Dual Cam V.S. Single Cam Bows

When shopping for a compound bow, hunters are confronted with many considerations and the question of whether to buy a single cam or dual cam bow is one that many archers wrestle with. And then there are the hybrid variations that are becoming popular. Let me try to clear up a few details that might help with your decision.

When you look at a compound bow you will see what looks like a wheel located at the end of each limb. One, or both, of these wheels will actually be a cam. Bows with two cams are a dual cam construction. A single cam bow will have a cam on one side and an idler wheel on the other side.

Dual cam is the original configuration used for compound bow construction, and is still favored by many serious archers. They tend to be a bit noisier, but this might be overcome because they are also faster. However the need to synchronize both cams means that they are trickier to tune.

Single cam bows are easier to tune because there is no need to synchronize cams. As a result they are much easier for beginners and seasoned veterans alike to shoot and maintain; hence the popularity of single cam construction.

There are other cam configurations available like the new binary system and the hybrid cam system. Both are relative newcomers to the compound bow marketplace but seem to be gaining a certain degree of popularity.

Although cams are an important consideration don’t get too hung up on the cam debate. Finding a dealer that will ensure your new bow fits properly and has the proper brace height and let-off is much more important to your overall shooting enjoyment and accuracy than cam configurations are.

Take the time to do some research, make the choice that’s right for you, and happy hunting.