A little material science
The limbs are the upper and lower parts of the recurve bow, which store the energy when the bow is drawn and therefore bend. Originally made from one piece, the limbs and middle section can now be individually combined and replaced.
Wood is still used as the core of modern limbs and gives them their basic shape and structure. Synthetic foam can also be used as an alternative. For structural reinforcement and to optimize elasticity, torsion or stiffness, nets or carbon fibres can be inserted into the individual layers. Finally, the limbs of almost all modern recurve bows are covered with fiberglass. This provides the necessary elasticity, which is crucial for the final speed.
How do quality and price affect limbs?
If you look at limbs from past decades, they usually only consisted of three layers of wood. Modern models, on the other hand, are composed of 10 to 20 layers, which means that both the production and the final price have become more expensive. As a general rule of thumb: The higher the price, the better the throwing performance and torsional rigidity. In other words, high-quality products throw the arrows further with the same draw weight and also group them better in the target.
How to find the optimum limbs for your style
Before you decide on a pair of limbs, you should seek intensive advice and ideally test them directly at the dealer. If you are unsure, ask your coach for help with the selection - they have the necessary experience and know your shooting style.
Generally speaking, the longer the bow, the softer the limbs. This means that they are more forgiving and more comfortable to draw. Shorter bows, on the other hand, transfer more force to the arrow. This makes it fly faster, but longer training sessions are difficult to manage, especially for beginners.
