The recurve boy tends to rise and fall in popularity every few years; as Target Crazy notes, much of this can be because of the Olympics, as it’s currently the only type of bow allowed to be used at that level. These are named because it first curves towards the archer before curving back in the opposite direction, hence ‘re-curve.’ These then straighten out when you’re drawing an arrow, which can subsequently lend an extra bit of power when you release the arrow, and can also add some extra speed to it.

It should be noted that there are two types of recurve bows, modern and traditional. There aren’t many differences between the two, with the most notable being that modern versions can offer a significant amount of customizability, such as adding sights, weights, stabilizers, and much more. However, to properly customize and upgrade your bow, you may need to have a certain amount of experience with it, as adding these upgrades can take some expertise.

As Top Survival Weapons notes, recurves don’t need too much strength to properly fire, which can make them perfect for budding archers, as well as those who may not have too much upper body strength. Once you become more experienced with the weapon, you’ll then be able to start upgrading it, or you can try switching to one of the others types, depending on what you’re looking for.

A compound bow typically features a pulley or cam system that allows an archer to add a significant amount of power to the shot, which needs considerably less effort from the user. On top of this, it also means that you’ll spend less time, and energy, holding the string, which means that it can be great if you’re hunting and want to make sure that you have your bow ready for when you spot your prey. As Art Of Manliness notes, this can often be one of the better bows for hunting.

While this system may seem like it makes the bow much easier for newcomers, this might not be an accurate statement, as it needs much more maintenance and assembly skills to operate effectively. For those who do know how to keep the compound bow well-maintained, this can be one of the natural choices to go with.

Crossbows can be a natural choice for gun owners looking to switch to a new weapon, chiefly because it’s operated much like a rifle. These have a mechanism that allows the string to be pulled back and have the arrow locked into place, which can have a variety of advantages for owners. What many people may not realize, however, is that there are two different types of crossbow.

The majority of people will be familiar with the standard crossbow, which is the one that’s similar to a rifle and requires two hands to operate. There’s also what’s called a ‘pistol’ crossbow, which takes its name from the fact that it’s similar to the weapon in terms of size, and can be seen as somewhat of a miniaturized version of the standard version.

Both of these weapons can offer a significant amount of customizability, with the likes of scopes and much more being available. As such, you’ll be able to adapt either one of them to your needs.

Longbows are perhaps one of the more well-known types of bow, thanks in large part to the fact that it was used in a variety of countries until the introduction of firearms. As the name implies, this type is much longer than the majority of other bows and forms a D-shape when being used. Because of its size, however, it may not be too appropriate for hunting, or for newcomers, and is primarily used for the likes of target practice.

This type of bow has also been termed the ‘American Flatbow,’ with the name being derived from its historical use by Native Americans for centuries. Real World Survivor notes that the flatbow has undergone a few notable design changes over the past few centuries, although much of this has been focused on the materials that have been used in it. As such, the outside design tends to have somewhat of a flat shape, which is how it received its name.

A Kyudo, or Yumi, bow is a traditional Chinese bow that resembles a longbow, although it naturally comes with a variety of Asian influences. Similar to the longbow, these can be quite difficult to use accurately, with its size of roughly 2 meters in length making it difficult to aim, especially if you’re hunting. However, if you’re looking to take your target practice to a new level, then this might be the right choice for you.

The bow is also asymmetrical from where the string meets the bow, which can add further confusion to many who are starting off with archery.

Carbon arrows are perhaps the sturdiest ones that you can buy, and can withstand a considerable amount of abuse; naturally, it’s not recommended that you abuse them, but it’s nice to know that they’ll be able to put up with the majority of impacts without breaking. While they can be incredibly durable, one notable downside is that they’re not fixable, so once they’re broken, they’re unusable.

There’s also the fact that carbon arrows can be somewhat heavier than many other types, which can have an effect on the likes of speed and may slightly affect accuracy. By compensating for this extra weight, however, you shouldn’t have many issues with it.

Many light bows may need an arrow that’s made out of a lighter material, as the weight can have a drastic effect on where and tear. This is where aluminum comes in, as it’s perhaps one of the lightest materials used, and can easily be bent back into shape, should it become damaged, as Archery Buff notes. They’re also one of the more affordable types of arrow, which can be beneficial for archery newcomers, as it allows them to become familiar with their bows without spending too much on arrows.

Wood is the most obvious choice for an arrow, which is primarily because it’s been the most common material for them for much of the weapon’s history. This has also made it the most affordable one to choose, depending on which type of wood you’re using. However, this can have a variety of drawbacks, such as being easy to break and splinter, meaning that you’ll need to handle them with more care than you would with other arrows.

When it comes to target practice, you’ll need a relatively sturdy arrow that doesn’t break too easily, although many people may not want to go for carbon fiber, for a few different reasons. This is where fiberglass can shine, as they’re quite affordable for the amount of durability that they offer. As Arrow360 notes, however, they may not be much use outside of the archery range or at a summer camp, so if you’re looking to hunt, then it may not be the best choice.