Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Shooters FORM Board => Topic started by: bowmaster12 on December 17, 2008, 10:30:00 PM
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is it a mistake to shoot both should one just focus on shooting the recurve ive been told by someone i dont know that going back and fourth between the two will mess me up and if i really want to shoot trad thats all i should shoot. You guys think this is true that shooting my compound will hurt my development as a trad shooter?
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Depends on how you shoot them and you. If you truly want to go Traditional and hunt with a Traditional bow, then put the compound away and make the commitment to do it right.
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Good advice there. This is a great time of year to make the change and be fully committed to the recurve. You will progress faster I think if you can just stick with it full time.
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I would think you'd want to go cold-turkey for awhile. You don't have to sell the compound. Keep it.
I'm finding it hard enough to switch...and I've not touched the wheels for over a month now.
If your mind was a computer...shooting traditional is not a new version of Windows...it's a whole new platform. New software required.
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I shoot traditional 95% of the time...My son has a compound and once in a while he insists that I shoot my compound with him...I pull it out...place the arrow exactly where I want it for 3 arrows and then put it away...Just a way to satisfy an 8 year old that his dad really can shoot that bow! I love my longbows...They have made me a better archer...Just my 2 cents worth...
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I am probably spelling this wrong but I believe Fred Eichler shoots both very well. I shoot both but I shoot 3 fingers under and use the arrow for a reference on my longbow and I feel very confindent with my shooting. My opinion take it for what is worth. I wish you luck with your shooting.
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Last year I had my compound and used it a few times during the season. Never really practiced with the wheels as I was really into making the transition to trad. Once the season was over I sold the wheels to pay for my first custom and have never regretted it or looked back. I believe when you limit your self to one weapon and make the commitment with nothing to fall back on it does help accelerate the learning curve. Joe
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I agree with David. I think it will mess you up to shoot something as different from Trad as a compound, but better to be shooting anything than nothing at all. There is obviously going to be some carry over; however, you are still counting on muscle memory to shoot instinctively, and that depends on the same motions and forces being basically repeatable. A compound bow, by design, has a very different force curve and feel compared to a recurve or longbow. Fred Eichler shoots both, and no one can say he can't shoot traditional equipment well, but I doubt Fred spends much time shooting his compound. Bows with sights don't require much practice when you have been shooting a trad bow instinctively. I think of a compound bow much like I do my rifles. If they are sighted in correctly, I can hit what is in my sights, provided I know the distance to the target and it is within the range I am competent to be shooting (like 60 yards with a compound and 400 yards with a long range rifle). Of course, I rarely shoot a compound -- only when one of my wheelie buddies wants me to try out his new bow, and then only at targets.
Allan
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my plan was somthing like yours bow loving i just shoot my compound to make sure pins are still set then shoot recurve the rest of the time if a hunting situation comes up wear there is a realistic chance of getting a 50 yard shot and no way of getting closer then grab the compound since shooting that is automatic to me
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I agree with David. I think it will mess you up to shoot something as different from Trad as a compound, but better to be shooting anything than nothing at all. There is obviously going to be some carry over; however, you are still counting on muscle memory to shoot instinctively, and that depends on the same motions and forces being basically repeatable. A compound bow, by design, has a very different force curve and feel compared to a recurve or longbow. Fred Eichler shoots both, and no one can say he can't shoot traditional equipment well, but I doubt Fred spends much time shooting his compound. Bows with sights don't require much practice when you have been shooting a trad bow instinctively. I think of a compound bow much like I do my rifles. If they are sighted in correctly, I can hit what is in my sights, provided I know the distance to the target and it is within the range I am competent to be shooting (like 60 yards with a compound and 400 yards with a long range rifle). Of course, I rarely shoot a compound -- only when one of my wheelie buddies wants me to try out his new bow, and then only at targets.
Allan
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i think the two compliment one another. an archer is an archer, no matter what type of bow he chooses. using a compound out to a given distance and watching its trajectory has helped me with gauging distances and where/how to hold my tradbows at longer distances.
