We are all born with a dominant eye, hand, and side of our body. When we reach out to grab something we do so with our dominant hand. The majority of all people have a right-hand that is dominant. About ten percent of the population have a dominant left-hand.
For people who shoot with their left-hand instead of their right bows and arrows are extremely difficult to use. Using their left-hand causes, them to often have to reach over important sections of the bow in order to release the arrow.
Left-handed people can shoot a bow designed for right-handed people, but they have better results if they have a perfect bow specifically designed to be shot with the left-hand. We asked some left-handed bow experts to share their favorite bows and help us determine the best left-handed compound bows on the market.
Best Left-Handed Compound Bows
1. Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package
- Draw Length: 13 to 31 inches
- Draw Weight: 5 to 70 lbs
Diamond Archery Compound Bow has an amazing amount of adjustability. This makes it a great weapon for anyone from youth size to full grown man of 6’ or more. It can grow with the archer so it is a life-time investment instead of a yearly purchase.
The adjustments on the bow are easy to make and do not require you to own a bow press. It is powerful with a foot per second speed of about 310. It is smooth shooting and the 6” Octane stabilizer does not interfere with the shooting of the bow. It is very easy to set up and can be used by beginners or experienced archers.
2. Genesis Original Bow Left Handed
- Draw Length: there is no specific draw length this weapon is appropriate for the majority of all archers
- Draw Weight: 10 to 20 lbs
Genesis Original Bow is better for target shooting than for animal hunting. It does not have a let-off so the archer using it will develop a greater amount of skill to use when they pull back and are holding for a shot.
It makes an excellent bow for youth and beginners because it has a light draw weight and the draw length is not specific so everyone can use it.
It is easy to use and relatively quiet. It helps develop skill and efficiency in the shooter.
3. Gen-X Bow (RH/LH)
- Draw Weight: 25 to 40 lbs
- Draw Length: 21 to 30”
Gen-X Bow is so easy to shoot that many first-time archery students are capable of beginning to shoot in a consistent grouping with good accuracy within an hour of picking the weapon up. This bow is great for target and competition shooting but it is also powerful enough to be used as a hunting weapon.
Gen-X Bow is quiet and has a great amount of stability so shooters can aim with greater confidence. It is highly durable and is adjustable. The shortest draw length is 21” so it may not be suitable for very small shooters.
4. Predator Archery Raptor Compound Bow (Kit)
- Draw Length: 24.5 to 31”
- Draw Weight: 30 to 70 lbs
Predator Archery Raptor bow arrives ready to use. You do not have to assemble it. It is adjustable so you will want to try to shoot it and then adjust the draw length and draw weight to accommodate the shooter.
This bow makes a great target bow or competition bow. It also makes a powerful hunting weapon that can easily bring down something as large as a white tail deer.
Predator Archery Raptor can be a great first-bow for a beginner and it can be a great additional bow for the avid hunter.
5. Bear Archery Cruzer g2 Left Hand
- Draw Length: 12 to 30”
- Draw Weight: 5 to 70 lbs
Bear archery cruzer g2 is an easy to handle and stable to shoot bow. It has an advance grip design that will allow you to firmly hold the weapon in the proper shooting position with very little effort.
This is an adjustable unit that can be used by some of the smallest hunters or by some of the tallest hunters. It is easy to adjust the weight and length settings and you are not going to need a bow press or a repair shop to do so.
Bear archery cruzer g2 bow provides precision and accuracy that will allow you to have greater skill and make more one shot kills.
6. PSE RTS, Miniburner
- Draw Length: 16 to 26-1/2”
- Draw Weight: 29 to 40 lbs
PSE RTS bow is absolutely perfect for younger archery students and for small women. It is better for a competition and target practice bow because it has a slower feet per second and draw weight. It can be used as a hunting weapon but limits the hunter to more small game like rabbit and turkey.
PSE RTS is easy to use, easy to master, and it grows with the shooter so you do not have to buy a new bow each time your youth shooter grows a couple of inches.
This bow is relatively silent. You will not alarm or distract the game when you are hunting.
7. Diamond Archery 2016 Edge SB-1
- Draw Length: 15 to 30”
- Draw Weight: 10 to 70 lbs
The Edge SB-1 is an adjustable bow that you can buy for a youth hunter and they will still be using it when they become a full-sized adult. The adjustments are very easy to make so you can even allow several shooters in one home to share the weapon and customize it for their personal size and ability.
This is a weapon. Edge SB-1 is powerful enough to hunt large game with. The arrows are fast, and the release is silent. It has an 80% let-off designed into it so very little pressure is required to hold the bow at a full draw while you wait on the perfect time to release the arrow.
8. Bear Archery Cruzer Lite
- Draw Length: 12 to 27”
- Draw Weight: 5 to 45 lbs
This bow is lighter and shoots with less velocity than some other bows. That makes this a great target shooting weapon. You can hunt with it but you are going to be limited to small game when you do. It is however, the perfect learning bow and it does have a great adjustment in draw length and draw weight.
The younger bow shooters will easily be able to make the pull back to full draw length and hold the string in position due to the low draw weight. As they learn and get stronger the bow can be adjusted to still be challenging for them to use.
