Discovering Bow Stabilizers

Archery is a straightforward and popular pastime and although it would seem that the equipment would be straightforward, enthusiasts will be quick to tell you, that's far from the case. In fact there are quite a few devices and add-ons that are attached to a compound bow to assist in performance, accuracy, safety and comfort. One of those pieces of equipment that assist in shooting accuracy and performance is the bow stabilizer.

There are two main reasons to fit a stabilizer to your bow. The first is to help keep the bow steady when lining up a shot. The second reason follows on from the first in that it reduces hand shock and vibration upon releasing the arrow. Repeated hand shock causes growing pain and tiredness in the hand and arm supporting the bow which will eventually affect your accuracy.

To understand how a stabilizer does its job we should briefly have a look at what it is made of. Early stabilizers were simply metal tubes which were effective up to a point. Metal is a rather heavy material and although you want to add some weight, because this is what keeps the bow stable, you don't want to make it too heavy. As an alternative these days, the body of the stabilizer is made from carbon or AMS plastics. Carbon is ideal due to its durability and light weight coupled with a rigidity that allows it to perform properly.

The second function of the stabilizer is the reduction of the vibration created through the bow from the force of releasing the arrow. This is performed by a dampening device. The dampening device is most usually made of rubber although other vibration absorbent materials may be used. By positioning the dampening material away from the end of the bow their effectiveness will be maximized.

To counterbalance the bow you will also find a weight that sits on the end of the stabilizer. This weight is another means to keep the bow stable when it is being shot. With the weight sitting at the front of the bow consistency in aiming the bow is made easier.

Stabilizers are made in a variety of lengths and the length you will need depends greatly on the type of archery you plan on doing. The longer the stabilizer you use the more steady your bow will be and consequently, the more accurate you are likely to be. The trade off is, though that longer stabilizers are more difficult to manage over rough terrain. Target archers use long stabilizers because they stand and fire at a range while bow-hunters, on the other hand, use shorter stabilizers because of the conditions under which they will be carrying and firing their bow.

Short-framed hunting bows don't require overly long stabilizers. Considering some of the terrain you may have to cover, long pieces protruding from the bow would be more likely to snag and hinder progress as well as make more noise. Similarly, any extra weight on the bow would be accentuated the longer the bow has to be carried to the point where it would become extremely tiring.

Finally, we return to the importance of reducing vibration. Any vibration experienced by the bow is going to be expressed as noise and when you are bow-hunting noise is one of your worst enemies. Repeated vibration will also result in some of the other components on your bow, such as your sights, shifting which will inevitably affect accuracy.

So the stabilizer is probably one of the least known pieces of archery equipment but it is of great importance to your shooting accuracy and comfort. Make sure you buy one that suits you, your bow and the type of shooting you're going to use it for. Take a measured approach; look for quality and temper your decision with thoughts on suitability and you will be sure to be shooting quietly and accurately.

You can view a range of bow stabilizers as well as bows, arrows and many other archery accessories that are available at The Compound Archery Store.