To my fellow fantasy writer peeps: Modern bows are designed to compensate for a lack of physical strength. These mechanisms didn't exist hundreds/thousands of years ago, and back then physical strength mattered. The idea of a lithe/skinny elf with a bow just doesn't work - they need muscle.

And if you don't want to give them muscle - which is fine - then you need to explain how (magic or smth) they can use a weapon with a high strength requirement like a bow. Or, alternatively, you can make your elves *arbalests* instead of archers. Give them CROSSBOWS. Almost no strength required!