What is the best left-handed bow? The Samick Sage is the best left-handed recurve for most archers, and the Bear Archery Royale is the best left-handed compound for beginners. The Genesis Original is the pick for kids and families.
A left-handed bow is held in the right hand and drawn with the left. Your dominant eye, not your writing hand, decides which one you need, so check the section on which bow hand you are before ordering.
Left-handed bows compared
| Bow | Type | Listed draw weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samick Sage | Takedown recurve | 25 to 60 lb | Most adult and teen archers |
| Bear Archery Royale | Compound | 5 to 50 lb | Beginners and growing archers |
| Genesis Original | Compound | 10 to 20 lb | Kids and shared family use |
| Bear Archery Alaskan XT, Left Hand | Compound | 55 to 70 lb | Adult hunters |
| Deerseeker 62-inch set | Takedown recurve | 20 to 60 lb | A recurve with accessories included |
| Bear Archery Spark | Youth bow | Up to 10 lb | Ages 5 to 10, either hand |
Best left-handed bows
1. Samick Sage: best left-handed recurve
Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow
A 62-inch takedown recurve with a maple riser and fiberglass-laminated limbs. Select Left Hand on the listing.
The Sage is one of the most reviewed recurve bows on Amazon. It is sold in draw weights from 25 to 60 lb, and the limbs are interchangeable, so you can start light and buy heavier limbs later without replacing the bow. The riser has threaded brass bushings for a sight, a stabilizer, a plunger, and a quiver.
2. Bear Archery Royale: best left-handed compound for beginners
Bear Archery Royale Compound Bow
A 2.7 lb compound with a draw length of 12 to 27 inches and a draw weight of 5 to 50 lb. Select Left Hand on the listing.
The Royale covers an unusually wide range, which lets a young archer keep the same bow for years. Bear says draw length and weight adjust with an Allen wrench and no bow press. It ships as a ready-to-hunt package with Trophy Ridge accessories, and Bear lists arrow speeds up to 290 feet per second.
3. Genesis Original: best for kids and families
Genesis Original Compound Bow
A 3.5 lb single-cam compound with a 10 to 20 lb draw weight. Select the left-hand option on the listing.
The Genesis has no fixed draw length. It fits any draw from 15 to 30 inches, so a child and an adult can shoot the same bow without adjusting it. The riser is aluminum and the bow arrives assembled. The low draw weight makes it a target and practice bow, not a hunting bow.
4. Bear Archery Alaskan XT, Left Hand: for adult hunters
Bear Archery Alaskan XT, Left Hand
A ready-to-hunt compound package sold as a dedicated left-hand listing, with a 55 to 70 lb draw weight.
This listing is left hand only, which removes the risk of ordering the wrong orientation. The 55 to 70 lb draw weight suits adult hunters. The listing gives few other details, so check Bear Archery's own page for draw length and speed before buying.
5. Deerseeker 62-inch takedown recurve set
Deerseeker 62-inch Takedown Recurve Bow Set
A 62-inch takedown recurve sold in draw weights from 20 to 60 lb, with a left-handed riser option. Select Left Hand on the listing.
The Deerseeker set comes with more accessories than the Sage: a stringer tool, a finger tab, an arm guard, an arrow rest, and an Allen key. The limbs are fiberglass and maple, and the riser has threaded bushings for upgrades. Deerseeker lists a one-year guarantee.
6. Bear Archery Spark: for ages 5 to 10
Bear Archery Spark Youth Bow Set
A youth bow set with an ambidextrous riser, two arrows, an armguard, and a quiver. Bear recommends it for ages 5 to 10.
The Spark has an ambidextrous riser, so it works for a left-handed or right-handed child. That is useful when a young child's eye dominance is not yet clear. Draw weight goes up to 10 lb and draw length up to 25 inches.
Do you need a left-handed bow?
Bow hand is named for the hand that draws the string:
- Left-handed bow. You hold the bow in your right hand and draw with your left. You aim with your left eye.
- Right-handed bow. You hold the bow in your left hand and draw with your right. You aim with your right eye.
The deciding factor is your dominant eye. Most left-handed people are also left-eye dominant, but not all. A left-handed person with a dominant right eye usually shoots better with a right-handed bow.
To check, extend both arms and make a small triangle between your thumbs and forefingers. Look at a distant object through the triangle with both eyes open, then close one eye at a time. The eye that keeps the object in the triangle is your dominant eye. Our guide to left-hand vs. right-hand bows covers this in more detail.
Compound or recurve?
- Compound bows use cams that reduce the holding weight at full draw. They are easier to hold on target and are the usual choice for hunting.
- Recurve bows are simpler and lighter. A takedown recurve comes apart for transport, and you can change the limbs to change the draw weight.
Hand orientation matters for both. A compound's riser, sight window, and rest are built for one hand. A recurve's riser is cut for one hand too, unless it is sold as ambidextrous.
What to check before buying
- Hand orientation. Most listings sell both hands on one page. Confirm that Left Hand is selected, and remember that a left-hand bow is held in the right hand.
- Draw weight. Beginners should start low. Many adults start a recurve at 25 to 35 lb. Hunting has legal minimum draw weights that vary by state, so check your local rules.
- Draw length. A compound must be set to your draw length. A pro shop can measure it in a minute.
- What is included. Some bows ship bare, and others include a sight, a rest, and a quiver. Arrows are often sold separately.
For more left-handed sports gear, see our guides to left-handed baitcasters, left-handed golf clubs, and left-handed baseball gloves. Read how we choose products for our selection rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is a left-handed bow?
A left-handed bow is held in the right hand and drawn with the left hand. The archer aims with the left eye. The name refers to the hand that pulls the string, not the hand that holds the bow.
Should a left-handed person use a left-handed bow?
Usually, but eye dominance decides. If your left eye is dominant, use a left-handed bow. A left-handed person with a dominant right eye usually shoots better with a right-handed bow.
What is the best left-handed compound bow for a beginner?
The Bear Archery Royale is a good first left-handed compound. Its draw weight adjusts from 5 to 50 lb and its draw length from 12 to 27 inches, so it can be set light and turned up as the archer gets stronger.
Can a left-handed person shoot a right-handed bow?
Yes, and some do by choice. A left-handed archer with a dominant right eye is often better off with a right-handed bow. An archer with a dominant left eye will find it hard to aim a right-handed bow.
Are there ambidextrous bows?
Yes, mostly for children. The Bear Archery Spark has an ambidextrous riser and can be shot with either hand. Most adult compound and recurve bows are built for one hand.
Are left-handed bows harder to find?
Somewhat. Most major brands make left-hand versions, but stores stock fewer of them. On Amazon, the left-hand version is usually an option on the same listing as the right-hand bow.
