moving from recurve to compound

[Mark L]

I swapped to Compound about a 9 months ago. I did it because , due to time constraints , I wasn't practicing with my recurve even half as much as I should have been.

I did find it strange at first , especially the trigger release , but after 200 arrows it did become a whole lot easier.

The one thing that I have found , and this maybe just my own special mental abberation , is that when I first started , I wasn't expecting to score very well. But I found I was scoring to my old bowman classification within about 6 weeks. But now that I have more confidence in the bow etc I seem to be struggling to extend (or even meet) that classification. I think that if you do change to compound it will be easier than you expect but be prepared for a struggle after 6 month or so to better your form. I think that because it seemed so easy at the start you expect more of yourself ( ie 10 rings all the time) thus putting more pressure on yourself and maybe causing problems in your style. (Or it could be that I'm just not very good).

Anyway best of luck what ever your choice.

[stevie]

i bought a new bow recently 3 months ago upped my pounage from my last bow no problem,got a shot with my friends compound last week cant get the damn thing out of my head it was so accurate now considering the big swap on a hoyt ultralite,anyone any suggestions or advice.

[Jerry Tee]

Originally Posted by stevie

i bought a new bow recently 3 months ago upped my pounage from my last bow no problem,got a shot with my friends compound last week cant get the damn thing out of my head it was so accurate now considering the big swap on a hoyt ultralite,anyone any suggestions or advice.

You don't have to give up your tab. Get your self down to Clickers in Norwich they have a used Mathews Ovation for sale it's smooth, fast and a very nice finger compound.

[penguinsanity]

I started shooting recurve at the local club earlier this year - just managed to get my 3rd class - right handed Hoyt GM with Samick limbs- 32lb at 27 1/2". A friend has given me a left handed Hoyt Ultratec to play with which I have shot twice - 50lb at 27" - Tru-ball (i think) wrist release - posted my second HIGH 2nd class score this week. LOVE shooting both styles - find them completely different to one another. I guess the switching hands between the two helps keep them seperate.




Goths are people too - WEIRD people

[reckless]

have started to play with a compound and like it very much, its an old high country archery bow. weighs a ton and has a hell of a recoil. lots of fun though.
as i have a wrist problem with recuve recon i might stick with the compound.
gonna need something with a lot more bling, well i do like my toys all shinny and bright. rally like the power and speed of the compound.

[Quadratus]

I shot recurve for about 15 years and compound for the last 10 or so. I enjoy both but prefer compound.

I had no particular difficulty changing over, and good recurve style needs very little tweaking to be just as effective on a compound. But I did find a big difference in the balance between physical and mental effort. While there is a big mental element in shooting a recurve well, it is still, fundamentally a physical exercise. With a compound, on the other hand, the the problems (for me) are almost entirely mental.

All you have to do with a decently set up compound is establish a steady platform, aim and squeeze the trigger smoothly. And there are several ways of doing it effectively - despite the bleats of the 'my way is the only way fraternity'. As a physical exercise it simplicity itself. The problem is that mentally it is very hard and few people ever acquire the mental discipline to do it consistently. Those that do are called Champions - to their faces anyway!

So, if you want to cross to the dark side, go for it. But don't expect it to be any easier than recurve, just different.

[niceguy]

Originally Posted by laminatekid

Well if you compare to recurve scores! You will see a massive increase in your scores on moving over.....then you start to shoot with other compounders and realise just what sort of points they are shooting and it all pales into insignificance....

This is one of the truest most telling statements on this subject. Take note all you budding compounders in the making!!!.

[Erika]

I shoot both full time... although the recurve is on the back burner while I shoot the worlds etc.

I find that they compliment each other quite well. It's not unusual to shoot PBs with the bow that you aren't practising enough with.

Your expectations are higher with compound and so you expect better when you shoot the recurve. The recurve requires more strength so you gain stability that is lacking in a lot of compounders.

Also you can practise your form basics on either. A good mix is to shoot the recurve until you are utterly pooped and then pick up the compound for the day. You get two sessions in when you would normally be too tired to continue.

Picking up a back tension release aid after 10yrs shooting recurve was a very natural thing to do.