The compound bow's relief at full draw: the cams take 65 to 90 percent of the peak weight away — you only hold what is left.
Let-off is why compound archers can aim calmly instead of racing the clock. At 80 percent let-off a 70-pound bow leaves you holding roughly the weight of one bowling ball — which is why compound beginners may start heavier than recurve archers, who carry the full draw weight at anchor. The thinking trap that comes with it: 'compound is easier'. You still have to pull through the full peak weight on the way there — the relief only kicks in at the end of the draw stroke. And the light holding weight merely moves the problem: once nothing is pulling on you, the trigger becomes the issue — punching it consciously instead of building tension slowly is the main cause of target panic. One more thing that gets missed: cams, cables and string sit under high tension. That gets adjusted in a bow press at a pro shop, not at home.