Fastest compound Bow: Myth or Reality

Compound bows are available in a wide range of models and sizes. Most of them can achieve top arrow speeds with just enough draw weight, draw lengths and light enough arrows. The quest for developing the fastest compound bow has led to technological advances that have pushed arrow speeds to the limits. High arrow speed is a desirable feature of a compound bow. However, there are standards and rules to be adhered to especially for safety considerations. Manufacturers are constantly trying to outdo each other in terms of enhancing arrow speeds.

One question that arises is whether the fastest compound bow would achieve that status without compromising on safety standards. There is a limit with regards to which a compound bow is designed. This may not be appealing as modern day consumers expect manufacturers of products to keep improving their products and in this case make bows that are more and more powerful. However, it is worthy to note that a compound bow is not powered by a battery or any other source of external energy. It is still a manually drawn weapon whose output will never exceed the input of the human body. Ultimately it is the skill and strength of the archer that makes the arrows to attain high speed. In this respect we cannot expect bows to perform or develop at a high pace like the personal computer.

In theory reaching arrow speeds of 400 fps looks highly possible. In practice the issue of near absolute efficiency comes in. Such speeds can only be achieved by a bow that loses minimal energy in terms of things such as noise, vibrations and friction. In order to reach high speeds every bit of energy has to be stored and then successfully transferred into the arrow. Loss of energy will have an impact on the arrow speed.

On the other hand the fastest compound bow in terms of speed may not be the best in other features such as smooth draw stroke and a comfortable let-off. It is mechanically possible to construct a bow with very high arrow speeds but they may not be appealing as some sacrifices such as shorter brace heights and harsher draw backs may have to be made. In essence there may not be that one perfect and best compound bow. This could because different characteristics may be more appealing than others. Most archery beginners would most probably prefer a light bow that has a smooth draw and easy to tune.

In reality you may need to sacrifice one quality in order to optimize on another. You will come across different brands of bows with most of them with claims that they are the fastest. However there are charts that can be used to make comparisons in addition to reviews by other users. Buying the right one where speed is the overriding and preferred characteristic requires a thorough search. It is important to understand that each of the bow manufacturers would like everyone to believe that their products are the best. Almost every description that you come across will most likely leave you feeling as if you have stumbled on the best. Basically claims of being the fastest compound bow should be accompanied by easy draw that leads to powerful shooting.

Basically a bow acts as by converting the potential energy that is applied through the muscles, into kinetic energy into the arrow. This implies that achieving high arrow speeds depends directly on the effort of the archer or shooter. No matter how advanced a compound bow looks it is still a simple construction whose performance highly depends on the effort of the archer.

An insight on the KE (kinetic energy) formula for archery

The science classes were a whole lot of fun but forgotten somewhere. How about revisiting our school days all over again? A lot many sports which look interesting to us are usually driven by scientific formulas. Archery is one of them. Accuracy and best results are derived by placing the bow right and giving enough energy to let science do its job.

As we all know, the kinetic energy is possessed by any object that moves. From point A to point B, the object moves at a constant speed unless tampered with. For archers, the kinetic energy works far better than any other recently developed mechanism. The kinetic energy formula for archery is an old school method, yet the best because of the thrust it gives to the arrow. Mass and speed is something that makes a perfect equation for the perfect output.

The formulae for KE is “KE = (1/2 M) x (V2)” M equals to mass and V equals to mass. When the mass is cut down to half with a double velocity, it sums up as kinetic energy. Remember, kinetic energy is not momentum. Calculating the kinetic energy helps archers understand the exact amount of kinetic energy required for a particular archery task. For archers the speed and distance matters. The time when the particular object lands, is the time when kinetic energy is at its maximum.

The arrow gains kinetic energy the moment it is released with maximal force through the bow’s elasticity. Kinetic energy affects the penetration or the target as the archers call it. The bigger the animal at target, the more kinetic energy goes in by the archer for ripping through the target. When the arrow hits the target, the velocity goes down and so does the kinetic energy.
There are chances of the power falling flat with heavier bows. Now there are scientific and mathematical perspectives to this one where an ongoing debate continues. The math here is pretty simple. An arrow possessing more kinetic energy has more chances of a successful hit than compared with a lower kinetic energy arrow. A lot many online portals can help you calculate kinetic energy for more accurate results. Spend some quality time on the range and aim while calculating the kinetic energy for your archery skills.