Best Youth Compound Bow

I grew up hunting and fishing. I was always into archery. In my family, that was just the way it was – Paul Walker 

If like Paul Walker, archery is a tradition in your family and you’re looking to pass the torch on to your children, or your offspring have expressed an interest in learning the art of archery and you’ve started to think about heading into hills with your brood when hunting season starts, then you’ve probably already started daydreaming about teaching how to use a compound bow. 

But passing the skills they’ll need to hit the bullseye every single time they let an arrow loose onto the next generation of your family using your own compound bow, thanks to its weight and draw pressure, is a Sisyphean task of epic proportions.

And if you can’t teach them to use, and to safely shoot a compound bow with all of the skill and confidence that they’ll need in order to head into the wilderness with you, then your long-held dreams could easily disappear and fade into nothing.

But we’re not about to let that happen. That’s why we’ve spent hundreds of hours scouring the internet and talking to archers of all ages at target shooting competitions in order to find the best youth compound bows that you can arm your budding archers with in order to teach them to shoot straight and true.

It’s time for the next generation of your family to step up to the mark and for us to help you make all of your target shooting, hunting, and archery dreams come true… 

1. Genesis Bows Starter Kit

The official bow of the NASP (National Archery in Schools Program), the Genesis compound bow was specifically designed and engineered to eliminate let-off problems, so the would-be archer using it can immediately start to build confidence as they watch their arrows fly the first time they use it, and to make draw length requirements a thing of the past. 

It doesn’t matter how tall or short your young target shooter is, they’ll be able to pull back on the bow, and as it uses just twenty pounds of draw pressure (which can be reduced to ten with a couple of twists of the provided hexagonal key), it’s ideal for the first time shooter.

And thanks to Genesis putting paid to the draw length issues that plague a lot of compound bows, it’s a one size fits all bow that’ll last your young archer for as long as they want, or need it to and are comfortable using it as their weapon of choice.

As it only uses a single cam, it minimizes recoil and noise while it’s being fired, so two of the biggest factors that scare and intimidate new archers when they first pick up a bow have been phased out to make it more comfortable for them to use.

The single-cam it is fitted with also makes it more accurate and reduces the need for tuning, which in turn makes it an ideal bow for adolescents and teenagers to rapidly learn everything that they’ll need to so that they can increase their ability and find the bullseye each and every time. 

Pros:

• There are no drawback length requirements, so anyone can start using the Genesis, regardless of how big or small they are. 
• With a drawing pressure of just twenty pounds, which can easily be reduced to ten with the provided hex key, you don’t need to be a bodybuilder to use it. It’s been made for anyone, and everyone, to learn how to become better at and enjoy mastering, archery.
• The owner’s manual is comprehensive, easy to understand, and simple to get to grips with and has been written to help transform a novice bow-man, or woman, into a confident archer who knows the tool of their chosen trade inside out. 
• Made from cast aluminum, it’s light and durable, so it’ll take all the inevitable bumps and scrapes that your young archers will inflict on it and live to fight, and shoot another day. 
• It’s supplied with everything that you impatient archer will need to start using it straight out of the box –  a belt tube quiver, the aforementioned hex key and owner’s manual, and six aluminum arrows. 

Cons:

• The arrows that it comes with aren’t the best quality, so it might be wise to invest in an additional set before it arrives. And if you really want your young archer to take to the sport like a professional, you might also want to consider investing in a bow-mounted arrow guard, as Genesis doesn’t seem to believe in them and doesn’t supply one with the bow. 

Last update on 2024-05-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. PSE Archery Guide Youth Compound Bow Set

Designed with the young archer in mind, the PSE Guide was built to be used by archers aged ten and over. PSE are fanatical about safety and they’ve engineered their youth compound bow to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations governing its usage.

It’s a bow that’s been made to accommodate your young archers’ level of ability and allow them to slowly gain the confidence that they need to stand toe to toe with you whether you’re shooting at targets in your yard or in the wilderness.

With a draw length of between sixteen and a half and twenty-six inches and a drawback pressure of between eight and twenty-six pounds, that’s fully adjustable with a hex key, its ergonomic design makes it ideal for smaller hands, and with pre-installed finger guards, you won’t have to worry about the string biting into the fingers of your young archer.

They’ll be able to start releasing arrows at any target that you set up almost as soon as the PSE Guide is put in their hands.

When PSE says that this is the complete package for any young archer, they really mean it as it includes the bow, a quiver, three-finger rollers, a pin sight (to help them improve their accuracy and zero in on the target), an arrow rest, an arm guard and two fiberglass arrows.

It includes everything that young archers need to start them on the path to target shooting and bowhunting greatness. 

Pros:

• Specifically designed for smaller archers, the design of the bow makes it ideal for adolescents. Aimed at would-be shooters aged ten and over, the PSE compound bow has been made to make it simple for the younger archer to quickly get to grips with it. 
• The draw length, adjustable draw pressure, and built-in finger guards make it an ideal first compound bow that’ll take the sting and pressure out of learning to hit the target every time it’s fired. 
• The PSE set comes with absolutely everything that any new archer will need to start sending arrows flying toward the target. 

Cons:

• Unfortunately, the PSE is only available as a right-handed bow, so if your younger archer is left-handed you’ll need to look elsewhere for their first compound bow. 

Last update on 2024-05-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Pandarus Compound Bow Archery for Youth and Beginner

An all-rounder that’s been designed for beginning archers of all ages and ability levels, the Pandarus compound bow has been made to be used straight out of the box, providing (as they’re incredibly keen to stress) that you read the instruction manual first.

But as the manual is the first port of call for any archer, you don’t need Pandarus to tell you to do that do you?

