Archery Statistics on Bow Strings: Materials, Performance, Maintenance, and Trends

Key Takeaways

• There are approximately 33 million archers in the United States.
• Compound bows are the most popular bow type.
• BCY® is the industry leader in bow string materials.
• 60X Custom Bow Strings are made from premium bow string materials, like BCY, and are individually built by a world champion archer.

A bow string does more than transmit energy from the body to the arrow. It plays a pivotal role in your shooting power, speed, and accuracy, as well as your overall enjoyment of archery.

Analyzing archery statistics is a great way to build on the mental side of the sport and determine which equipment will best support your journey. 

We compiled a list of fascinating and insightful facts and statistics you can use to make informed decisions. Let’s jump right in!

There Are Roughly 33 Million American Archers

• Bow hunting statistics show that there are approximately 10 million bow hunters in the United States. 
• There are approximately 17.6 million recreational archers in the United States.
• There are around 5.4 million competitive archers in the United States.

Source: Archery Trade Association

Most Archers Bought Their First Bow by Age 20

• Archery statistics reveal that the average archer purchased their first bow before hitting their twenties. 

Source: Archery Trade Association

Compound Bows Are the Most Popular Bow Type

Compound bows are the most popular bow type, which is unsurprising because we sell more compound bow strings than other types of bow strings.

• 74% of compound bow users would buy a compound bow again for their next bow.
• 75% of bow hunters use a compound bow.
• Gen X-ers and millennials gravitate toward compound bows, while most baby boomers’ first bows were recurves.
• 92% of millennial archers use a compound bow.
• 68% of baby boomers use a compound bow.
• 84% of Gen X-ers use a compound bow.

Source: Archery Trade Association

Crossbow Users Are Rare But Loyal

• Archery statistics show that around 7% of archers prefer crossbows, but those who buy a crossbow as their first bow tend to buy them again. 

This aligns with our experience selling crossbow strings and cables, as we’ve had many repeat customers for years.

Source: Archery Trade Association

Gen-X Owns More Crossbows

• 7% of Gen-X archers own crossbows.
• 6% of baby boomer archers own crossbows.
• 3% of millennial archers own crossbows.

Source: Archery Trade Association

Crossbows Are More Popular Among Hunters

• 54% of baby boomer bow hunters use crossbows.
• 37% of Gen-X bow hunters use crossbows.
• 20% of millennial bow hunters use crossbows.

These bow hunting statistics are fascinating because they show that older hunters tend to prefer equipment that’s less labor-intensive.

Source: Archery Trade Association

Recurve Archers Are Rare

• Archery statistics show that only 8% of archers who initially purchased a recurve want to buy another one. 
• 89% of recurve users would prefer a different type of bow.

From our experience, this data tracks. We don’t get recurve bow string orders nearly as often as other bow types. With that said, the 8% of enthusiastic recurve users really love the traditional approach and buy a lot of strings!

Source: Archery Trade Association

Expert Insight Into Bow String Materials

Next, we’re going to provide facts about the different types of bow string material options out there. These archery statistics and facts will reveal insight into the industry you may not have known about.

BCY® Is the Industry Leader

• BCY bow strings dominate the market. 
• In fact, there’s a good chance you’re using a BCY material on your bow, as most major bow manufacturers sell BCY materials as OEM (original equipment manufacturer) equipment.

BCY Uses High-Performance Materials

• BCY string materials are mainly made from Dyneema® HMPE, Spectra 1000, and Vectran, which are synthetic fibers that have optimal characteristics for building bow strings.

Source: BCY

There Are Bow Strings That Don’t Creep

Sometimes, first-hand experience supersedes archery statistics. While there aren’t any specific competition archery or bow hunting statistics about it, creep (gradual stretching over time) is a massive problem with many bow strings on the market.

Fortunately, there are no-creep bow strings out there! 

• With the correct amount of strands, BCY 452Xtra and 450 Plus string materials are 100% stable and don’t creep.

Source: BCY

Fast Flight Still Exists

• Brownell & Company revolutionized the sport in the mid-1980s with fast Flight, which was the first widely available high-performance bow string material. 
• Although the original is no longer in production, BCY’s 652 Spectra material is the same as the original Fast Flight!

Source: BCY

BCY 452X Is the Most Popular Bow String Material

Archery statistics aren’t always easy to find, but we do have a passionate community of archers who enjoy sharing tips. Online forums are great for getting insight from real archers.

• In a poll on preferred string material taken on the Archery Talk forum, 50% (51 votes) preferred BCY 452X. 
• BCY X99 followed at 31% (32 votes).

While there were only a little over 100 voters, this information seems to be accurate based on our experience at 60X Custom Strings. BCY 452X is a top seller.

Source: Archery Talk Forum

No Bow String Is Immune to Fraying

• All bow string materials will eventually fray if you don’t wax your bow string properly.

Source: BCY

BCY 8125 Is the Fastest Bow String Material

Performance-related archery statistics will naturally vary widely based on countless factors, from the equipment used to the archer’s shooting style. 

• In-house testing at 60X Custom Strings has shown that BCY 8125 (100% Dyneema) is the fastest bow string material. 
• That speed comes at a cost: it’s prone to stretching in hot conditions. 
• 8125 is a very popular bow string material among recurve shooters.

Source: BCY

Draw Weight Matters

• Bow hunting statistics show that the majority of adult male archers prefer a draw weight of 60 to 70 pounds. 
• A common error among novices is choosing too high of a draw weight to boost speed. If the draw weight is too high, accuracy suffers.

Source: Bowhunting.com

Strings Should Be Replaced at Least Every Two Years 

As mentioned, archery statistics and facts aren’t always set in stone because data varies depending on factors like shooting style and equipment. However, there are near-universal truths in some aspects of the sport, such as how frequently to change strings and cables.

• Here at 60X, we recommend that target archers replace their bow string and cables at least once a year. 
• Bow hunters may be able to wait up to two years, but they should perform regular bow string inspections to check for signs of wear.

60X Strings Are Built by a World Champion

Did you know that 60X Custom Strings is founded and run by multi-world and national champion archer Brad Patsy? 

Archery statistics are informative, but nothing compares to first-hand, real-world experience. Learning target shooting and bow hunting statistics helps with your mental game, but if you want to take home a trophy or land a big buck, you need to start with top-of-the-line equipment. 

At 60X, our custom bow strings are individually built by hand from premium materials. They undergo our proprietary 5-stage pre-stretching process for optimal shooting right out of the package. Shop now!