Bow
What bow you choose will depend on what you are going to be doing eg. hunting or competitions.
Bows are made up of these components:
Limbs - bend when the string is drawn and store the energy to propel the arrow, usually made of wood, glassfibre, or carbon fibre.
Riser - the handle between the limbs, and is usually made of wood or metal.
String - made of darcron, it has a reinforced part in the middle called the serving, toward the middle of this is the nocking point, which is where the arrow is mounted.
Arrow Shelf - supports the arrow while draw, it cuts into the riser itself, an extended shelf is sometimes referred to as a sight window
The draw weight of the bow is the amount of force required to pull back the bowstring, which will vary with the draw length (see below). It will also affect the type of arrow you’ll need, as a heavier draw will need a stiffer arrow. There is an optimal draw weight for each person, for most men it’s between 30-40 lb, for most women 25-35 lb and beginners shouldn’t require more than 15 lb.
Your draw length can only be varied a small amount and your bow will need to be compatible. Maximum draw length is made by holding your bow arm out straight and drawing the bowstring back to your ear, minimum draw is where you bend your bow arm and draw back to your chin. A longer draw will transfer more energy to the arrow but it is harder to maintain and get right, it also makes it harder to achieve a consistent anchor point.
There are a variety of bow lengths, if you are shooting in competitions there will be regulations on maximum and minimum lengths. Generally you get better accuracy from a longer bow, as long as you have the muscle strength for the extra weight. A short bow gives a very acute angle when the string is draw, which is difficult to hold steady.
For beginners the best choice are recurve bows or the longbows, these are good for target practice and competitions.
If hunting crossbows are a popular choice because of their bow and range but not a good choice for beginners.
Recurve bows - They store more energy with each shot which makes the arrow move faster and become more powerful. They allow for a shorter bow which gives the archer and advantage. They are the type of bows that are used in the Olympics and other competitions. The bows have limbs made of fibreglass, carbon and wood. The rise is separate from the limbs and made from magnesium, aluminium alloy or wood. Beginners rely on plastic or wooden risers though, as the more synthetic the materials (the best performing) the more expensive.
Compound Bows - Has a system of cams and pulleys which make it easier to aim because you aren’t holding the full weight of the draw while you are aiming. It often produces an arrow with a flatter trajectory. Most organisations recognise compound archery as a separate discipline because of the advantage over other bows.
Longbows - Simple bow, often just wood with a bow sting between it’s ends. Various types of wood, traditionally yew, although teak and maple are used too. Most organisations impose restrictions on what can be done to them to make them more accurate (basically nothing).
Crossbows - Made up of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots bolts, the bolts are held in the draw position until they are released by a trigger. They allow the archer to draw a force beyond what they could handle with a bow. They can be kept ready to shoot at anytime, which makes them ideal for hunting as this gives the archer a better aim. They are heavier and more clumsy than a bow and they have a slower rate of fire.