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I agree with part of what has been said - that shooting a compound (assuming sights and release) is a completely different discipline than shooting traditional (assuming shooting using a sight picture, or "instinctive").
I do not, however, agree that shooting one is detrimental to the other. That is based solely on my own experience and also based on what I stated above - that they are two different games.
I shoot both, acknowledging that I shoot traditional much more than I shoot compounds - probably 98% traditional. I haven't had a problem holding a pin on a spot and pulling a trigger and I don't notice that shooting giving me problems when I'm shooting my recurve/longbow.
Maybe I'm just different, but I don't think shooting a compound with sights/release would mess me up on traditional shooting any more than shooting a rifle with sights would.
Not being argumentative!!! Just stating my own experiences...
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Yes it can be done, especially if using sites on the compound. But(always a but) Traditional takes time and practice beyond what shooting a compound has, it takes a commitment. If you have the crutch or fallback of the compound will you make the commitment to really learn how to shoot it properly or will just have in the back of your mind that well I can just grab the compound when hunting season gets here? I've seen a lot of guys come from compound to Trad and then bail out. I've also seen a lot of guys put the wheels a way and work at being the best archer they can be with Trad Tackle and be extremely successful.
Not saying you can't do both, just saying time spent shooting the compound is time that could be used for improving your Traditional bow shooting skills if you really want to be serious.
I've shot a few compounds myself, nothing wrong with them, I just prefer longbows and recurves so invest the practice time I get with them.
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I shoot them both. They're different enough to me that I don't think it hurts. I have not committed to recurves only, just like I have'nt sworn off muzzleloaders or shotguns either. Recurves (or Longbows) are deffinately more demanding to reach near the same proficiancy. I find myself shooting them alot more lately in that desire to get better with it. But it's nice to be able to pick up one of the compounds and drill spots. How I'd love to get that good with a recurve!
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I think that physically, mechanically, it's probably no big deal. A compound doesn't require the hand/eye coordination or muscle memory that a traditional bow does.
That said, I think that there will come a time when you need to pick a side of the fence....the mental aspects of the way you hunt with a traditional bow can't possible co-mingle with the mindset of a compound hunter.
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one thing I noticed after spending a day on the range with a compound it showed me that with my RER I needed to focus on a spot more and also my shot sequence. my groups became tighter with my recurve. I paid more attention on where/how to pick a spot. I picked up on little things with my shot sequence that I was not doing prior.
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Im loving this thread I too look at grabbin the compound as some what as picking up a gun if that makes sense roger you made a great point that i havent even thought of but makes alot of sense the mind set of hunting would be totally different different setups different approaches
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It's all about what you want out of your hunting experience and how much of a challenge you want. Traditional becomes a mind set and more over time. Just look at those who've been doing it for decades opposed to those just starting out. It's fun to watch new blood develop. :)
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Pick which one is the most fun to shoot. I never really enjoyed shooting a compound, just sight it in, shoot a dosen or so arras a day, go hunting. To me, I enjoy shooting my trad bows, getting to hunt with them is an extended Christmas present. I shoot almost everyday I can and it has NEVER felt like practice, just fun however humbling/challenging.
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Oct 2nd I killed an Arkansas 8 point with a compound
November 14th I killed a nice KS buck with my recurve
The recurve hunt was 1000000 times more enjoyable .. I doubt I'll ever go back to compounds
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Just for clarification, my archery hunting these days is 100% traditional... I shoot a compound occasionally in the yard just for yucks.
I shoot a stick/string almost every day. Sometimes that is after dark, inside the shop, on my "ten yard range". I LOVE to fling arrows with a recurve and/or longbow!
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im new to the recurve havent shot awhole lot yet and from what ive been seeing on this forum im waiting till i get everything i want on my bow then geting togeather with someone that knows what they are doing and starting there but i enjoy shoot both very much my friends and i do some pretty crazy stuff with the compounds we really push eachother shooting wise i agree just standing at a distince and shooting the recurve way more fun but shooting 70 + yards between 2 inch gaps in trees or busting a bodies arrow on accident of course is awfully fun too
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If you want to get better at anything fast the first thing you need to do is get with someone who who really knows what they are doing. You could spend a fortune buying stuff (arrows)and find out you got the wrong thing. Good luck.
