What is Draw Weight on a Compound Bow

If your a new bow hunter on the block, and your cramming every bit of knowledge you can into your bow hunting brain, then you’ve obviously come here to learn about what is draw weight on a compound bow.

Believe it or not the explanation about what draw weight actually is is rather straight forward, however thats the simple explanation.

As per usual we’ll  delve a little deeper into the topic and explain the process behind draw weight on a compound bow.

That’s where things get a little more complicated.

Lets get to it….

Draw weight on a compound bow?

Draw weight is a term used to describe the necessary force (measured in pounds) to be able to draw the compound bow string to it’s pre set draw length where by the string will stop (AKA the Wall), and is now ready to fire an arrow.

Thats the technical term of what draw weight means, however there’s a few more things i’d like to explain to give you a better idea of how this all works, so let me explain that.

First off we’ll start with the wall.

The Wall

When we refer to the wall we are talking about the point at which the compound bow string, can not be drawn any further. At this point the bow is ready to fire and has all of the energy that you transferred via the draw weight now stored in the limbs, ready to be transferred into the arrow when it is being fired.

The Valley

The valley refers to a point at which you are exerting the most force in order to draw the string, once you get passed this point you go into whats known as “let off”.

Let off

Let off is used to describe the point at which you have drawn passed the valley, and the energy required to complete the draw cycle and reach and hold at the wall is significantly lower then the initial energy to start the draw cycle.

Draw Cycle

Draw cycle refers to the complete cycle it takes for you to draw the bow string and reach the wall. The cycle is as follows.

DRAW – HIT THE VALLEY – GO INTO LET OFF – HIT THE WALL – AIM – FIRE

Limbs

Limbs refer to the pieces at the very end of the bow. The limbs of a bow are critical in storing energy and holding the cam system necessary to complete the draw cycle.

Cams or Cam system

The cam system is really the heart of the whole process of the draw cycle, and really in a way, it is the draw cycle. The cams are located at the end of the limbs, and hold your string in place. The cams are responsible for the whole draw cycle, and are also the difference between a smooth draw cycle, or a rough draw cycle.

So, what does all this mean to me?

Well, all those terms written above are terms your going to have to get very familiar with. Its the terms that archers and bow hunters use to describe different parts and draw cycle steps.

They are all also linked very heavily to draw weight, and the adjustment of draw weight on a compound bow. Also, the cam system of 2 70lbs compound bows are not the same, and let me tell you, if the bow your using has a shit cam system, you’ll know your pulling a draw weight of 70lbs.

On the other hand, a bow with a slick cam system will make that 70lbs feel buttery smooth, and it will feel like a breeze to draw the bow.

So that’s why all the technical jargon is important, because it’s all part of a bigger picture.

Wrapping things up…

So there you have it, that’s definition of draw weight, but also a more in depth explanation as to the different steps of the cycle and what to expect with draw weight on a compound bow.

’til next time,

Happy hunting,

Redneck Salvation.