[ELI5] why is dry firing a bow so bad for it? Does the arrow really make that much of a difference in that regard?

Question

[ELI5] why is dry firing a bow so bad for it? Does the arrow really make that much of a difference in that regard?

In: 2366

Answer 1

Firing a bow means setting it alight, just as firing gunpowder does, and firing pottery means putting it in the fire.

Releasing a drawn bow with no arrow to loose means all of the force is put upon the bow itself and can damage and break it.