9. Topoint Archery (M1) Compound Bow
- Draw Length: 19 to 30”
- Draw Weight: 19 to 70 lbs
If you like to hunt deer and big game then topoint archery compound bow is an excellent choice. If you are shorter than average, average height, or taller than average this bow is an excellent choice for you. It has a draw length adjustment that takes the length from 19” to 30” and the weight adjustment carries it from 19 pounds to 70 lbs.
This is a lightweight item that is easy to carry, and silent when it is shot. It is forgiving and will allow the shooter to develop greater skills without becoming discouraged by the difficulty of learning the skill.
How to Choose a Left-Handed Compound Bow?
If you are considering a compound bow then you have to put some thought into the weapon you purchase. There are a lot of factors that can make a bow a good choice or poor choice for a person.
I recommend that you familiarize yourself with some of the features and benefits these bows offer. Then make a list of the features and benefits you want your bow to have. Finally, compare your list of desired features and benefits with the list of benefits on the bows you are considering so you can weigh the pros and cons of the weapon choice.
Take your time and choose carefully so that you get a bow that is capable of what you want it to do. In the long run this slowed down process of comparison shopping will allow you to buy the right bow the first time.
Versatility
Versatility in a compound bow is especially important if you are buying the weapon for a youth or to be shared by several shooters in a family. Versatility in the bow will be determined by the adjustments you can make to increase or decrease the draw length and draw weights of the weapon.
Younger shooters are generally speaking smaller than adult average. The smaller size makes them shoot better with a bow that has a shorter draw length. We all know that kids can grow rapidly so having an adjustable bow will allow the bow to grow as well.
Weight
The actual, physical weight of the bow matters. A heavier bow will have a greater amount of stability when shot. A lighter bow will normally shoot arrows at a faster foot per second speed.
A heavier bow can be more difficult for someone with less upper body strength to carry and hold in position until the time to release the arrow is right. A lighter bow is more challenging and not as forgiving when it is shot so it requires greater skill in the archer.
Length
The actual length of the bow can increase or decrease the difficulty you will have shooting the weapon or getting into a shooting position with the weapon.
If the bow is very long then hunting from a deer blind or a tree stand may be more difficult.
Shorter bows do seem to have less stability but they allow you to easily hunt in tree stands or under the cover of bushes.
Ease of Adjustment
There are different methods employed by manufacturers to change the draw length and draw weight settings on a bow. You want to get a weapon that can be adjusted without a bow press.
Get a bow that requires noting more than an Allen wrench when making adjustments and customizing.
Noise
A competition or target practice bow does not need to be totally silent. A bow that will be used by a hunter needs to be as silent as possible so it does not alert or alarm the animals during the hunt.
Draw Weight
If you want to hunt with a bow then you need a bow that has greater amounts of draw weight. The greater draw weights make the arrows travel faster and penetrate into the animal or target deeper so they allow for a one-shot kill.
Let-Off
The let-off can be very important, especially for people who have less upper body strength. The let-off is figured in a percentage of the amount of force and strength it will take for the shooter to make the full draw back and hold the arrow in position until they have the best possible shot.
Let-offs can be as high as 80% but the typical one will be 70% or less.
Right Hand vs. Left Hand Compound Bow
The differences between a bow for the left-handed population and the bow for the right-handed population may not be as great as you think they are.
Left-Handed Bows
- The bow riser is positioned on the right-hand side of the weapon
- The left-handed bow is designed to be held in the left hand so the right hand has control of drawing the string and releasing the arrow
- The arrow rest is on the right side
- The sights are on the right side
- Bows and accessories will be harder to find, and may be more expensive, because more hunters shoot with their right-hand than with the left
Right-handed bows
- The bow riser is positioned on the left-hand side of the weapon
- The right-handed bow is designed to be held in the left hand so the right hand has control of drawing the string and releasing the arrow
- The arrow rest is on the left side
- The sights are on the left side
- Are more readily available because more hunters shoot with their right-hand than with their left
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Shoot a Left-Handed Bow Right-Handed?
Yes. you can shoot a left-handed bow if your right-hand is dominant. You may find that the arrow rest is on the wrong side for you and may have to make adjustments in how you hold and aim the weapon to be able to switch hands like this.
How Do You Know if You Need a Right or Left-Handed Bow?
The porta-test is the common method used to determine which eye or side you are dominant in. Look for an object that is about twenty feet from you. Hold up one hand so the thumb is up and positioned on the center of the object. Close your left-eye and see if the thumb is still located in the center. If it is, you are left-eye dominant, and if it is not you are right-eye dominant. You can repeat using your right eye closed.
Can a Lefty Shoot a Right-Handed Bow?
A lefty can shoot a bow designed for right-hand operations. You will have to teach yourself to hold the bow differently in order to be able to shoot it effectively. This makes learning more challenging and can cause some shooters to become discouraged, while others welcome the challenge.
Final Word
There are fewer people who are left-eye dominant but when you start to shoot a bow and arrow the dominant side you have becomes a big deal. Buying the right equipment according to the dominance of your eye will allow you to shoot more accurately and easily.
There are some people who can actually use either hand or eye. This is actually a rare condition, so it is best to check for your dominant side before you order a bow. This will allow you to get the best weapon for your needs.