Vertically challenged wife taking up archery

[Robinwho]

I need some advice, I recently (6 months ago) took up archery (after a 40 year pause). All was bright and sunny on my Butt. Then a small but significant dark cloud intruded. In a moment of weakness, I invited my wife to come along and now she wants to take up the noble pursuit herself. This is slightly problematic in as much as she is not the tallest of people (topping the height scale at 4' 10", and having a (nominal) draw length of 21.5 inches. Getting to the point of this missive, I require advice as to a good starter set up for her. My conclusion is that she is probably best served by going to the dark side with something like a Browning compound which has a 10" variation in draw length, but as I shoot re-curve, (Hoyt Eclipse with 46lb FX limbs)I don't see why she should have all of the good toys (Telescopic sight, 65% load reduction at full draw, mechanical release and all of the other good stuff used to tempt us to this slippery path.

Can any one out there offer words of consolation and wisdom as to the best route to go!

Many Thanks

RobinWho

AKA Toon Beneden
Brit Ex-Pat living in Sunny Netherlands.

PS Do you realize how popular Archery is here? I live in the South-east of the country, near Eindhoven, it is quite rural, but within a radius of 12 km there are 12 Clubs running competition leagues etc. Really good to be among!!!

[King Custard]

No problem-

cut any old branch from tree in the garden- strip the bark- wrap some tape around the middle- string it with some nylon cord...tell her it's a longbow- she'll love you!

Until she can't get the hang of this game - can't even reach the target- and decides to let you alone at the club - after all -it really is a Mans sport blah blah blah and she's happy to have dinner ready for when you get back home!

and you're sorted

[Robinwho]

Done much Political Correctness training , have we? http://www.archery-interchange.com/f...s/cheerful.gif

[King Custard]

...purely a suggestion, an option...not my own admonition...nor political viewpoint

C'mon fellers- this guy is in trouble...he's fallen into the snare of Inviting the Missus !!! don't you feel for him?

Awwwww hell - I'm in the dog house again!

[Robinwho]

Thanks for the support, I'll always wear it.

[tel]

why 'darkside'? All forms can accommodate different statures and strengths!

[Robinwho]

The "dark-side" is that place to which the simple yeoman archers get tempted by the promise of better scores, better gadgets, faster arrows and more POWER.

[Popeye]

Originally Posted by Robinwho

I need some advice, I recently (6 months ago) took up archery (after a 40 year pause). All was bright and sunny on my Butt. Then a small but significant dark cloud intruded. In a moment of weakness, I invited my wife to come along and now she wants to take up the noble pursuit herself. This is slightly problematic in as much as she is not the tallest of people (topping the height scale at 4' 10", and having a (nominal) draw length of 21.5 inches. Getting to the point of this missive, I require advice as to a good starter set up for her. My conclusion is that she is probably best served by going to the dark side with something like a Browning compound which has a 10" variation in draw length, but as I shoot re-curve, (Hoyt Eclipse with 46lb FX limbs)I don't see why she should have all of the good toys (Telescopic sight, 65% load reduction at full draw, mechanical release and all of the other good stuff used to tempt us to this slippery path.

Can any one out there offer words of consolation and wisdom as to the best route to go!

!!!

My wife was in the same boat last year,April, when we started,she is 4'11 1/2" 22in draw. She started with a recurve but then couldn't compete shooting ladies rounds because her arrows would only reach 30ish yards (20lb limbs) so could only shoot jnr rounds with our son who at 11yrs old is about the same size as his mum. So we bought a Hoyt Banshee 2nd hand 20-30lb compound with about 8in of draw length adjustment and she shot that for a few months to see if she liked it, she did and she could hit 80yds with it so we bought a new Hoyt Rintec 30-40lb. She shoots it at 30lb at the moment and she's doing great.A lot depends on how much poundage your wife can can shoot with and how heavy a bow she can cope with, for my wife it had to be light in the hand and lowish poundage.

[Watch_Man]

Hoyt Kobalt, Avenger or Trykon are all in the ball park. However you need to have her draw accurately measured by an archery dealer or club. The Avenger would be a good choice if she has a 22" draw or longer, the Kobalt goes from 21.5" and the Trykons range from about 17" upwards depending on model.

[Robinwho]

More spinach for you my lad.

Much along the lines that I have been thinking, but wanted some confirmation that there is no "small person" recurve available (perhaps there is a niche market for 19 and 21" risers?). The smallest adult bow available is going to be 62" and she will not achieve anything like full draw even at that and so the power loss regardless of draw weight will be significant.

So I will start looking for a suitable compound (but I'll take it off her if her scores get better than mine)!!!