Suggestions for good beginner/club level bows

[Tom]

My club has got (probably/possibly, fingers-crossed ) a load of cash to spend on some new kit for beginners courses and for entry level equipment to hire/lend to newbies. We've got no beginners bows at the club to speak of ( I think there's one in our locker) so we're starting with a clean slate.

So my question is what would you suggest we go for in terms of the bows? I'm interested in getting low-end ILF risers and limbs for the beginners. Are there any clubs out there who use ILF risers and limbs for beginners courses (Evolution 2 bows or similar)?

Cheers

[jojo]

Over the last ten years Ive been the guy that got the club grants and spent all the money on beginners equipment, the rolan bows were good but the downside is being of a plasticy construction they tend to scratch and mess up easily, in the past couple of years chiltern/petron do a nice entry level bow the S2 Petron S2 Take-down Bow

Direct from chiltern for the whole bow is £100 which is very good.

Originally Posted by Tom

My club has got (probably/possibly, fingers-crossed ) a load of cash to spend on some new kit for beginners courses and for entry level equipment to hire/lend to newbies. We've got no beginners bows at the club to speak of ( I think there's one in our locker) so we're starting with a clean slate.

So my question is what would you suggest we go for in terms of the bows? I'm interested in getting low-end ILF risers and limbs for the beginners. Are there any clubs out there who use ILF risers and limbs for beginners courses (Evolution 2 bows or similar)?

Cheers

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by Tom

My club has got (probably/possibly, fingers-crossed ) a load of cash to spend on some new kit for beginners courses and for entry level equipment to hire/lend to newbies. We've got no beginners bows at the club to speak of ( I think there's one in our locker) so we're starting with a clean slate.

So my question is what would you suggest we go for in terms of the bows? I'm interested in getting low-end ILF risers and limbs for the beginners. Are there any clubs out there who use ILF risers and limbs for beginners courses (Evolution 2 bows or similar)?

Cheers

If you can afford it get some value ILF bows to hire out to people just off the beginner's course. Oxford uni have a couple of GMs and a couple of Samick Agullas we do this with.

As for bows on the actual course, you probably want something a bit lighter (mass weight as well as draw weight). The basic beginner bow most clubs use is the wooden one quicks sells as the TD01 - similar to the Samick Polaris. Limbs are not ILF but are easy to get hold of. Other favourites are the various guises of Rolan (available in dinky sizes for juniors) and also the KAP Surprise (now called the prostyle, I think). All of these are around £50 for the full bow (ie limbs and riser). Kiddies sizes obviously cheaper.

Don't forget to budget for entry level sights, arrows, maybe even some cheapo longrods to hire out with the ILF bows.

Hope this helps.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by napolienne

If you can afford it get some value ILF bows to hire out to people just off the beginner's course. Oxford uni have a couple of GMs and a couple of Samick Agullas we do this with.

As for bows on the actual course, you probably want something a bit lighter (mass weight as well as draw weight). The basic beginner bow most clubs use is the wooden one quicks sells as the TD01 - similar to the Samick Polaris. Limbs are not ILF but are easy to get hold of. Other favourites are the various guises of Rolan (available in dinky sizes for juniors) and also the KAP Surprise (now called the prostyle, I think). All of these are around £50 for the full bow (ie limbs and riser). Kiddies sizes obviously cheaper.

Don't forget to budget for entry level sights, arrows, maybe even some cheapo longrods to hire out with the ILF bows.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. Being quite a big bloke I hadn't taken into account that we might need low mass bows. The idea of getting some cheapish (ca £50) training bows and then a few basic ILF bows (£100+) to hire out is a good one. I'll suggest this when I next see my clubmates. I was hoping we could get bows that would serve both purposes - but that was probably just being optimistic

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by Tom

Thanks for the info. Being quite a big bloke I hadn't taken into account that we might need low mass bows. The idea of getting some cheapish (ca £50) training bows and then a few basic ILF bows (£100+) to hire out is a good one. I'll suggest this when I next see my clubmates. I was hoping we could get bows that would serve both purposes - but that was probably just being optimistic

Bear in mind that your stock of beginner's course bows has to suit or be adaptable enough to be made suit anyone you get on your beginner's course. Adults, juniors, burly blokes, little blokes, dainty ladies, tough lasses, disabled and able bodied, LH or RH, tall or small. So in terms of mass weight it is best to go for something everyone on the course will be able to deal with - this means a plastic or wooden riser, the lightest options at the cheap end of the market.

Poundage you can change easily by having limbs you can swap in if required, height you can deal with by keeping a couple of junior sized bows (maybe one LH, one RH), some 64", most 66", and a couple of 70" for the 6 footers.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ruthmc

Do new archers really need ILF bows immediately after their beginner's course?

Undoubtably not - I used an old TD01 for years.

It looks like I'll be suggesting we get a bunch of Rolans or Surprises (whatever we can get the best deal on) for the beginners. And maybe a couple of cheap ILF bows to hire out to intermediates who aren't ready to buy their own kit.

[John (OSF)]

We use a mixture of 20lb KAP and 20lb Rolan bows with our remaing woodie risers being phased out. Weight on fingers is very important for beginners (20lb max or you may 'bone end' damage the kids).We keep some short limbs an also a few pairs of 26-28-30lb limbs in different lengths for archers that want a bit more weight once they finish the course

We found the KAP to be most like a 'real bow' and best value for money

Hope this is of some help

[Tom]

Originally Posted by nuqDaq yuch Dapol

We use a mixture of 20lb KAP and 20lb Rolan bows with our remaing woodie risers being phased out. Weight on fingers is very important for beginners (20lb max or you may 'bone end' damage the kids).We keep some short limbs an also a few pairs of 26-28-30lb limbs in different lengths for archers that want a bit more weight once they finish the course

We found the KAP to be most like a 'real bow' and best value for money

Hope this is of some help

20lb draw weight was what we were thinking - with some higher weights as you suggest but also some lower weights as well.

This is all good info, keep it coming . The KAP Surprise/Pro Style seems to be the beginners bow of choice and has leaped to the top of my list. Cheers.

[dangermouse]

we Bought a load of Kaps last year and tho they are good for absolute beginners they are a bit flimsy for regular shooting. the plastic just doesnt seem to shoot as well as wood does. A friend who has just started recently bought a samick polaris and has gotten very accurate with it (with good arrows). its got a nice finish, shoots nice and seems like the riser will last a long time. not bad for fifty buckers!

dont forget ye will get the odd but inevitable massive guys/gals who need 72 inch limbs. in terms of poundage i always reckon the weaker the better for beginners.


hope this helps.

[Rhys]

I would always go for suprise bows over rolans! Even if the suprises were a little more