Compound Advice

[sambow]

Originally Posted by not dead yet

please do not take the multitude of advice on what to buy, that your no doubtedly about to get over the next 24 hrs.

please go to a retailer, preferably with a club member and survey your options.
you may decide on a second hand bow to start. etc

This really is the best advice.

The only other advice I would give you is Do not assume because you can draw 28lb on a recurve you hcan shoot a 70lb bow with high let off. Firstly depending upon where you want to shoot, the max poundage allowed by GNAS is 60lbs. Secondly depending upon the cam design you may not be able to get past the peak and even if you do your "form" and the amount you end up torquing the bow to acheive it will be awful.

Like you Im not so strong I can comfortable shoot 32lb recurve (34lbs at a push). But the max compound I have comfortable draw is 53lbs and the one occassion I tried drawing a 60lb with hard cams I felt that I was going to dislocate my elbow joint.

[Les]

You're in the same position I was a short while ago. I ended up with a second hand bow (from a club member) with 40lb peak. I then went to a good archery store (Custom Built at Guisborough) where Peter showed me how to select appropriate arrows etc.

All in I spent about £150 on the used bow with sight, about £200 at custom built (arrows, long rod, release, case etc.).

The best advice I had was try before you buy, and talk it over with someone who knows what they're doing.

Regarding the strength issue, I got a Saunders Power Pull from Quicks - two thick rubber bands attached to a handle. It was not expensive and it worked for me.

[recrudesce]

was lookin at this 2006 Hoyt Trykon XL (right handed) on eBay, also, Bows Bow Accessories, Archery, Sporting Goods (end time 28-May-08 21:16:37 BST) for bow now...

will have a look at that Saunders Power Pull - might help me out !

[jmad]

I would probably avoid the ebay route for your first bow unless you know exactly what you want. The Trykon is quite a heavy bow and the advert states that the draw length is not adjustable. I made the mistake of buying my first bow from Ebay, and my second. I then saw the light and went to a shop.

Like you I went straight onto Compound after my 6 weeks of lessons, and this means that you are still learning form etc. My draw length has increased from 26 1/4" to 27 1/2" in 18 mths. If you can get a bow that is adjustable with modules it will save you a lot of effort.

Don't discount Ebay as there are some bargins to be had, but for a first bow there are quite a few shops that keep a good second hand selection.

Good luck

Originally Posted by recrudesce

was lookin at this 2006 Hoyt Trykon XL (right handed) on eBay, also, Bows Bow Accessories, Archery, Sporting Goods (end time 28-May-08 21:16:37 BST) for bow now...

will have a look at that Saunders Power Pull - might help me out !

[Jerry Tee]

I would avoid a cam specific draw lenght bow. Tricons had some problems with limb location as well. You would be better off with the ProElite on ebay at the moment, if you really must buy off ebay.

[Marcus26]

Do not buy off eBay. It's like buying a custom suit off eBay, it needs to be fitted to you.
I'm not sure where you got all your letoff calculations and holding weights from, sounds like someone has been telling you rubbish.
Compound bows today come in basically 2 configs. 65% and 80% letoff.
The 65% ones are generally hardcore target bows. The 80% ones are usually more all purpose bows.
Some, like many Bowtechs, allow you to adjust between those values.
Others like the Hoyts let you change via modules (and a bowpress)

Now you will get some debate on which is better, but in my experience a 75-80% letoff will be easier for you to get the hang of quickly so would be my recommendation.
Don't fuss about holding wieght. These are elite archer concerns.

Spend big on your release aid and USE IT CORRECTLY by squeezing it slowly and not making it fire. This is the best advise you will ever get.

So what's best for you? Being an adult male you will put on the strength fast, so go a 60lb bow. I would suggest something with modules like the Bowtech or Hoyt bows. The Guardian is a great all rounder and the Commander is also excellent.
Both bows will go lower than 50lb so you should grow with them well.

Get fit out by a good dealer like CBA. Don't buy off eBay or off a club member because at last the shop is professional and will do the right thing by you.

[Adam]

Spot on Marcus. Good post and sound advice.

Adam

[ArcheryRoxStar]

there are lots of great advice on here, and i would reckomend your local quicks store. (if its waterlooville, i always see phil adams)

one major point you need to know is being properly set up for your draw length, and a store will help you with this.

with regards to draw weight, i am not naturally strong like you, i used to struggle with 38lb recurve limbs, now i shoot a compound, few months later at 60lb, started the bow from 45. a lot of the hoyt/bowtech bows will have 10-15lb range, which if you start it off low, and can build it up every few weeks, then you will be pulling the higher poundage in no time.

[recrudesce]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

Do not buy off eBay. It's like buying a custom suit off eBay, it needs to be fitted to you.
I'm not sure where you got all your letoff calculations and holding weights from, sounds like someone has been telling you rubbish.
Compound bows today come in basically 2 configs. 65% and 80% letoff.
The 65% ones are generally hardcore target bows. The 80% ones are usually more all purpose bows.
Some, like many Bowtechs, allow you to adjust between those values.
Others like the Hoyts let you change via modules (and a bowpress)

Now you will get some debate on which is better, but in my experience a 75-80% letoff will be easier for you to get the hang of quickly so would be my recommendation.
Don't fuss about holding wieght. These are elite archer concerns.

Spend big on your release aid and USE IT CORRECTLY by squeezing it slowly and not making it fire. This is the best advise you will ever get.

So what's best for you? Being an adult male you will put on the strength fast, so go a 60lb bow. I would suggest something with modules like the Bowtech or Hoyt bows. The Guardian is a great all rounder and the Commander is also excellent.
Both bows will go lower than 50lb so you should grow with them well.

Get fit out by a good dealer like CBA. Don't buy off eBay or off a club member because at last the shop is professional and will do the right thing by you.

Marcus - this advice is awesome. you really answered a lot of the questions i hadn't asked as well as the ones i did.

as mentioned, the information i have quoted was based on the information i read on the internet (Wikipedia and such). i guess not having any experience to compare against, i was being suckered in.

i shall head down to Quicks this weekend i think - do i need to make an appointment and will they spend time talking to me even if i dont spend any money yet ? i'm still worried about my anchor point - i still need advice on that. is that something they'd spend time with me to work out do you think ?

[Hidden Hippo]

When I went down there and saw Phil he spent quite a bit of time giving me some general technique tips. I didn't make an appointment as such but I did call ahead to check if they had the bows I was after in stock so they were aware I was coming. If you're going down on a Saturday I would advise you try and make an appointment as they can get very busy down there on the weekend.