Crossbow Style (Recurve, Foward Draw, Reverse-Draw): What to Consider Before You Buy
/ May 1st, 2025So, you are thinking about buying a crossbow?
Well, you came to the right place! We know there are a lot of crossbows on the market and there are many important considerations, features, and factors involved in picking out the best crossbow FOR YOU!
In this article, we take a closer look at the mass weight of a crossbow, but don’t miss these other articles that detail other important factors to consider before buying:
Crossbow Speed: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Size: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Weight: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Cocking (Pulling it Back)…and De-Cocking: What to Consider Before You Buy
Style Recurve/Forward & Reverse Draw Crossbows
Crossbows come in 3 different styles: Recurve, Forward Draw Compound, Reverse-Draw Compound
Recurve
We will start with the “recurve” crossbow style, as this design has been around for thousands of years.
Modern recurve crossbows are considerably different in size compared to what was used in medieval times. However, they rely on the same simple design of flexing a limb to propel the arrow. Recurve crossbows are the least efficient crossbow design and are inherently slower than modern crossbows that utilize cams/wheels. For this reason, recurve limb crossbows either have slower arrow speeds or much higher draw weights to achieve comparable speeds to compound crossbows.
The combination of high draw weights and the fact that recurve bows do not have “let off” or reduction (compared to bows with cams/wheels) make manually cocking a recurve crossbow more difficult, especially for those of shorter stature.
Forward Draw Compound
Forward draw crossbows represent the largest market share, as this design has driven the modern crossbow revolution. The forward draw pairs cams/wheels with a string and 2 cables to create a mechanical advantage and offer greater efficiency (and much higher speeds) than recurve-style crossbows of the same draw weight. The result is a narrower bow with higher speeds and a quieter shot.
Reverse-Draw
Reverse-draw crossbow technology is the most recent in crossbow designs. The reverse draw design offers a significantly longer powerstroke (distance in which the string pushes the arrow) than the forward draw design. It is the most powerful engine available for crossbows.
The longer powerstroke featured in reverse-draw crossbows allows manufacturers to use lower draw weights to achieve high speeds, creating the quietest shot and less stress on the bow. Additionally, the reverse draw design positions the riser of the crossbow further back and above the shooter’s hand, eliminating the “front heavy feel” that most forward draw crossbows exhibit. Individuals with less upper body strength find reverse draw crossbows easier to hold