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I figure it's no more harmfull than a skeet shooter shooting a scoped rifle or vice versa. In other words, they are so different I don't think they'd interfere with each other.
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IMO,If one has only shot trad bows and where switching to a compound w/ all the shooting aids.The transition will be very breif to become effiecent.Now,from my experience.Doing it the other way around,you have to throw away most of what has been ingrained in your mind when shooting gadget archery to transfer over to INSTINCTIVE SHOOTING.I had a very difficult time switching, because of mentaly relying on gadgets to make me accurate.Take away that and I had to develope a shooting sequence to give me that comfort.GAP SHOOTING was my solution and w/ years of practice,almost every day.I developed the FEEL for the trad bow to shoot instictively.
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Originally posted by bowmaster12:
im new to the recurve havent shot awhole lot yet and from what ive been seeing on this forum im waiting till i get everything i want on my bow then geting togeather with someone that knows what they are doing and starting there but i enjoy shoot both very much my friends and i do some pretty crazy stuff with the compounds we really push eachother shooting wise i agree just standing at a distince and shooting the recurve way more fun but shooting 70 + yards between 2 inch gaps in trees or busting a bodies arrow on accident of course is awfully fun too
It's a good thing you don't need to use a "." or a "?" when making the switch. :saywhat:
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Originally posted by vermonster13:
Depends on how you shoot them and you. If you truly want to go Traditional and hunt with a Traditional bow, then put the compound away and make the commitment to do it right.
Well said Dave :thumbsup:
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I only have 1 compound left at this point,bought in Oct. I havent shot more than 6 shots with it since I sat it up. I use all my practice time with my recurves. I take my recurve hunting if I go to the farm we hunt. I cant shoot more than 15 yards at this point and feel comfortable. If I go to one of the public hunting areas,I take my compound. The reason is at the farm I have my stand ,pop up blind and homemade blind sat up in spots where I will have a 15yrd shot or less. Alot of the public ground is 30 yard shots just because you dont get the chance to scout much. Also its alot further drive to get there...
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I'm in the process of switching from compound to traditional bare bow. Personally, I feel that you owe it to the animal being hunted to be proficient enough with either to ensure a quick and humane kill. For me, until I feel as confident with my recurves as I do with my compounds, I will continue to hunt with the compound. Once proficient enough with the recurves, I will probably give up the compound.
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Kinda sounds like you want to make the switch to traditional.
If so, i'd recommend sticking with the recurve only.
I personally shoot both. Good luck, and keep us posted. :archer:
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There should be no issue or problem with shooting both. They are for the most part two different disciplines.
That would be like a martial artist saying "Should I only learn shotokan which is very strong and fast (compound), or can I also learn Kungfu which is smooth and fluent (traditional)."
Of coarse you can learn both.
Both can be enjoyable.
I would not recommend learning both at the same time.
I don't feel making the switch should be any big deal.
Once you start to become proficient with the longbow/recurve you'll feel and know down inside when it's right to drop and or use the compound.
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A compound is a neat gadget ---- but a bow it ain't, imo, especially todays tricked out models.. I shot them for a couple of years back in the mid 70's. Then got a good recurve and have never looked back. If you want to step up the plate and be a "Bowhunter" get a recurve or longbow and devote you time to learning the craft.
Please don't assualt me for this, no harm intended. Just the way I feel..
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I don't know if shooting a compound will hurt your accuracy with recurves/longbows, but shooting trad bows noticeable increased my accuracy with my compound. I rarely shoot it, but when I do, I shoot better groups with it than I did when I shot it often. It seems so easy to shoot tight groups even at long distances after having to concentrate so hard to shoot tight groups at 20yds with my recurve.
The funny thing is, that it gets boring real fast and I go back to shooting my recurve after about 15 minutes. There is just more sense of accomplishment with my 8" group at 20 yds from my recurve than from a 3" group at 40yds with the wheels.
