Archery has taken a different direction over the years, from the days when it was a skill that would literally mean a matter of life or death in terms of hunting or when engaging in battle. Nowadays archery may be enjoyed as a sport and many people have come to embrace it as such.

Two things make up for the desired skills needed in archery; a good aim and a steady hand while on a full draw. Obviously the perfection of these skills comes with practice, but it would help a lot if the equipment used were made more "user friendly".

There are many types of bows and arrows, but the one that would be great for a beginner is the compound bow and arrow. This would promote you from the status of archer to toxophilite within no time and without much effort.

Compound Bow And Arrow

The compound bow and arrow uses a pulley or "cam" mechanism that makes it easier for an archer to pull and aim the arrow at a target. In archery terms this is known as the let-off where the archer holds the least weight of the draw. For example a 30LBS compound bow means that that will be the draw weight needed for a full draw. With an ordinary bow you wouldn't know this. More importantly it would help to choose a compound bow and arrow with a low draw weight to prevent the risk of injuring your muscles, especially if you are a beginner.

So to begin with, you should know your arm span, which would determine the draw length. But how exactly does a compound bow and arrow assist in all this?

The history of the compound dates back to the mid to late 60s, and as stated earlier involves a mechanism of pulleys and cables that help to bend the limbs easily. In this regard the limbs are made stiffer and so are more energy-efficient, both for the drawer and the speed of the arrow. The eccentric pulleys play the most important role by changing their radius and doubling the mechanical advantage of the wielder and so he uses less force at full draw.

At Combat Australia there are many compound bows and arrows to choose from, but before you rush into buying one you should consider the two things mentioned earlier; draw length and draw weight. Other specifications may include the let-off percentage, and other accessories like stabilizers, peep sight, wrist strap and so on. It would also be important to specify which bow pulling side you prefer (left hand or right hand). There is also the issue of choosing the right arrows. The longer ones are better even for beginners.

So if you are ready to try out archery, and most importantly if you appreciate the advancements made in archery, go for the compound bow and arrow. There are many designs and shapes to choose from. You can even go for a kit that includes a target in it for practice. Getting expert help from the guys at Combat Australia will be important in choosing the right compound bow and arrow.