Recurve archers have stronger shoulders than compound archers
1 study · 37 archers measured
The summary today
The comparison exists in a single 2025 study of 37 pre-elite Taiwanese archers, high school and university athletes with at least three years of training: 19 recurve and 18 compound, with shoulder strength measured on a hand-held dynamometer. The recurve archers are stronger in the horizontal abductors on both sides, 19.0 against 15.4 kgf on the drawing side and 19.1 against 15.4 on the bow side, in the horizontal adductors on the drawing side (15.5 against 12.6) and in the lower trapezius on the bow side (6.5 against 5.1). The other four comparisons out of eight show no difference, and among them is the upper trapezius, practically the same in the two disciplines. So it cannot be said that recurve gives stronger shoulders across the board: the difference lies in the muscles that keep the draw open, and one possible explanation is that with a release aid and let-off the compound archer holds a much lower load while aiming. Two things hold the reading back. The recurve group had more men, 12 of 19 against 7 of 18, and was heavier, 73.5 against 65.8 kg, and strength is not expressed relative to body weight; it is also a comparison made at a single point in time, which cannot say whether the equipment creates the difference or whether those who choose recurve bring it with them.
Also phrased as: "recurve builds more shoulder than compound"; "strength differences between recurve and compound"; "compound needs less strength"; "shoulder strength in recurve archery"
In practice
It is said that recurve builds the shoulders and back more than compound, because the load has to be held throughout the aim, whereas with a compound the let-off and the release aid leave the muscles less to do.
Evidence
-
2025
For Archers Published later
19 recurve and 18 compound archers, Taiwanese and pre-elite, tested on a hand-held dynamometer: the recurve archers are stronger in the horizontal abductors on the drawing side (19.0 against 15.4 kgf, p = 0.005) and on the bow side (19.1 against 15.4, p = 0.005), in the horizontal adductors on the drawing side (15.5 against 12.6, p = 0.010) and in the lower trapezius on the bow side (6.5 against 5.1, p = 0.018). The recurve group was heavier (73.5 against 65.8 kg) and had 12 men out of 19 against 7 out of 18.
Associations of Scoring Accuracy with Postural Stability and Strength Measures in Archers on a Standard Archery Site · Chun-Hao Fan, Chien-Nan Liao, Wei-Hsiu Hsu
-
2025
Context Archers Published later
In the same study four comparisons out of eight show no difference: upper trapezius on the drawing side 34.7 against 32.6 kgf (p = 0.312) and on the bow side 35.0 against 33.9 (p = 0.645), horizontal adductors on the bow side 15.1 against 13.8 (p = 0.221), lower trapezius on the drawing side 6.4 against 5.5 (p = 0.107).
Associations of Scoring Accuracy with Postural Stability and Strength Measures in Archers on a Standard Archery Site · Chun-Hao Fan, Chien-Nan Liao, Wei-Hsiu Hsu
Status history
- 2025 Reported The first and only comparison comes from 37 pre-elite Taiwanese archers, 19 recurve and 18 compound, tested on a hand-held dynamometer: the recurve archers are stronger in the horizontal abductors on both sides, in the horizontal adductors on the drawing side and in the lower trapezius on the bow side, while the other four comparisons, including the upper trapezius on both sides, show no difference. The recurve group had more men and was heavier, and there is a single cross-sectional study: there is evidence in favour, and it is limited.
Related
Related articles
- Exercises, tape and massage for the archer's shoulder: what has been testedLower trapezius work, scapular stabilisation, bands, kinesiology tape and massage: what they change in archers' shoulders and in the score.
- Barebow / instinctive vs Olympic recurve vs compound: differences in the shot, the equipment and the scoreRecurve, compound and shooting without a sight compared: draw weight, arrow speed and flex, let-off, balance, scoring and injuries in the registry's data.
- Muscle asymmetry in archers: where it shows, where it does not, and whether to train the other sideShooting loads the two sides differently. What studies have measured in archers' arms, fingers and trunk, and whether the other side needs training too.
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). Recurve archers have stronger shoulders than compound archers (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/physical-training/recurve-compound-shoulder-strength
@misc{campagna2026_ricurvocompoundspalle,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {Recurve archers have stronger shoulders than compound archers},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/physical-training/recurve-compound-shoulder-strength},
note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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