Simple. Everything you add to your bow reduces recoil (and vibration and noise) to some degree because it makes your bow heavier. Just like a heavier gun, a heavier bow kicks less. If you have a bow with lots of recoil or hand shock, put on a heavier sight or stabilizer or even shoot a heavier arrow. It all helps, but there's a limit. Very few hunters want to tote around a 12-pound bow. The key is to strike the right balance, so that your bow is quiet with little recoil, but also handy enough for the type of hunting you do.