Improved compound bows which are smaller, more compact, lighter, and more easily handled and serviced than compound bows of conventional construction but are nevertheless capable of propelling an arrow at an equal or higher velocity and with comparable or greater accuracy than a conventional bow. The improved bows are quieter than those of conventional construction and less apt to snag on
brush or other obstacles. They have a rigid riser with ends to which string cams are rotatably mounted and
cam-associated power units mounted to and towards the ends of the riser. Each
power unit has a component which is elastically deformed to store
potential energy as the bow is drawn and a
power cable connecting the power storing component to the associated string
cam. A bow string extends between and is connected at its opposite ends to the string cams. As the bow is drawn, the string cams are rotated in counter directions, pulling on the
power unit cables and thereby elastically deforming and storing
potential energy in the
power unit components. When the bow string is subsequently released, the elastically deformable power unit components restore to rest configurations, this converting the stored
potential energy to arrow propelling
kinetic energy. A timing cable arrangement insures that the cams are synchronized to rotate in
unison, avoiding the unwanted nock travel that might otherwise occur; and the power units have an adjustment feature which allows the force required to fully draw the bow to be changed.