A compound bow is equipped with pulleys that allow the shooter to remain in full draw and only hold back a small percentage of the draw weight. A Reflex compound bow shares most of the same structure as an average compound bow. The predominant difference between a Reflex and any other compound bow is the torque guard located over the grip, which touches the riser on the lower and upper part of the bow. The purpose of this feature is to prevent bow torque upon the release of the arrow by stopping the wrist from swiveling toward the jump of the string. This trains the shooter to keep a consistent point of grip, often resulting in tighter shot patterns.
Another common feature seen on most Reflex compound bows are split limbs that aid in the reduction of vibration felt upon arrow release. These limbs are often pre-stressed, giving the bow a shortened axle-to-axle length for easier transport and added energy to the arrow. These limbs prove easy to accessorize and can be quickly quieted by the addition of silencers, reducing the shooting loudness by decibels.
The Reflex compound bow falls under the category of compound because of the two wheels, known as cams, located at the end of the limbs. Cams allow the shooter to stay in full draw while only holding 20-30 percent of the full draw weight. They also serve as an immediate fix to the common altering of draw length, which can quickly be reduced or increased by replacing the proper module that lengthens or shortens the cables and string.
There are numerous manufacturers and various brands of compound bows and Reflex is actually a subseries of Hoyt Bows. Though the Reflex compound bow is nearly the same as other compound bows, differences can be seen. The torque guard and limb design prove to be the more noticeable differences between a Reflex compound bow and other bows. Like any types of bow, the Reflex has differences that may be difficult to see with the naked eye. Such differences include the geometry of the riser, limbs, and limb sockets, all of which make the Reflex compound bow the smooth shooting piece of archery equipment that many archers prefer.