Compound bow recommendations for a beginner

[dbHunterNY]

Bud I teach archery n am full aware some releases are adjustable., some are not or have limited adjustability. In order to achieve a proper release, the bow must fit you perfectly. Many guys get by w an improperly fit bow but they have tons of problems.

No reason to guess a measurement or make do when they sell bows for the exact same price that fit the archer

 

this is an internet forum I don't know who you are or what you do.  I'm just putting some of the info out there of what I know or understand works.  I agree with your last post bow fit is important.  Getting by with improper fit bow, I know and see it.  I'm with you no need to guess with draw length.  I just started commenting when you knocked the wing span method, because it's the best way I know for a starting point.  sorry if I stepped all over your post.  I don't mean for it to be a who's more qualified and has the right info thing.  happens a lot on here.  I just type what I know and reply to what's seems different from that.  end of the day I'm just another person on the internet.

[Bowguy]

this is an internet forum I don't know who you are or what you do. I'm just putting some of the info out there of what I know or understand works. I agree with your last post bow fit is important. Getting by with improper fit bow, I know and see it. I'm with you no need to guess with draw length. I just started commenting when you knocked the wing span method, because it's the best way I know for a starting point. sorry if I stepped all over your post. I don't mean for it to be a who's more qualified and has the right info thing. happens a lot on here. I just type what I know and reply to what's seems different from that. end of the day I'm just another person on the internet.

Think you took me wrong bud. I wasn't knocking anything or anybody. The wingspan thing is a starting point if you have no other methods to get close but you still need to be measured w a chosen shooting method. Sorry I said it in a way we misunderstood each other

[dbHunterNY]

I know this will drive hard core archery guys crazy. That said...I shoot rt handed but am left eye dominate...it's because I just Can not hold a left handed bow and draw, period...If you have to train yourself then I say go cheap or barrow to start...get fitted but be prepared for it perhaps not working. I shoot both eyes open ...just instinctive...but they do have rifle type sights for ppl like us and they are great.

 

ideally someone should shoot right handed if they're right eye dominant.  I'm right handed, shoot right handed, and am left eye dominant.  I've had surgery to correct a lazy eye for asthetics but I basically still have a "lazy" eye, so my eyes don't really focus on a specific point together.  my right eye vision is slightly more crisp than my dominant left eye.  glasses ad more difficulty along with the fact that having a lazy eye limits my depth perception.  It's what works best for me though.  both instinctive and with fancy compounds.

[dbHunterNY]

Think you took me wrong bud. I wasn't knocking anything or anybody. The wingspan thing is a starting point if you have no other methods to get close but you still need to be measured w a chosen shooting method. Sorry I said it in a way we misunderstood each other

 

There's a disconnect with reading things on the internet.  We're most definitely good.  I'm an engineer and my wife tells me I tend to present info and stuff in a way that's either arrogant or annoying.  just the way my nuts and bolts mind works I guess.  talking face to face isn't a worry but sometimes it gets me wondering about posting stuff on here.  some people spend quite some time on here.  I'd hate to ruin the experience.

[Five Seasons]

Go to archery shops and try as many as you can , when you find one that is comfortable to shoot you will know it. Brand name does not matter now days , too many good ones out there. And do not get caught up on the power hipe , you only need a 40 pound draw weight bow to down a deer.Speed is also not that imporntant , if you get a bow that fits you should go to a pro shop also to match the arrow spline ect. + broadhead weigh for the set up.

And practice,practice.Start with a few arrows a day and work your way up.You do not want to pull something out of wack before archery season.

I'm just going to add that you don't want to just dismiss speed and weight either. If you can pull 60 you should pull 60. A few fps does not matter but it does help.

Think of it like golf, it's more important to swing slower and be more accurate, but if you can hammer it, then you're really going places.

[growalot]

Db.. I understand but eye dominance isn't the only consideration...I am naturally a lefty...gun hunt left handed...but I throw and was trained as a rt  handed pitcher. My strength and accuracy is in my arms is totally my right side...which is so strange because...as a goalie in soccer I am a left footed kicker...Ha ! ...should not be a surprise here I'm all screwed up

Ray... God bless his soul my Archery guy.......tried every which way to train me to hold a left handed bow  before he sold me my rt handed Hoyt but it just wasn't happening...I have met a few ppl over the years with the same situation. They as I , just realized  we can correct how we sight but not how our bodies fall into a comfortable strong shooting stance.

Edited July 28, 2015 by growalot

[Five Seasons]

I know this will drive hard core archery guys crazy. That said...I shoot rt handed but am left eye dominate...it's because I just Can not hold a left handed bow and draw, period...If you have to train yourself then I say go cheap or barrow to start...get fitted but be prepared for it perhaps not working. I shoot both eyes open ...just instinctive...but they do have rifle type sights for ppl like us and they are great.