Weighing in at two and a half pounds, the Pandarus has a fully adjustable draw weight of fifteen to twenty-nine pounds and a draw length of between nineteen and twenty-eight inches which you can tweak and change as your archer gets bigger.

It’s also an incredibly quick bow for an entry-level model and can lose arrows at anything up two hundred and sixty feet per second. It’s fast, accurate, and easy to use. What more could any beginning archer need? 

Actually, there are a few other things that every new archer should really have on side, but Pandarus was two steps ahead and ensured that their compound bow includes everything that any young bow-woman or man could ever want, or need.

Open the box, set the bow up and your archer will be ready to start targeting bullseyes in less time than it takes to hum the first four bars of the William Tell Overture, 

Pros:

• Light and tough, the Pandarus weighs in at just two and a half pounds and has a fully, and easily, adjustable draw length and pressure.
• It’s a quick bow (it’ll send arrows screaming toward whatever it’s shooting at two hundred and sixty feet per second), so make sure the archer using it has read the instruction manual before they start using it. 
• An all-in-one compound bow that’s designed to be used immediately, the Pandaruis comes with an arrow rest, a sight, an arm guard, twelve arrows, and a couple of targets.

Cons:

• Durability and longevity can be an issue and some archers have reported that the bow has a tendency to fail when it’s placed under too much pressure, which is definitely something to think about before deciding to put your archer’s future in Pandarus’ hands. 

Last update on 2024-05-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. CenterPoint Archery Elkhorn Youth Compound Bow

Centrepoint has made a bow for the young man and woman who just want to hit the trail with their parents and go hunting or pick off targets before their folks can get a chance to let their arrows fly.

It’s a beginner’s bow for the immediate archer who has always enjoyed honing and polishing the skills they’ll need to take the next step on their archery journey.

With a maximum draw length of twenty-six inches and a draw weight of between seventeen and twenty-one pounds, the Elkhorn can easily be set up to accommodate the archer who is hungry to learn and improve their skill set as quickly as they possibly can.

Weighing in at just under two pounds the Elkhorn is light, strong and durable, and able to keep pace with whatever adventure the younger archer embarks on.

Pros:

• Light, strong, and fully adjustable, the Elkhorn has been built to help young intermediate archers fulfill their potential and keep perfecting their skills. 
• It’ll arrive fully prepared with two composite arrows, an arm guard, a sight, an arrow rest, and a two-piece quiver so that the archer who ventures out with it will always be prepared for whatever they have to face. 

Cons:

• Another compound bow that a minority of archers claim is beset by durability issues, the Elkhorn seems to have found favor with the majority of archers who use it but fallen foul of a rather upset minority. Reading between the lines, it seems to have been a manufacturing error that caused the initial upset that has since been corrected by CentrePoint. 

Last update on 2024-05-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Barnett Vortex Lite Youth Compound Bow

The Vortexlite is a versatile and well-equipped youth compound bow that has been designed and made to keep up with the advancing skill sets of rapidly developing archers.

Barnett knows that kids grow up fast, which is why the bows are built to keep pace with them at every stage of their journey through life. 

With an adjustable draw length of between twenty and twenty-five inches and a draw weight of eighteen to twenty-nine pounds, the Vortex Lite comes with an already fitted three-pin site, so as soon as it arrives and is set up your young archer will have all the tools that they’ll need to be ready to venture forth on his or her first hunting trip with you. 

Made to durable, strong, and to handle all of the shots that they’ll need it to with accuracy and a precision that’s rare in full-size compound bows, the Vortexlite adheres to the credo that says “The family that hunts together, stay together” and makes sure that your kids have everything that they need to make that philosophy comes true. 

Pros:

• Fully adjustable, Barnett has designed the Vortexlite to be the only compound bow that your teenager will ever need. It’ll keep pace with their advancing skill set and make sure that they’ll always be able to keep pace with you, no matter where you travel to in order to shoot or hunt.
• Light, durable, and strong, the Vortexlite comes fitted with a low-level light three-pin sight that’ll help your archer to improve their accuracy and always stay on target.  

Cons:

• It’s only available as a right-handed bow, so left-handed archers will have to find another medium to perfect their target shooting and hunting skiils.

Last update on 2024-05-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Buyer’s Guide

Which Youth Compound Bow Is The Best One For My Young Archer? 

While all of the compound bows on our list are ideal for the younger archers looking to start their journey in bowmanship or further develop their skills, like all things in life, some of the bows on our list are more equal than others. 

If we were forced to single one of the compound bows on our list out, we’d always choose the Genesis bow that’s part of their starter set.

Perfect for beginners and the young archer looking further to develop their skills, it’s a compound bow with a cast-iron reputation that long-time hunters and target shooters both swear by. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Compound Bow? 

A Compound bow uses a system of cables and pulleys to bend its limbs, which makes them stiffer, which gives an archer a mechanical advantage that reduces the amount of physical strength that it takes to effectively use it. 

Due to the increased level of technology used in the manufacture of compound bows they are also far more accurate as they are less susceptible to changes in heat, humidity, and atmospheric pressure than traditional bows are. 

As they weigh less than traditional bows and take less physical strength to wield, compound bows have opened the world of hunting and target shooting to a much more diverse audience and are ideally suited to both pursuits.

What Is A Youth Compound Bow? 

A youth compound bow is a compound bow that has been specifically designed to be used by adolescents and teenagers to help them hone and develop their skills as archers and become more adept at their chosen pursuits.

Smaller and lighter than full-size compound bows, they are far more accurate than normal bows and are seen as being a transitional bow that is often used to prepare younger archers to eventually move on to a full-size compound bow.