Although the compound bow looks very different to the recurve bow, the basic technique for shooting it is very similar. At the end of the day, a compound is still a bow with a string which projects arrows to the target, and it still needs the input from the archer. The differences are that because the compound uses cams which give mechanical advantage to the archer, you can pull a lot more poundage than with a recurve , but unlike the recurve this poundage lets off to anywhere between 65% to 80% of the full poundage . This is because they were originally designed for hunters who wanted to hold at full draw for a longer time and not be spotted by the animals. Compound bows are also more accurate than the recurve. This is because you use a release aid to release the arrow which does not cause as much bend in the arrow as it is released like you get when fingers are used. The problem is that because you only hold a light poundage at full draw, the bow can become unsteady in the hand and this is why you find a lot of recurve archers who try compound suddenly realize that its not as easy as they once thought. To get the best from your compound bow it is a good idea to start with a recurve bow to learn the basics of shooting and develop good form and strong muscles in the back. Then when you start to shoot the compound bow, you can use the same technique ie. - push pull release. The only difference is that you are using a release aid, and because you are keeping good pressure against the stops at full draw the bow becomes steadier. There is a lot more to it than that though, and it takes years of practice to become an expert like in any sport. You will probably get higher scores initially, but remember that you will be shooting against other compounders if you shoot competition, and the higher your scores get the harder it gets to gain those extra points.
This sounds like im trying to put people off shooting compound, but believe me, it is a great feeling when you shoot six arrows in the gold at 90 metres, and when your shooting well, the shot feels as great as any other bow. So don’t be afraid to give it a go. And don’t listen to these people who tell you it's not a proper bow, as they have either never shot one or have never shot one well. You should shoot the bow type you want and have respect for all forms of archery, because its all great fun.
