Beginner advice for my boys

Mattyb

Mattyb

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My two sons both want to start archery. Nothing formal, though some lessons aren’t out of the question.
My youngest son is in 6th grade and wants a recurve bow. My oldest is in 8th grade and wants a compound bow. I am completely ignorant when it comes to archery. They have been saving their money from mowing lawns and such, but I don’t know where to start looking. Walmart? Amazon?
Looking at somewhere around $100 +/-.
Thanks for any advice you could give
 
Look for something with an adjustable draw weight and length. That way they can have it adjusted and grow with it per day for a few years
 
Burt Gummer said:
Look for something with an adjustable draw weight and length. That way they can have it adjusted and grow with it per day for a few years
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What? And deprive them of needing a new hunting weapon every year? What type of manly role model would OP be if he did that? I'll bet you'd even encourage him to train his sons to say, "Oh honey, I only need one gun and one bow." You know, to get them ready for their future.

You should be given a suspension from the site for suggesting such a sacrilege. It would give you time to reflect on what we stand for here.

Side note to OP. Whatever you decide, it ain't the arrow, it's the Indian, but if the bow isn't tuned, even the best Indian won't get an arrow to fly straight.
 
I may be biased, but I suspect others will agree.
It is best to start with a naked traditional bow. That way, the new archer learns proper technique.
A takedown recurve is a great option because one can upgrade to stronger limbs as technique improves.
Kids always want what they think is cool or easy.
With a traditional bow, the success is with the archer and his/ her technique.
Compound bows can compensate for bad technique. But nothing can replace learning the basics.

Sammick makes some great affordable introductory level bows.
And they just released the most affordable ILF takedown recurve available with carbon/foam limbs. So it is serve as both an introductory up to advanced hunting bow.
Most archery instructors in the US recommend not more than 30# draw to start.
It is lower in China. They don't even have 30# views in the clubs door lessons. 12-22# is their teaching range.
I was able to talk an American Chinese teenager (raised in the US) but pop was in china on business) out of "needing to get" a compound bow for his first bow.

Does that help?
Again, this is just my layman's opinion. I'm not an archery expert. I still consider myself not much more than an advanced beginner. I only know what I know. I don't pretend to know more.

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Forget Walmart or Amazon.
For on line, I use 3 Rivers Archery and Lancaster Archery. I use yet another for arrows.


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$100 should get you into a recurve. It will be tougher for a compound, depending on what you end up wanting. Good condition used bows are something to look at too. On the low end of compounds, the Matthews Genisis lines are worth a look. You can shoot fingers with or without a sight. Stepping up from there the Diamond Infinite Edge is one of the better youth compounds, but there are others. Most bow companies and/or their budget brands make one. Look for one that is adjustable without a bow press.

Where are you located? Might get some info on local shops that way.
 
Well. I got nothing down in that area. Wish I could help. Facebook marketplace and Craigslist for bow. Or you could look on Archerytalk and see what's available. I've hade good luck on Archerytalk. Ebay too, but check feedback well.
 
People who start with Traditional gear/bows (recurves and longbows) seldom move on to compounds, because they just get hooked on the wonder of the simple stick and string and the magical flight of the arrow......and often folks who give trad archery a try put up their compounds for good because they like the challenge of instinctive shooting.

You can get a Samack youth recurve for less than $100. Go to the Lancaster Archery web site and look around at their recurve bows.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/samick-polaris-54-takedown-recurve-bow.html

My grand kids love to shoot.

kJ47dAQ.jpg


f1cQHXV.jpg
 
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I have an old recurve that I used when I was their age, about 20-25 years old. It's red, needs a string, but it would be free if you wanted it. I'll have to see if I can find it.
 
pirate said:
People who start with Traditional gear/bows (recurves and longbows) seldom move on to compounds, because they just get hooked on the wonder of the simple stick and string and the magical flight of the arrow......and often folks who give trad archery a try put up their compounds for good because they like the challenge of instinctive shooting.
Click to expand...

I started with compounds back in the early 80s. I made my first real traditional bow in the late 90s. I haven't picked up a compound since. To me it's much more fun to pick up the wood bow and quiver of arrows and take a walk in the woods and go stump shooting than having a specific target at a fixed distance from a fixed platform.
 
DC Bigdaddy said:
sights or no sights for the kids?
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Depends on what direction you want to go. If you are headed towards compounds and hunting I would just start out with sights. A cheap single pin like the HHA Cadet is nice. I started my youngest on one.
 
If compound, I second the Diamond Infinite Edge my son who shoots competitively with 4h started with a couple of other compounds but then got one of these, I really wish he had just started with it, it absolutely will work from day 1 up and into "manhood" it can stay lockstep during the growing process both in draw length as well as pull weight
 
pirate said:
People who start with Traditional gear/bows (recurves and longbows) seldom move on to compounds, because they just get hooked on the wonder of the simple stick and string and the magical flight of the arrow......and often folks who give trad archery a try put up their compounds for good because they like the challenge of instinctive shooting.

You can get a Samack youth recurve for less than $100. Go to the Lancaster Archery web site and look around at their recurve bows.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/samick-polaris-54-takedown-recurve-bow.html

My grand kids love to shoot.

kJ47dAQ.jpg


f1cQHXV.jpg
Click to expand...




What a Fine pair of fellow sophisticates...……..
 
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