Archery enthusiasts

Peter Carter6 said:Joe, if you're still lurking around here somewhere, what happened with that archery club in San Francisco?
A question for everyone: why don't I have anyone to give me advice on starting out in this sport? Would it be worth picking up the "Bow and Arrow" book by Hrvoje Šarić? I don't have anyone to show me the basics, and since I’m planning to buy a beginner bow soon, I know this isn't exactly child's play.

Absolutely!
Šarić is one of the most experienced archers out there; the man knows his stuff!
The book is straightforward and perfect for beginners.
👍

Hey there.

I’ve been browsing through some of the archery threads here, but honestly, none of them have really hit the mark regarding what I’m looking for.

Basically, I need someone to break things down for me. What does a beginner actually need to get started? What is the purpose of each specific component, and what kind of bow varieties are we talking about?

It sounds like a lot to take in, but I’m eager to learn. 😉

Thanks!

So, I picked up this mystery bow through a classified ad—no logo or anything—looks to be about 25 lbs, along with four carbon arrows. Just wanted to give you guys a quick rundown of my first real brush with archery.
The bow showed up on Friday, so I headed out to my vineyard on Sunday to start some "rapid fire" practice. My target was just a big cardboard box, maybe 70x120. As for the distance... well, let's just say it was an adventure. Since nobody ever actually taught me how to aim (I just learned via YouTube), my first few shots sailed right over the target. I kept moving closer—first to 15 meters, then 20, and by the time I hit 30 meters, I was already getting frustrated. You probably want to know why? Trust me, you'd be annoyed too if you had to go hunting for arrows 30 yards past the target in the tall grass. Some ended up stuck in the brush, too. By 30 meters, though, things were looking pretty decent. I fired off about 14 rounds of four arrows each, and somehow 17 of them actually hit my "elephant" target. I didn't have an arm guard or finger tabs, so I definitely felt a little sting from the string, but nothing too crazy. Now I’m just itching for some more free time to get back out there...
Man, if only I had a coach. It's all in the archer, but obviously, you need some technique too—just my casual observation, anyway. I spent my whole life in sports where raw power is everything, and if you don't have strength, you're nothing. I did Olympic weightlifting, and even though I always struggled with pure strength, I was (and still am) a better technician than Peshalov, according to him.

Could someone point me toward a spot in the States where I can actually get a feel for archery without all the guesswork? I know there are lists of clubs out there, but I’d much rather have a real recommendation—someone telling me, "Go to this specific club, the instructor actually knows their stuff"—so I don't end up wasting my time or losing interest because some amateur is running the show just because their name happened to be on a directory.

You can't really get anywhere close to actually feeling what it's like to shoot a bow and arrow
🙂
I mean, technically you could—I could hand you some cheap kid's toy bow and just stand you three feet away from the target

but let's be honest, that isn't archery, and it certainly isn't going to give you any idea of what the sport is actually about

???
I honestly can't tell if archers are just being incredibly stingy or if there's some unspoken rule against letting anyone else even hold a bow. It feels like I’m expected to just go out and drop a massive chunk of cash on a setup without having any clue what I’m actually getting myself into.
It’s hard to believe it's this difficult... surely there has to be a local club somewhere where I could actually get my hands on a bow and test the waters before deciding if this hobby is actually worth the investment.

Did you seriously not read that other thread?
Alright, let's go over this one more time: a bow is a pretty serious piece of equipment, and honestly, it’s unlikely you’d even be able to draw it back in the first place.
And look, it’s not because you’re some weakling or anything, it’s just that drawing a bow requires a very specific set of muscle groups to work together properly.
On top of that, there are several technical details you have to nail if you want to avoid injuring yourself during the draw and release.
🙂
I’d have no problem letting you try to pull my bow, but most likely you'll just end up staring wide-eyed in shock at how hard it is, and there's a real chance you could tweak a shoulder or tear a ligament.
So, your best bet is to just head down to a local archery club to see how things actually work; once you see it in action, the whole situation will probably make a lot more sense to you.

