How to Pick an Archery Bow

Picking an archery bow can be a little overwhelming, especially for the beginner. However, with just a little preparation and some basic archery knowledge, you'll be able to choose the perfect bow for your needs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape or ruler

1. Decide how you will be using the bow. If you're a bow hunter, you will want to put emphasis on the arm length and physical weight of the bow, since you will probably prefer it to be less cumbersome to carry through wilderness and to fire when in tight spaces. If you're a target archer, on the other hand, you may prefer longer bows in order to increase your stability and ease of draw.

2. Choose whether you would prefer a compound bow or a recurve bow. While compound bows are easier to aim and become easier to pull the further you draw, recurves become more difficult as you draw back and rely heavily on skill and experience for accuracy. Even though compound bows are more popular, recurve bows are a much better choice for beginners, since they will teach proper shooting skills without relying on the built-in guides and gadgets on a compound.

3. Evaluate your budget before deciding on a type of bow. Recurves are often much less expensive than compound bows, and the accessories needed to get started with a recurve are far fewer.

4. Determine your draw length, which is the distance that you can naturally draw a bowstring. To get a rough measure of your draw length, stretch out your bow hand as if you were drawing a bow, and make a fist. Place that fist against a wall and assume proper shooting posture, and then have someone measure from the wall to the corner of your mouth. Note that if you're right handed, your bow hand will be your left hand, and if you are left handed it will be your right.

5. Find your best draw weight. This is the amount of force it takes to pull back on the bow string. Target archers will want to remember that they will be firing many rounds in succession, so they should choose something slightly easier than a compound bow so they won't tire quickly. An average-strength man should pick a draw weight of around 50 lbs., while a woman of average strength should choose a draw weight of around 30 pounds.

6. Buy your bow from a reputable archery specialist. To make sure you are getting the best equipment and the best advice, seek out a store that has an experienced archer that will help you pick out the perfect bow, as opposed to a larger, less-specialized store where the sales associates may not be as knowledgeable.

Tips & Warnings

• Bow hunters looking for record book status will want to make sure that their new bows comply with the standards put forward by their hunting clubs.
• Target archers wishing to enter into competitions at reenactment events should double check to be sure that their bows meet the standards of the class they wish to enter. Some events require that archers use "primitive" equipment with no modern materials, while others allow a small amount of synthetic elements.
• Fiberglass bows may seem like a great value compared to a wooden bow, but be sure to pick the wooden one. Not only will they last much longer than a fiberglass one, but they are also much safer.
• Never "dry fire" a bow! Without an arrow knocked to absorb the shock of the string firing, you can easily shatter your bow. Damage may not be visible, but you're risking serious injury if you use the bow again after dry firing it. Compound bows are especially dangerous to dry fire, since this could cause the pulley system to break down or even come off and hit you in the face. Even if there doesn't seem to be any damage at all, you've probably just voided your bow's product warranty.

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