You Can't Buy Points

[GeoffT]

There are often threads on this board that begin with something like:

"I have reached a certain level and now it is time to upgrade my equipment............."

This is good news for the dealers, but aren't we all guilty of changing our gear too often. You can rest assurred that, for 99.99 per cent of us, the bow we already have is capable of shooting much better than we can. Put any equipment in a shooting machine and it will plonk the arrows in the same place each time (assuming the arrows are identical and straight).

If we stop thinking that we can shoot better by buying a more expensive bow then perhaps we would all be better archers.

That's it........rant over! Time for

[LineCutter]

Within limits I agree.

There is a learning curve for archers skill & a quality curve for kit. The problem is the belief that you can beat the curve for skill by buying better quality kit. The flip side, infrequently espoused, is that skill will always outdo kit - true, until the skill of two archers is equal & the medal is on the line.

Tastes & requirements can evolve too, making a change in kit a necessity for optimal shooting.

[wingate_52]

Just bought some Fatboys. Shot a succession of 10's today, with X7's and there would have been a few more points if i had used the fatter by 1.8mm dia arrows, not many points but a few, they add up, and give the archer confidence which may promote the extra diligence and practice.

[andrew.paterson]

Originally Posted by GeoffT

There are often threads on this board that begin with something like:

"I have reached a certain level and now it is time to upgrade my equipment............."

As many of us are far to aware archery is a mental sport as well. If we get in a rut something as simple as changing kit can have a positive mental effect. I find that if you feel good you will shoot better.

For me a simple equipment 'treat' with a feel-good factor is to refletch my arrows. Get a new pattern/colour combination that I am proud of, so I feel better on the shooting line, and amazingly I shoot better! I did that this week, pulled back 20 points that I had lost over previous weeks on my Portsmouth score, and was the winning visitor at the WMAA shoot today. And all because I had some nice new colourful fletchings.

Originally Posted by andrew.paterson

As many of us are far to aware archery is a mental sport as well. If we get in a rut something as simple as changing kit can have a positive mental effect. I find that if you feel good you will shoot better.

For me a simple equipment 'treat' with a feel-good factor is to refletch my arrows. Get a new pattern/colour combination that I am proud of, so I feel better on the shooting line, and amazingly I shoot better! I did that this week, pulled back 20 points that I had lost over previous weeks on my Portsmouth score, and was the winning visitor at the WMAA shoot today. And all because I had some nice new colourful fletchings.

This sounds good to me. I am in a position where I simply have to change my bow. I have tried and tried to get on with it, but can't. The last nail in the coffin was shooting another bow. I loved the feel, weight and everything about it compared to mine. So I have decided to make a change. This could be a long wait as I have to sell my bow to raise funds for another one, and I will need new arrows too. It's a big investment to me. The wait will be worth it. I'm not buying points, I'm buying contentment and confidence in equipment I know will do the job.

[Little Miss Purple]

I agree you must have full confidence and compatability with your equipment. If you doubt it at all you will blame any 'bad' shot on that. I fletched some of my indoor arrows with feathers but a seed of doubt was planted - this stops me from using them in competition which is utterly rediculous as I missed my PB by 4 points when I used them for the 1st time!!!

If you are 100% happy with your equipment, it is something less to distract you.

Originally Posted by Little Miss Purple

If you are 100% happy with your equipment, it is something less to distract you.

Exactly. well said LMP, have a

[GeoffT]

Ithought I might cause a stir with this thread..............but I am surprised by just how much

[SLOWHAND]

Have to agree up to a point that you cant buy better scores. Untill a couple of weeks ago my pb Portsmouth (590) was shot with my first proper recurve. I think that the diferences in 'Quality' become slightly more pronounced when shooting outdoors (eg. more expensive limbs are probably a little faster, more stable and more consistant).I think that rather than buying the most expensive kit it is important to buy what you feel most comfortable with.

The one area that I do think that you get what you pay for is arrows. I now shoot Aces having started with Platinums (great for indoors) and ACC'S (BIG improvement on Plats outdoors). My first two sets of Ace's were second hand so you dont have to spend a fortune to get better kit.

It's only 'better' if you shoot higher scores with it. Most mid priced bows are far more accurate than the person shooting them.

[sky_high30]

I'd agree with most of whats being said. Case in point though, is the wooden bows that we teach people on. Say what you want - but anyone that can get the right side of 520 with one of them, in my oppinion, is doing bloody well.

Personally - i'm happyish with my equipment. There's stuff i'd *like* - X-10 Twins, Extender, ACE arrows (coming fairly soon hopefully) - but what i've got now will see me out.