Selecting the proper compound bow
Choosing the right bow is a difficult challenge considering the number
of companies and varieties of bows on the market. Not every bow suits
every shooter. Below are some tips on successfully choosing a bow that
is right for you.
1. Know your price range.
If you have a set dollar amount that you can spend on a bow and accessories,
then you can eliminate wasted time by concentrating and shooting only
the bows that you can afford. Browse catalogs, talk with friends, and
research online the bows you will be choosing from.
2. Know your skill level
and what that suggests.
Regardless of years in the sport, your form and archery ability can dictate
how much of a forgiving bow you should choose. Speed is a major selling
point of current bows but with speed you sometimes sacrifice forgiveness.
This is normally reflected in the brace height of a bow. When a brace
height is shorter than 7-8 inches, poor form can make consistant shooting
seem impossible.
When a bow's brace height is made shorter, the power stroke of the shot
becomes longer. (power stroke=length in inches the archer has to pull
the string back to achieve full draw) The longer the power stroke, the
faster the bow. During the execution of the shot, the arrow is on the
string longer and imperfections in form will send the arrow off target
easier.
**SUGGESTION- If you are new to archery or have questionable form, choose
a bow with a brace height of 7 inches or more.
3. IBO Speed of the bow
Choosing to try out bows that have the higher IBO speeds in the price
range you are searching is a good idea. With a faster bow you will notice
the pins on your sight are closer to one another. Speed can benefit you
when your ranging or guessing of yardage is off by a couple of yards.
When you misjudge yardage, a faster bow may keep the arrow in the vitals
as opposed to a slower bow.
4. Do not be a brand loyalist.
When selecting a bow, try bows (in your price range) from different manufacturers.
All manufacturers continually improve their products and you will be doing
yourself an injustice by only shooting BRAND X's bows. Different bows
have different feels.
**SUGGESTION- Shoot bows from as many manufacturers that you can to find
the one that feels right to you. Respect what people say about certain
bows but don't live by it.
|