 

if you're accurate i wouldn't care if you shot standing on your head. Too many times we look at pitchers, jump shooters or QB and judge them by our traditional ideas of form. If you're good, you're good and that's all that matters when you've got a deer at 20 yards.

[growalot]

Your correct...but the OP is looking to get fitted for a new bow and needs to understand what is BEST for HIM isn't always what the norm he is told should be is . Not be pushed to do whats unnatural for his body. Knowing there are others out there that have been able to switch and those that just can't and are still good shots can help him decide on what can be best for him. BTW I have shot a good many deer over the years.

[Bowguy]

Guys the eye dominance thing matters for a couple reasons. Not trying to sway anyone but hear me out. For one to shoot with the wrong eye you'd be shooting crossways. Across your body. With a sight you'd be on the money w say your 20 yard sight., at 15 or 25 you'd be left on one right on the other.

To alleviate this many close their eye. This kills your binocular vision n affects range estimation.

All can be compensated for.

Now you learn trigger squeeze, sighting on the wrong side w archery gear but maybe you've made it work.

When you shoot gun at a moving or any object n close an eye, say you're shooting righty n swinging left, you cannot see to the left n could very definitely swing into someone with you or not see someone in the distance, on that side making the shot unsafe.

If safety alone is worth it we need to understand eye dominance, how it affects us n learn to check it, especially when helping youths n newer students.

Once investments are made, some muscle memory begins very rarely will people switch. Hence the resistance by some here. It is what it is but if we can help others going forward maybe a safe sport will be even safer

[growalot]

First off ...Do you have this situation?  Are you trying to speak from experience here?   Next... please! please! do not tell me... BTW been shooting since I was 9 and hunting for 20 years now.... assume to tell me what I am doing and seeing when I shoot. Now many of the deer I have shot and dropped in or nearly in their tracks were out to 35 yrds and with a 45# recurve and a 49 # compound. Also again there are sights out there MADE for ppl with this situation...personally I do not care for sights or scopes for that matter. Unless it's a bead on my shot gun or scope for the rifle(rightly needed)...Though I do like the ten point on my cross bow.

 

Once investments are made, some muscle memory begins very rarely will people switch. Hence the resistance by some here. It is what it is but if we can help others going forward maybe a safe sport will be even safer

 

Wow..Seriously? you remind me of the nimrods that tried to force me to be right handed...until my mother ripped through several back sides.Tell me how many ppl have been shot by these bow hunters..... I'm very curious here. If you want safe hunters than then don't go with an investment and hope for SOME muscle memory...Go with what that individuals body is telling them is comfortable . BTW you certainly did touched a nerve.

Edited July 28, 2015 by growalot

[Bowguy]

Yea I touched a pretty simple guys nerve. Brother I'm the nicest guy you've ever talked to but if ya want to name call be careful. Bet you're fairly new to the sport to be so ignorant in things.,

[growalot]

Hahaha ...perhaps some of the guys here will set you straight on that response...I'm too busy laughing

[Bowguy]

Some guys are simple. Maybe I took it wrong n you def read wrong. I said the transition to a gun after having learned trigger sneeze n aiming w a non dominant eye could lead to an unsafe situation when wing shooting. Do what you want. So 11 years is fairly long. I've been at it over 40. Not saying anyone knows it all. We all learn from each other n all I was doing was passing on some info.

If someone's mama isn't an instructor she prob shouldn't advise what's best btw n I certainly wouldn't pass that down.

[grampy]

Yea I touched a pretty simple guys nerve. Brother I'm the nicest guy you've ever talked to but if ya want to name call be careful. Bet you're fairly new to the sport to be so ignorant in things.,

 

Speaking of ignorant!

 

I would say more but it seems he already knows everything. So I won't.

[Bowguy]

No ones saying anyone knows it all. Apparently you guys taught more than me. God bless ya

[growalot]

 

If someone's mama isn't an instructor she prob shouldn't advise what's best btw n I certainly wouldn't pass that down.

 I have no Idea what that meant but..

1. I have been bow hunting 20 years...I'm 57 and have been hunting way longer than that and shooting 48 yrs.

2. It was trying to turn me from a left handed writing /person in general(school) not shooter

 

Now as far as ADVISING WHATS BEST..I believe I clearly stated to go with what the individuals body and ability dictates to them as best for them... Not what main stream thinks is the correct way to do it is........ as you assumed to do. Then to go on and state what is, apparently to you, the only safe way to do things. Though I understand that stance..when someone can not understand something they go into defensive mode.

[dbHunterNY]

Some guys are simple. Maybe I took it wrong n you def read wrong. I said the transition to a gun after having learned trigger sneeze n aiming w a non dominant eye could lead to an unsafe situation when wing shooting. Do what you want. So 11 years is fairly long. I've been at it over 40. Not saying anyone knows it all. We all learn from each other n all I was doing was passing on some info.

If someone's mama isn't an instructor she prob shouldn't advise what's best btw n I certainly wouldn't pass that down.

