Out of numerous bow types, recurve bows are considered the easiest to start with as they’re easy to learn, to store, and to clean. The price range is also budget-friendly.
But as a beginner, we understand how overwhelmed it is now to you when standing in front of countless options available in the market. Let us help you! Start with the following list of 6 best recurve bows for beginners that we’ve picked due to different needs:
Here are the best recurve bows for beginners (Apr 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Toparchery Archery 56-inch Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow
- Best For Smaller Hands: DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow
- Best For Both Hands: Samick SAS Sage Premier 62-inch Takedown Recurve Bow
- Best For Training Kids: PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow
- Best For Target Shooting: SinoArt 66-inch Metal Riser Takedown Recurve Bow
- Best For Hunting: Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow
| Top 6 Best Recurve Bows For Beginners | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Toparchery Archery 56-inch Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best For Smaller Hands | DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best For Both Hands | Samick SAS Sage Premier 62-inch Takedown Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best For Training Kids | PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best For Target Shooting | SinoArt 66-inch Metal Riser Takedown Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best For Hunting | Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow | Read Our Review |
Best Overall: Toparchery Archery 56-inch Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow
- Strong, powerful, and endurance - The fiberglass with maple core limbs
- Functional – provide tapped areas for a front stabilizer, arrow rest, and sight
- Great price
- Not include a bow stringer
- Don’t provide a version for left-handed shooters
From a shooting standpoint, the Toparchery Archery 56" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow shoots greatly.
It is well-built and works as some higher-priced ones.
The fiberglass with maple core limbs caught our attention at first. They are strong, powerful, and take lots of abuse that during the test, we didn’t found it to get any warping or twisting. They are also sold separately in case you want more.
Another big plus is the high-strength casting aluminum riser. It is crafted from high-grade metal with rubber grips and extra threaded holes for sight pins or other accessories if wanted.
One thing to note: This recurve bow is designed for right-handed shooters only.
| Toparchery Archery 56" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 25 pounds |
Draw Length | 30 inches |
Bow Weight | 3 pounds |
Highlight Features | Limbs are made from fiberglass with a maple core; High Strength Casting Aluminum Riser |
Well-built, durable, and strong, the Toparchery Archery 56
Best For Smaller Hands: DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow
- Lightweight and easy to hold - ergonomically designed riser with a fine finished wooden handle & rounded edges
- High-quality and durable - Strong fiberglass limbs & Hard Wood Riser
- The padding on the arrow is poorly quality
- Not for left-handed shooters
This is a serious recurve bow and arrow set with exceptional amount of power when fully drawn.
It is specifically designed for smaller-handed shooters, featuring a draw length of 29 inches, finely-finished wooden handle, and rounded edges. Perfect for wife to shoot with comfort but still powerful to punch through the side of a fridge.
The fiberglass limbs and hardwood riser help cut some precious weight off the bow, making it easier to aim at your target with little fatigue. Designed with ease of assembly is another notable bonus for beginners.
Above all, the unit has been quality tested before selling, which ensures for maximum durability and performance.
| DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 40 Lbs. |
Draw Length | 29” |
Bow Weight | 3.3 lbs. |
Highlight Features | Ergonomically designed riser with a fine finished wooden handle & rounded edges Strong fiberglass limb |
Particularly created for smaller hands, the DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow is easy to hold and not heavy, making it ideal for starters.
Best For Both Hands: Samick SAS Sage Premier 62-inch Takedown Recurve Bow
- Bang for bucks – include a stringer and pre-assembled brass bushing
- Good for smaller shooters, beginners, or people after surgery - 25-55 Lbs. of draw weight
- Easy to assemble
- The bolts to remove the limbs could be higher quality
We highly suggest this 62” recurve bow for anyone who desires to take their archery game to the next level without spending a fortune.
At under $140, this unit provides you with a 29” draw length, 25- to 55-pound draw weight, and SAS bow stringer. It fits nicely a shooter height of under 5’7” and more significantly, the brash bushings are pre-assembled for the quiver, sight, stabilizer, and brass plunger.
The biggest selling point is it comes with a specialized version for left- and right-handed shooters, from beginners to intermediate shooting levels.
| Samick SAS Sage Premier 62" Takedown Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 25-55 Lbs. |
Draw Length | 29" |
Bow Weight | 3 pounds |
Highlight Features | Hand Orientation: Left and right Comes with SAS Bow Stringer Pre-installed Brass Bushings Fast Flight String Compatible |
While most recurve bows are designed for right-handed shooters only, this comes in both, and it’s made with quality in mind as well.
Best For Training Kids: PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow
- Easy to fully draw and versatile – feature 29” draw length and 22-pound draw weight with an ambidextrous design
- Flexible and convenient - pre-nocked high-quality bowstring
- High accuracy level - fully-molded composite construction
- Low-end accessories
- Look cheap
Designed with a draw weight of 22 pounds only and 29” draw length, this is a wonderful recurve bow for both adolescents and training kids.
It is a full-sized model with 60 inches of overall length, not a toy, and the design is ambidextrous, including a shelf on both sides. In addition to a fully-molded composite construction, the bow is fun to shoot and much easier to learn proper technique.
Fans of this unit also praise for its exceptional accuracy. It is extremely forgiving, consistent, and holds the arrow precisely the same very time.
