When you pull back a lever bow, something interesting happens near the end of the draw: the weight in your hand drops sharply.
You pulled 50 pounds to get there, and now you’re only holding 12. That’s let-off. This guide explains what it is, how it works, and how to pick the right setting for the way you shoot.
What let-off actually means
Imagine lifting a 50-pound weight. You heave it up. That takes real effort.
But once it’s at shoulder height, a mechanical arm locks in and takes most of the load.
You’re still holding it, but now it feels like 12 pounds instead of 50. You can aim, adjust, and wait without your arm giving out.
That’s exactly what let-off does for a bow. The cam (the oval-shaped wheel at each end of the riser) is designed to shift its mechanical advantage at the end of the draw. You pull through the peak weight, and just as you reach full draw, the geometry rotates so your hand only feels a fraction of that load. The limbs are still fully loaded and ready to fire. You just don’t have to hold all of that tension yourself.
The percentage tells you how much weight disappears. A 50-pound bow with 50% let-off leaves you holding 25 pounds at full draw. The same bow with 75% let-off leaves you holding just 12.5 pounds. Zero let-off, also called constant draw, means you hold every pound, all the way through.
One thing that surprises most people: let-off does not reduce arrow speed. The energy stored in the limbs is the same regardless of which module you use. What changes is how long you can comfortably hold that energy loaded, and how steady you can be while doing it.
The mechanics behind let-off
As you draw the bow, the cam rotates. For most of the draw, that rotation builds tension against the limbs. That’s the weight climbing in your hand. But the cam isn’t a simple circle. It’s shaped so that past a certain point, its geometry over-rotates and works against the string tension instead of with it. The effective leverage at your hand drops. That drop is the let-off valley.
The module you choose sets how deep that valley goes. A 25% module creates a shallow valley, a mild dip that leaves significant weight in your hand. A 75% module creates a deep, narrow valley. The cam drops far and fast, and holding weight almost disappears. Constant draw removes the valley entirely: the cam geometry produces a steady force curve right to the wall with no reduction in holding weight.
There’s a small mechanical trade-off worth knowing: when you fire the shot, the cam has to travel back up and out of the valley before it delivers full force to the arrow. A deeper valley means a slightly longer exit. In practice, the speed difference between let-off settings at typical bowfishing or hunting distances is too small to matter for most shooters, but it does explain why constant draw has the fastest cam cycle, and why some high-volume bowfishers prefer it.
The four Dead Wake let-off options
Constant draw (0% let-off)
No valley, no relief. You draw through peak weight and hold peak weight all the way to the shot. The cam delivers force immediately when you release, with no valley to climb out of first.
This is the fastest cycling setup. For bowfishing where you’re shooting quickly at multiple fish, that speed advantage is real. At lower draw weights (25 to 35 pounds), constant draw is comfortable for extended sessions. At 45 to 50 pounds, holding full draw weight for any length of time becomes demanding. Best suited to experienced bowfishers who shoot a lot and shoot fast.
25% let-off
A mild reduction that takes the edge off without changing the feel of the shot much. On a 40-pound bow, you hold around 30 pounds at full draw. The cam sits close to the edge of the valley, so cycling speed stays close to constant draw.
Good for active bowfishers who want a bit of holding relief but still want to shoot quickly. Also a natural first step for recurve or traditional archers moving to a compound or lever bow. Close enough to what they know to feel familiar, with just enough mechanical assist to notice the difference.
50% let-off
The most popular module across all Dead Wake platforms. At 40 pounds, you hold 20 pounds at full draw, a weight most shooters can hold steadily for a reasonable time without fatigue. The draw cycle feels natural, the valley is clearly defined, and the back wall gives a solid stop.
If you’re buying your first bow and not sure where to start, start here. It works well for bowfishing, casual target shooting, and hunting without being specifically tuned for any one of them. You can always swap modules later.
75% let-off
The deepest valley on the Dead Wake platform. At 40 pounds, you hold 10 pounds at full draw. Barely anything. You can draw, settle, aim, and wait almost indefinitely without fatigue interfering. The back wall is firm and clearly defined.
The right choice for hunting, for longer shots where you need to hold while a target settles, for shooters managing physical limitations, or for anyone who simply wants the most forgiving possible setup. If your priority is taking your time on the shot rather than shooting the next arrow fast, 75% is the answer.
Let-off and draw weight work together
These two settings combine to determine what you actually feel at full draw. A 50-pound bow with 75% let-off leaves you holding 12.5 pounds. A 35-pound bow with 25% let-off leaves you holding 26 pounds. The heavier bow with more let-off is genuinely easier to hold steady.
This matters when choosing between draw weight options. If you’re deciding between 40 and 45 pounds and plan to run 75% let-off, the difference in holding weight between those two configurations is 1.25 pounds. You won’t feel it. If you plan to run constant draw, those same 5 extra pounds of peak weight mean 5 extra pounds in your hand, every shot, all session. That you will feel.
Practical tip: if you’re unsure about draw weight, err toward the higher weight and more let-off rather than the lower weight and less let-off. You get more energy in the limbs and more arrow speed, while keeping holding weight comfortable through the module rather than by reducing peak draw.
Which module should you choose?
One question cuts through most of the decision: do you need to shoot fast, or do you need to hold steady?
Fast shooting: multiple fish, tight windows, quick follow-ups. Go with constant draw or 25%. The speed advantage of a shallower valley is real in those conditions, and the higher holding weight is manageable if your draw weight is appropriate.
Deliberate shooting: hunting, longer shots, holding on a target, any situation where you might need to wait before the shot. Go with 50% or 75%. The ability to draw, settle, and hold without fatigue is worth far more than a marginally faster cam cycle.
New to archery or still building form: start at 50% or 75%. Learning technique is harder when your arm is fighting the bow. Manageable holding weight at full draw lets you focus on form instead of endurance.
The modules swap easily. Your first choice isn’t permanent. Shoot it, form your own opinion, adjust from there.
| Module | Holding weight (40# bow) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Constant draw (0%) | 40# | High-volume bowfishing, fast cycling, lower draw weights |
| 25% let-off | 30# | Active bowfishing with some hold time relief |
| 50% let-off | 20# | General use, bowfishing and hunting, beginners |
| 75% let-off | 10# | Hunting, precision shooting, shooters prioritising aim over speed |