Physical Resistance

Physical resistance (pDR) is different from DR: while DR reduces the chance of being struck, it doesn't reduce damage. [Physical] Damage Reduced by XX% items are the exact opposite: they reduce physical damage, but don't reduce the chance of being struck. Physical resist items reduce physical damage by its listed percentage: for example, a bowazon with 65% pDR has an effective 50% pDR (as of v1.10, physical resistance from items is capped at 50%), meaning that if an attack causes 100 physical damage, the pDR reduces that by 50%, resulting in 50 damage. This is important to melee fighters who constantly take damage, but for the bowazon, whose defense comes from avoidance, pDR isn't as much of a priority.

Where can I get Physical Resistance (for less than 100 strength)?

Equipment:

Harlequin's Crest shako: 10% pDR.

Rockfleece field plate armor: 10% pDR.

Rockstopper sallet: 10% pDR.

Shaftstop mesh armor: 30% pDR.

String of Ears demonhide sash: 10-15% pDR.

Vampire Gaze grim helm: 15-20% pDR.

Sockets:

Ber rune: 8% pDR when socketed in helms and armor.

Note that few pDR items offer elemental resistance.

While pDR is capped at 50%, it is effected by Amplify Damage and Decripify curses, so if the bowazon with 110% pDR is hit with Amplify Damage (which reduces pDR by 100%), then the bowazon's effective pDR would then be 10%.

You use this stuff when you know you're going to get hit. The beauty of the bow is that you're not going to get hit, so if you really, really need this stuff as anything but a contingency, then you've already failed. (PVP doesn't count.)