That’s actually my main goal here: finding the right place where I can really get a feel for the bow and learn how everything works in practice.

Either we commit to this thread once and for all, or we should all migrate to the other one; otherwise, we are simply going to lose ourselves in this clutter...☕

Michael Moore3 said:That is precisely my objective: finding the ideal venue where I might familiarize myself with the bow and its mechanics.

Your most logical course of action is to visit any local archery club and simply try it out. They will likely provide you with a beginner’s training bow, which offers a slightly more forgiving draw weight, yet remains an authentic piece of equipment. Once you find yourself standing a mere five meters from a target face featuring a yellow center roughly the size of a handball, you will begin to appreciate the appeal. Of course, that is precisely when your true struggles commence. :-)
All joking aside, if you can survive those first few months of drilling stance, perfecting your release—which involves moving your hand here and your elbow there as if you were playing a high-stakes game of Twister—while aiming at a plain black target from a distance where you could practically toss an arrow by hand, then you are truly hooked. 😁

I can offer some small consolation in the fact that used equipment is available at relatively reasonable prices, and once you invest in quality gear, it tends to last a very long time without requiring further capital.

Thanks for clearing that up 🙂
I’d also love a club recommendation if anyone has one! Feel free to shoot me a DM if you think posting it here would be bad form or feel too much like an advertisement. Spring is just around the corner, and I can already picture myself standing out in a field, breathing in that crisp spring air while letting fly a few arrows—it sounds pretty perfect to me

It isn't an advertisement, nor am I attempting to promote anything. If you ask me, a program like the one offered by the local YMCA would suit your needs best, primarily because they cover such a vast spectrum of training styles, allowing you to experiment more extensively. In any decent fitness club, there is always someone willing to guide you, and you won't encounter those types of toxic people who exist solely to drain your motivation for training.

http://www.ymca.org/

Thanks for the heads-up!
It feels like these seasonal programs don't really kick into gear until summer, or am I totally off base? Is there anywhere I could actually head out this weekend to get a feel for archery in person?

They’re running things over at the community center in Springfield
I think they’re active on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, but honestly, you’re better off just giving them a call to double-check their schedule before you make the trip

Thanks again! 🙂

..I'm new to this group. I've spent some time using a beginner recurve, specifically the Samick Polaris. It’s a solid setup; I'd recommend it. Now, I'm looking to move up to a recurve with limbs—something for hunting. I want to find a decent option without spending a small fortune. I've been looking at the PSE Deer Hunter. Does anyone here have experience with that model?

The PSE is a solid choice for anyone just starting out, providing at least one full season of reliable performance while you find your footing. You might want to consider picking up a pre-owned model to save some capital; there are several listings available here:

http://archery.com/classifieds

I used to run a Deer Hunter, my first real setup 🙂
It was alright, but once you get your hands on a Hoyt or a Mathews, the difference in build quality and just how they look is night and day.
Personally, I’m a Hoyt guy—they just look more modern. I absolutely loved the Hoyt Trykon, though; it shoots so smooth and the draw weight is super easy to handle. I’ve got an alphamax35 now, but man, that thing is way harsher than the Trykon.
So yeah, definitely go with the Trykon.
If you’re planning on ordering that Deer Hunter from Bass Pro Shops, make sure you tell them to add a peep sight and a D-loop, because they won't come on it. Also, grab the cheapest Wurth release you can find. You'll be stoked!

What’s your take on this bow—is it actually worth picking up? I noticed you all pretty much tore that shop to shreds earlier, so I figured I’d check in here first... I'd rather not just throw my money down the drain for nothing.

With the warmer weather finally starting to roll in, I’ve been wondering where everyone heads to get their outdoor workouts in, as I'd love to actually show up in person and see how you all operate.