The type of bow that has limbs that curve away from the belly of the bow is called a recurve bow. The distinctive feature of a recurve bow is that its limb tips curve away from the archer (away from the belly) when the bow is unstrung, allowing it to store more energy and deliver greater power and speed to the arrow compared to a straight-limbed bow. This design also permits a shorter bow to achieve the same or greater draw lengths and power, making it more efficient and suitable for various uses, including horseback archery and modern sports like Olympic archery.