parts helpful for beginners, such as a sight and a clicker. A clicker should really be avoided for a beginner as proper technique is best achieved without it. ^{[8]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Finding the Right Stance

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If you are right-handed, stand with your left hip pointing toward the target (vice versa if you are left-handed). Keep your body remains vertical. Don’t lean to one side or the other. Rather, imagine that your body is aligned with a center vertical line to keep yourself straight.
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Straddle the shooting line. The shooting line is a line that marks a particular distance from the target. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, centering yourself over the shooting line.^{[9]
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- Keeping your feet firmly planted at shoulder-width also maximizes your stability as you shoot.
Look directly at the target by turning your head toward it. Be sure not to turn the rest of your body, which should instead remain perpendicular to the target. Keep your chest in and shoulders down, making sure not to hunch up your shoulders.^{[10]
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Hold the bow with a firm yet comfortable grip. If you are right-handed, hold the bow with your left hand on the hand grip. Most recurve bows have handles, so you will know where to hold the bow. Note that your life line should be perpendicular to the ground when you hold your bow.
- The knuckles on your hand should be at an approximately 45-degree angle.
- Don’t hold your bow with a death grip. This will cause inaccuracy in your shooting.^{[11]
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Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Drawing and Shooting the Bow

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You need to load the arrow by fitting the notch at the end of the arrow onto the bowstring. Do this before lifting your bow and without actually drawing the string. This is called "nocking" the arrow.
2
Lift the bow to shoulder height. As you lift, ensure that the arm holding the bow is straight and locked at the elbow.^{[12]
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Research source} If your elbow is bent at all, it will be much more difficult to draw the bow.
- Put the one odd color vane between your riser and the arm holding your bow. If the nock isn't positioned where you can do this, the arrows aren't meant for recurve. You can still shoot it, but your accuracy may suffer slightly.
- Keeping the elbow of your bow arm straight additionally helps to keep your arm away from the bowstring as you release.^{[13]
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Pull the bowstring back. You should pull back far enough that your hand rests right under your jawbone. Your bowstring should touch your face around the corner of your mouth. This is called an anchor point.^{[14]
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- Don't be afraid of the string and touch it to your face. Unless you wrap it behind your ear, it will not hurt you in any way.
- Try to practice letting the stronger muscles in your back do most of the work as you draw the bow as opposed to your arm muscles. Have a person push your elbow forward while you try to resist to experience this.^{[15]
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- Don't chicken wing by placing your elbow below the arrow. Keep it up and aligned with the arrow.
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Take aim. You want to aim with your dominant eye while keeping your other eye closed.^{[16]
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- If your bow has a sight, use the notches in the sight to help you line up your target. Also check your aim with your eyes, so you don't get tunnel vision.
5
Relax your fingers off the string to loose. Don’t jerk the string back, or the arrow won't fly straight. Keep your release as smooth and gentle as possible, thinking of the action more like relaxing your fingers off the string as opposed to letting it go.^{[17]
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- Don't move your hand or arm while you shoot. "Helping" the arrow doesn't actually help at all.
Once you release the string, the arrow still must accelerate off the bow, and any movement during the fraction of a second can disrupt the intended flight path of the arrow. Train yourself not to jerk or flinch by holding your position until you hear the arrow hit the target.^{[18]
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Question

How to properly string a recurve bow?

Clay Hayes
Archery Expert
Clay Hayes is an Archery Expert based in Idaho. He owns and operates the website Twisted Stave, where he sells merchandise, offers tutorials, and blogs about his life as an outdoorsman. Clay and his family have built an online community of over 440 thousand archery and hunting enthusiasts with their YouTube channel. Clay has authored three books and produced hundreds of videos on wilderness skills, traditional archery, bow building, and bow hunting. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State University.

Clay Hayes

Archery Expert

Expert Answer

To string a recurve bow using a stringer, start by attaching one end of the stringer to the top limb's nock and placing the other end on the bottom limb's tip. Position the bow away from you and step on the stringer, securing it to the ground. Pull the bowstring towards the bottom limb's tip to create tension, then slide the top loop of the string into the nock on the top limb. Check alignment, release tension, and ensure the string is securely seated in both nocks.

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Question

How do I choose a good recurve bow?

Clay Hayes
Archery Expert
Clay Hayes is an Archery Expert based in Idaho. He owns and operates the website Twisted Stave, where he sells merchandise, offers tutorials, and blogs about his life as an outdoorsman. Clay and his family have built an online community of over 440 thousand archery and hunting enthusiasts with their YouTube channel. Clay has authored three books and produced hundreds of videos on wilderness skills, traditional archery, bow building, and bow hunting. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State University.

Clay Hayes

Archery Expert

Expert Answer

Choose the best recurve bow for target shooting based on what suits you rather than getting too caught up in the specific model. Look for a bow that fits your draw length, meets your draw weight requirements, and is within your budget. There are decent-quality bows available online at a very affordable price, around $150 or so, that can serve well for getting started on the range, shooting arrows, and enjoying the experience. As you gain more knowledge and confidence in your shooting, you can consider upgrading. The market offers a range of options, from the initial $150 investment to custom-made traditional bows that may cost thousands of dollars.

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I have been told never aim directly at the bullseye because the sight line vs flight line is different. Why?

Community Answer

If you close one eye when you aim (as a lot of people do), you'll need to aim a bit towards whichever side your open eye is on. Also, the arrow will fall a bit, especially at long range. Shifting your aim correctly is a matter of experience.

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Tips

The hand that holds the string should not be curled. You want to pull the string using your fingertips. Gripping the string makes it harder to shoot.

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Find an anchor point that does not move (bone). The cheekbone, chin, and notch of your lower jawbone work well. Choose one based on how far you wish to draw back, and keep consistent with your anchor points.

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Before shooting, you can should add an arrow rest/fur shelf pad, nocking points, additional accessories (such as a sight) and tune your bow.

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Warnings

Be very careful, especially if you've never shot a bow before.

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Inform those around you when you’re shooting and make sure that no one is walking around or behind your target. Alert everyone you are shooting and immediately lower the bow if there is danger.

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