 

remember the disconnect I talked about... SHE's failing to enlighten you that she's not a guy.  in most cases I'm with you in that it's best to work with your eye dominance.  Olympic shotgun instructors press those they teach to do so for a vast degree of reasons.  same concepts apply to other shooting sports, including archery.  don't know growalot's situation but chances are she's learned for so long to do similar things right handed that the time to take and correct that would be long and stressful.  at this point in time it's not worth it for her to try... if the original poster is just getting into archery I completely agree that it's worth their while to really try left handed. 

 

(useless info for my situation if it interests you)

my case is unique having a "corrected" lazy eye in that I don't really have much of any bino vision.  I don't close an eye to shoot.  My eyes can never focus together and instead focus independently on an object.  either one is forced to be dominant while the other is peripheral vision that's just in focus but not on the same spot of focus.  involuntarily I do favor my left eye though which means I'm left eye dominant.  my vision is better in my right non-dominant eye (not sure why I wouldn't favor the one with slightly better vision).  It's not uncommon for me to shoot well above 300 out of 330 on a 30 target IBO 3D outdoor course.  I do know that if my eyes focused together I'd be able to judge distance better especially out around 50 yards.  also my anchor could be different and more solid not worrying about my glasses frames getting in the way.

[Bowguy]

Growalot, I woulda talked to you dif if I knew you were a woman. I'm sorry. The muscle memory thing about doing something over n over than trying to switch typically never happens. That's why I stated teaching new people correctly.

Don't matter guys do whatever you want

[Bowguy]

I have no Idea what that meant but..

1. I have been bow hunting 20 years...I'm 57 and have been hunting way longer than that and shooting 48 yrs.

2. It was trying to turn me from a left handed writing /person in general(school) not shooter

Now as far as ADVISING WHATS BEST..I believe I clearly stated to go with what the individuals body and ability dictates to them as best for them... Not what main stream thinks is the correct way to do it is........ as you assumed to do. Then to go on and state what is, apparently to you, the only safe way to do things. Though I understand that stance..when someone can not understand something they go into defensive mode.

I never said its the only safe way, just that two eyes open is obviously safer

[growalot]

Db ...You are some what correct..though here is the disconnect..I stated  from the get go ..If he decided to try ....go with borrowed and fitted or cheap and fitted to start a transition . Then said..... some can switch while others simple can not. If one has ever had the experience of "other handed" muscle strength  it is impossible to understand the inability to change that.. A person can go to the gym and lift weights...gaining the same amount of muscle mass on either side of their body. Arms /legs and still be weaker and all out awkward in the functional use of those muscles. When a person allows their body to tell them what is best for them, than improving performance with practice isn't a big deal. For me it wasn't.. I learned right hand not because that was  what was available..both were... it was because that was what was correct for my strength, comfort and accuracy..if changing was something I could have done..well I may have tried to become rt eye dominant to avoid being a left handed gunner. Which can be expensive

Edited July 28, 2015 by growalot

[growalot]

 

I never said its the only safe way, just that two eyes open is obviously safer

That is something he can learn...I shoot two eyes open. As stated if he wants and can fine. Some can but, there are some that can't . It does not ALWAYS have something to do with eye dominance it's muscle strength and coordination. Some times that can not be changed...It just is what it is.

[growalot]

 

Growalot, I woulda talked to you dif if I knew you were a woman. I'm sorry. The muscle memory thing about doing something over n over than trying to switch typically never happens. That's why I stated teaching new people correctly.

Don't matter guys do whatever you want

 

Holy Moly...doesn't matter if I'm a woman or not..here I'm just a hunter with strong opinions. Never apologize for saying what you mean ...I rarely do I also rarely avoid saying exactly what I think....love me hate me ...I get a lot of both...lol

[Bowguy]

Well I never wanted to start a debate n certainly not sound disrespectful to you. I do stand by the both eyes open w sights makes you shoot off at dif yardages since you're looking one way n shooting dif. I also understand your comments and concerns

[ALG11]

Hey Jrussel,

This will be the start of my 3rd season, I'm still very new so by no means am I trying to educate or pretend I can.  As far as your price range of $500(I was in the same range) early last season and the pro shop by me set me up with a Bowtech Fuel. The Fuel is very, very adjustable(I plan to pass this down to the Girlfriend at some point soon) here are the specs,

draw weight 14-70lbs

mass weight 3.4lbs

$450 bare

$500 r.a.k equipped

draw length 18-30"

kinetic energy 79.6

axle to axle 31.5

ibo speed 320 fps

brace height 7"

* Please confirm with others whether this may be good or not and if anyone has any comments on it please message me personally, I'm always glad for some input positive or negative. Good luck and enjoy

 

 

[jrussell]

Thanks for the info ALG11. I actually purchased the Bear Cruzer, it's also pretty adjustable. So far pretty happy with the bow, but I'm sure I'll want to upgrade to something better in a few years. 

Edited August 3, 2015 by jrussell