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A Guide to Archery for Beginners – Part One
In this Archery for Beginners guide I will be answering all kinds of newbie questions that you may have asked, or may not have thought to ask like:
What do I need to do first to get started in archery?
What equipment do I have to have?
How much is it going to cost?
All these questions and more are going to be answered in this 2-part guide on Archery for Beginners.
In this first part, we’ll talk about budgets, pro shops, brands, and some techy stuff.
You’ve thought a lot about taking up archery and now you’re eager to take action, so let’s dive into some of the details.
Budget
The first thing to consider in our Guide on Archery for Beginners is definitely budget.
Do you have a budget?
Most of us need to have a budget or else we would spend a whole paycheck or two on archery equipment (husband).
If you don’t have to worry about the cost, great!
If you’re like everyone else, then here are some tips to consider when setting your budget:
Types of archery–traditional or compound?
- Deciding what type of archery you want to try will help determine what your budget should be. Traditional archery is usually cheaper to get into than a compound or crossbow.
Do you have an old bow to trade in?
- If you’ve got an old bow, consider trading it in for your new one. Take it to a couple of shops to get an idea of what the trade-in value might be. If you don’t have an old bow to trade in, you soon will have. The bow you’re getting ready to purchase could be your “trade-in” bow in a couple of years. Keep that in mind when looking to buy; will this particular bow still have value in a couple of years?
Are you stuck on brand name?
- You’ll soon find out that the brand of bow can vary a great deal in price. Try shooting a few different brands to get the feel of them. Do they shoot as well as you thought they would? Just because all your friends have XYZ bows doesn’t mean it’s the bow for you. Get what fits and feels the best for you.
Are you buying new or used?
- Don’t be afraid to buy used for your first bow! Pro shops are always taking bows in for trade on new equipment. They go through the trade-ins and make sure they’re in good shape and safe to use before reselling them. Check ’em out–you might find a bargain. Use this first bow as a stepping stone to your next bow.
Online prices.
- Do some research online to help you set your budget. Look at new product vs. used. This will give you some great information to take with you to the bow shop. Don’t just look at the bows themselves, but also research prices on sights, rests, arrows, etc.
The budget you come up with helps the pro staff determine what kind of bow and equipment to put together for you. (There’s no need for them to show you a $900 bow if your budget is $400-$500 max for everything.) Remember, you’re not only investing in your equipment, you’re investing in yourself.
You’re learning a skill that will last you for years. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra to get good quality equipment. Cheap is not always better. That being said, if you’re a beginner, don’t buy the most expensive equipment to start with.
As you learn to shoot, you’ll discover what you like and don’t like about your bow and the accessories you’re using. Later on, you may want to change your rest, or your sights, or your release. Your first bow setup gives you a ton of information about what works and doesn’t work for you. It gives you something to compare to when you start shopping for that next bow.
Another option is a “kit” bow. This is where your bow, rest, sight, and quiver are sold together as a kit for one price. This is how I bought my first bow several years ago. I picked out my release, and I used hand-me-down arrows. My husband cut down some of his old arrows for me. I also would get damaged arrows given to me or we’d find lost arrows. All these arrows had to be cut down because of my short 25″ draw length, and, usually, they’d have to be re-fletched. They worked great for this beginner! Now, I’m a little more particular with my arrows. You will be too once you gain some experience.
Pro Shops
The first thing I want to mention in this section of your guide to archery for beginners is that I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a quality pro shop. They will be your best friend in helping you get the right equipment that fits you. I highly recommend finding a pro shop where you live and getting acquainted with the folks who work there. Sure, they’re in business to sell you archery equipment but keep in mind their goal is to sell you the right archery equipment.
Here are some tips on what to look for in an archery shop:
Are they friendly and eager to help you?
Are they certified to work on the bows they sell?
Do they have a place to shoot?
Does the staff actually shoot & what (targets or bow hunt)?
Are they up to date on the latest archery products?
My favorite archery shop is Razorback Archery in Ash Flat (Agnos), Arkansas. These guys love what they do and are eager to help. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to archery or a well-seasoned hunter, they can take care of anything and are happy to help you. Pro staffers are great coaches and can teach you the necessary basics to get you started the right way. (Kudos to Dave, Jeff, and Rusty!)
Brands
Do brands make a difference? Some of the more experienced shooters say yes. Try shooting different brands, new and used, so that you can judge for yourself. But, as a beginner, try not to get too hung up on a particular brand. Find the bow that fits you the best no matter what brand it is.
Once you get some experience behind you, then you can start looking at different styles and brands of bows. Over the past few years, I’ve found that I favor Bowtech bows. My compound hunting bow is a Bowtech Heartbreaker, and my 3D target bow is a Bowtech Eva Shockey Signature Series. I like the style, they’re lightweight, have a smooth draw and break-over, and the grip fits my hand.
Bow companies are constantly updating their bows to meet the needs of women; they’re lighter weight and have smaller grips. They offer some great color and pattern choices that are particularly appealing to women. There are a lot of options to consider, so take your time and get what’s comfortable and fits you best. Your bow is a big investment–choose wisely.
Techy Stuff
A couple of things that your pro staff will help you with are determining your draw weight and your draw length.
Your draw weight is the amount of weight (pounds) you can comfortably pull back. It shouldn’t be too easy, but on the other hand, you shouldn’t have to strain to do it. One tip given to me when I was finding my draw weight was to draw my bow from a sitting position. If I couldn’t do this, then the draw weight was probably too heavy. Currently, I shoot 3D target archery and deer hunt at 43-45 pounds.
Your draw length can be determined by measuring your arm span from the tip of the middle finger of one hand to the tip of the middle finger of the other hand.
Take this number and divide by 2.5 and you’ll get your approximate draw length. For example, my arm span is 62.5 inches; divide that by 2.5 and you get a 25-inch draw length. If your draw length came to 25.7, take your draw length to the nearest 1/2 inch, or 25.5.
This will be a good starting point and adjustments can be made in different ways to get a little extra length if needed. The bow you selected should have enough range to include your draw length with an inch or two extra to spare.
Archery for Beginners – Summary
I know this archery for beginners guide was a lot of information coming at you, so let’s review the highlights of what we just learned:
Tips on setting a budget
Things to look for in a pro shop
Why you shouldn’t get stuck on a brand
Determining your draw weight
Measuring for your draw length
I think you’ll agree there’s a lot to consider when learning a new skill, especially something so detailed and personalized as archery. Before you know it, you’ll have the perfect setup!
I’d love to know what bow you chose and why. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here below or you can email me. To sign up for my weekly newsletter, click here.
Coming up in Archery for Beginners – Part 2:
So, you decided on a bow and you’ve got the draw length and poundage set. Part 2 is going to give you tips on what to look for in accessorizing your bow, such as a rest, a sight, a release, and arrows.
To read more about my experience with archery and how to get started, you can grab my book Archery for Fun and Food.
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