How To Choose The Best Beginner Compound Bow

Choosing a bow that's going to kick off your archery journey is a big decision. Nowadays, these bows aren't that cheap, and with so many options, it's a little tough to sort through everything.

The information below is going to summarize the key things to look at before you go out and purchase a new compound bow. This applies to kids, young adults, and adults who are exploring what's needed to either hunt with a bow or just shoot one.

Most Important Things To Consider When Choosing A Beginner Bow

These are the top three things to consider when choosing a beginner bow:

1. Draw Weight Range

The number one thing to pay attention to when buying a beginner compound bow is the draw weight range.

Most bow manufacturers are going to offer a 10-15 draw weight range. This means that you can buy a bow with a 40-50 lb. range or something with a 40-55 lb. range. 

Most hunters or target shooters with years of experience do not adjust their bows more than this, so they know year after year which option to purchase. 

For those that don't know this, or for youth that might want a bow to grow with them, you're going to want to look for options that offer a much wider range...

(Scroll down to see who offers this.)

2. Let Off %

If you look at most compound bows, the let-off percentage is going to fall somewhere between 75-85%. 

Fortunately, this particular area is pretty easy to evaluate. Once you've filtered down your top options, make sure your final pick falls between these two percentages.

Remember that a higher let-off percentage doesn't always guarantee more accuracy. While a beginner archer can hold the bow back longer, you still want a little back tension for added stability.

3. Price

When it comes to compound bow price ranges, a budget friendly bow is going to cost you somewhere below $500. From here, you're going to see mid-tier options range from $500-$800 with the most expensive being $800 plus.

Of course, you also need consider if this is the price of the bow, or if the model has some sort of package attached.

This makes a big difference because you can easily spend several hundred dollars accessorizing your bow to have the basic requirements. 

If you want a simple chart explaining which bow brands are the most expensive, take a look at this chart:

Which Bow Brand Is Best For Beginner Archers?

When it comes to finding an adaptable, forgiving, easy-to-learn compound bow the best bow brand option is going to be Bear Archery.

But Why Is (Fred) Bear Archery The Best?

From my perspective, and something that was mentioned above, I think the most important thing to consider when choosing a beginner bow is draw weight range... especially if you're buying for a youth.

Unlike many other brands, Bear Archery offers a large draw weight (and draw length) range. In fact, it's the largest range option on the market.

For instance, some of their individual bows can adjust draw lengths from 14" to 30" and draw weights from 10lbs to 70lbs. This is huge!

Again, having this option as a youth is nearly priceless - saving you tons of money on upgrading a bow every year as the individual grows.

Additionally, for adults just getting started, it gives you option to practice at more comfortable draw weight and move up over time.

What Is The Best Beginner Compound Bow?

If you're looking for the best beginner compound bow, I would recommend the Bear Archery Cruzer G2, or their new model, the Cruzer G3.

As mentioned above, I chose this largely because of the draw weight and draw length option. 

The Fred Bear Cruzer G3 offer archers a draw lengths from 14" to 30" and draw weights from 10 lbs. to 70 lbs. Additionally, with a let off percentage of 75% you're well within the industry average.

Other Things To Keep In Mind

1. Brace Height

When evaluating brace height (the length between the bow's grip and the string), you're going to hear a lot of people recommend longer brace heights for beginners.

This is recommended because the longer the arrow is in contact with the string after the release the harder it is to control. Shorter brace heights mean the arrow is in contact with the string, leading to less accuracy.

As a result, try to choose a lengthier brace height if possible - something above 6.5 or 7.5 inches.

2. Speed (FPS)

When it comes to IBO speed for compound bows, you're probably going to fall in one of the three categories. If you're looking for a new compound bow that's going to be efficient enough for both hunting and target shooting, I would go with something between 300 and 330 FPS.

While some archers choose to shoot below this, you might run into issues if you're hunting a longer distances.

3. Draw Length

Unfortunately, there's no single "best" draw length for beginner archers. It really depends on the individual's body size and proportions. 

A bow with a draw length that's too long will be uncomfortable to hold at full draw, making it difficult to learn proper form and aim effectively.

Also, accuracy suffers with improper draw length. If the draw length is too short or long, it can lead to inconsistencies in form and affect accuracy.  

My Final Thoughts On Choosing A Beginner Model Bow

All in all, if you take the information above and apply it to your first bow purchase, I'm confident that you'll find something that will last for years.

The good thing about today's top brands is the fact that technology has advanced so much that even a mid-tier bow is better than everything that was made 10-20 years ago.

As a result, it's pretty hard to make a bad choice when it comes to starter compound bows. Good luck!

Also, remember to check out this Beginner's Guide To Bowhunting!