Compound Bow: 
This bow uses cams and cables and pulleys to make the holding weight less than half of the draw weight. These bows are favored by bowhunters because of their greater accuracy, flatter arrow trajectory and their ease of use. 

Beginners are often referred to the recurve bow to start with, because it has a variable draw length, better string angle for drawing with the fingers and because it is a better tool for learning proper form and technique. Mastery of the recurve bow results in better muscle tone and overall archery habits; once that is accomplished the compound bow represents a leap forward in ease of use and force. Also, a compound bow is built for a particular draw length, which may not be easily changed. Growing bodies will grow out of compound bows swiftly in the teen years.

The Compound bow, unlike the recurve bow, is never knocked-down between uses. The great tension preset into the limbs can only safely be countered when the bow is couched in piece of equipment called a bow press. The cams are synchronized when this is done, and are held in place by the tension.

Compound bow cases must be able to accommodate the entire bow.  Because the Compound bow's forte is accuracy, equipment which increases the accuracy is deemed fair for competitive compound use while it is not for Olympic archery.

The compound bow site may include electronics and/or lenses to increase accuracy, and a release, rather than fingers, may be used.

A release is a mechanical "finger" that grips the string and releases it when the trigger is pressed by the draw hand.