We’re also glad that it works well with both wood and carbon fiber arrows, all thanks to the pre-nocked high-quality bowstring with an emphasis of good balance.
| PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 22 pounds |
Draw Length | 29 - 30 inches. |
Bow Weight | 4 pounds |
Highlight Features | PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow |
Featuring 22-pound of draw weight, decent abuse endurance, and high versatility, the PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow is our proud top choice for both adolescents and training kids.
Best For Target Shooting: SinoArt 66-inch Metal Riser Takedown Recurve Bow
- Superior quality, durable, and long-lasting – feature excellent bowstring, bow sight, limbs, and riser
- Versatile and flexible – provide 3 types of arrow rest to choose from
- No locking nut on the screw-in arrow rest
- No instructions
For shooters who are finding the best target recurve bow, this is an excellent purchase.
By featuring a 30- to 50-pound draw weight, the bow is ideal for those who have developed their back muscles for drawing, like archery experienced shooters. Besides, it has quality limbs, comfortable grips, lightweight riser, and three types of arrow rest.
We also hold a high regard to bow sight and bowstring. Be sure to twist the string at least 12 times before using it as this helps leverage the bow’s consistency and action.
Though it’s not a high-end model, we found nothing wrong with this, meaning that you can easily use it for the semi-pro competition circuit.
| SinoArt 66" Metal Riser Takedown Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 30-50 lbs. |
Draw Length | 32" |
Bow Weight | 2.8 lbs. |
Highlight Features | Strong fiberglass limb Metal Riser 30-50lbs draw weight 32” draw length |
If you are in research for the best target recurve bow, look no further.
Best For Hunting: Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow
- Easy to store and pack – removable limbs
- Superior durability and endurance – feature fiberglass maple limbs, aluminum riser, 12 strand Dacron strings
- Only available for right-handed shooters
Save the best for last, the Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow is our best option for those beginners in their first hunting trip.
It emphasizes well-made limbs that are made of multi-layers of maple and fiberglass material to deliver hard, smooth-textured, uniform performance without bending or causing knobby.
Combining with the high-grade aluminum riser, it is much easier to adjust than a compound pound while being lighter to hold and sturdier to last longer.
For transporting, the removable limbs are a great bonus as you can store the bow in a more compact bag. Not to say that it’s easy to replace if anything was broken by accident.
| Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow Specifications | |
|---|---|
Draw Weight | 40 lbs., 45 lbs., 50 lbs. |
Draw Length | 30" |
Bow Weight | 3.6 pounds |
Highlight Features | Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow |
With a superior quality, uniform performance, and compact design, the Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow is a shining option for hunting.
How To Choose The Best Recurve Bows For Beginners?
Draw Length & Bow Length
- Draw length is measured from your archer point to your pivot point, which is equivalent to how far the bowstring is pulled back during each shot (measuring unit is inches).
- And this measurement is varied from archer to archer, determining whether a bow fits you or not.
- Here is how to get your draw length calculation:
- But what if the manufacturer doesn’t provide you with their bow’s draw length? Don’t worry, there’s an alternative way for you, based on the bow length. The following table will give you a better idea of which bow to choose:
Draw length
(inches)
Bow length
(inches)
14-16
48-54
17-20
54-58
20-22
58-62
22-24
62-64
24-26
64-66
26-28
66-68
28-30
68-70
31+
70-72
Draw Weight
- These features define the resistance you’ll feel when pulling on the bowstring. The measuring unit is pounds.
- The higher the draw length, the farther and faster the arrows when being shot, which is particularly essential for bow hunters. But take note that higher draw length also results in more difficult to pull back, which is probably not ideal for target shooting.
- For beginners, here are some simple ideas of which range of a bow’s draw weight to choose:
Archer age + Gender
(years old)
Draw weight
(pounds)
18-21
15-30
21+ (females)
20-35
21+ (males)
25-40
Which Brands Make The Best Recurve Bows For Beginners?
Toparchery
- This is one of the biggest and greatest domestic archery suppliers in China. Their team has now had over 50 members who are also the best experts in this field. Toparchery started its e-commercial business in 2013 and since 2014, its official company name has been changed into Zhengzhou IRQ Trading Co., Ltd.
Samick
- Started in 1975, Samick is known as one of the best leading archery companies providing the full range of bows for newbies and pro shooters. And lots of world’s archery champions depend on their products.
PSE
- Proudly as an American archery manufacturer, PSE has developed, designed, and produced archery equipment, tools, and accessories, and gained a good reputation for their superior quality. Besides, this is a long-standing privately-owned brand since 1971, so they obviously know how to run the business.
FAQs
Does eye dominance matter in archery?
Yes, it does.
If you can learn to shoot a recurve bow on the same side as your dominant eye, it will be a huge competitive edge.
What type of bow is best for beginners?
Recurve bows!
The reasons are:
- Recurve bows are easier to maintain, transport, and store than compound models
- They are the sole type of bow allowed in the World Archery Champion and the Olympic games
- Cheap to buy
Can you shoot a left-handed bow right-handed?
Yes, you can.
It’s just one issue – you’ll feel uncomfortable and have to compensate for this in your aim.
What draw weight should a beginner use?
How long does it take to learn archery?
12 hours to 6 weeks, depending on your innate talent and the instructor who takes your class.
Conclusion
There are plenty of amazing recurve bows out there these days and our list of favorites keeps growing every year.
Currently, these 6 best recurve bows for beginners are the top-notch options in specific categories, based on our extensive testing and in-depth reviewing. Hope they’re helpful to you. Thanks for reading!
Bryan Listor
