I am new here and just started getting in to bow making. My question is I have two ok but not great boards oak and maple and would like to make a backed bow. Is there one that would work better for the belly. If I correctly understand that some backings can over compress the belly.

Oak would work for either but the maple would be better for the backing. Provided the grain is good. Dont try to use Maple as a belly, it will crysle real bad.

Maple (such as rock and hard) handle tension well, but do not compress well.

Oak will handle both tension and compression ok.

Thanks that is what I figured the answer would be I was just kind of hoping for an oak backing simply for the look.

You can do an oak oak. Rip your backing off of your oak belly, then glue it back on backwards. That way your crossing any violations. I build lots of kids bows that way.