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Like any physical endeavor, some people are more skilled than others...i.e. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, etc. So, some will be able to pick weapon up and use it skillfully. But for the mass majority of us we need to refine our skill and be consistant in our shooting habits to maintain a level of profeciency. I like having one style of bow and becoming intimate with it so I am fully comfortable with how it feels in the hand and how it performs from draw through release.
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If you're just starting out you would be best to go trad only for a little while. At least, that is what I felt I had to do. I sold my compound at the time.
I bought a used compound this past summer because I still like to shoot them, but more so I haven't had the time to put into trad like I need since taking care of my new daughter.
However, now I'm using both with no problems. I just practice trad at lunch and breaks at work. I don't have to put near as much into the compound. I won't sell the compound again though. I know it's probably a sin or something, but I really do enjoy both.
Ole Fred Eichler is deadly with both all the time so it can be done well. Like I said, I can do both now just fine, too. I just believe if trad is what you want to do you need to just shoot trad to start.
That last sentence is probably all I needed to say! lol
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i think its different for all people.i shoot a compound with carbon arrows,release,drop away rest and i shoot a recurve and i shoot a hickory flatbow. by all reasoning i shouldnt be able to shoot any of them with any consistency but i somehow seem to manage. they all take a certain amount of discipline to shoot well. some of that discipline,concentration,muscle memory etc,blend into each other.shoot what you want when you want.if you are studying to become an olympic archer or something then maybe you should stick to one type but otherwise just shoot
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Just have fun. This really is so personal, there isn't one answer. Enjoy one or enjoy both. Just enjoy.
My only advice is never sit in a treestand and wish you had the other bow, that would be sad indeed.
- Dave
BTW: Shooting a compound bow well, and by well I mean in the realm of a compound bow, isn't the piece of cake that many profess. In fact, I suspect those professions may be a tad stretched. All shooting sports require lots of practice to be good as measured by that tool
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Originally posted by lt-m-grow:
Just have fun. This really is so personal, there isn't one answer. Enjoy one or enjoy both. Just enjoy.
My only advice is never sit in a treestand and wish you had the other bow, that would be sad indeed.
- Dave
BTW: Shooting a compound bow well, and by well I mean in the realm of a compound bow, isn't the piece of cake that many profess. In fact, I suspect those professions may be a tad stretched. All shooting sports require lots of practice to be good as measured by that tool
very well said indeed :thumbsup:
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thanks for everyones advice and thoughts I think i will probably stick with my origanl plan shooting my compound is second nature once i know all is good ill put it away and shoot the recurve the rest of the time 98% and if my friends and i want to play around and try some crazy things ill grab the compound i dont think it will hurt anything. hopefully with 98% effort on trad it will become second nature just like the compound
great conversation guys
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Let me see, I have a Mathew's Outback, an Onieda Osprey, Selway takedown long bow, Bear cub recurve, viper flatbow, one self bow, and will soon recieve a brad new Sarrel's Archery Superstition Longbow. I shoot them all all the time. When I need to get some meat or it is very cold outside, I'll take my Mathew's. Bowfishing for big fish, my Onieda. Regular numbers bowfishing, Bear. Want to go primitive I'll pull out the selfbow and the Viper is what I use to help get others into the sport.
Shoot what ever you want, my Mathews has taken more big game than any one of my bows, the Onieda helped me make a name for myself in the bowfishing world with alligator gar, but my recurve has taken more fish than anyone I know of down here, 650 in one tournament. My best shot was with the Selway at a quail 75 steps away. The Viper helped me harvest my first Trad Big game in a Javalina I took last year and the self bow is just fun to shoot.
Practice with what you want to shoot and they will all compliment each other in one way or another. But be sure to practice with what you will use. When my Superstition gets here, early next month I hope, I will shoot nothing but that bow until I get the feel for it and then I begin my regemin all over again. A bow a day sure can be fun, and I was starting to wonder why my arms are always sore, lol
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I would be very interested to see what % of archers that are going from compounds w/ all the gadgets, to shooting a trad bow,and still shoot their gadget bows that they can so conviently become accurate w/,wiil make the switch.My guess.Very low
The trad archers I know that are very good shots are totally dedicated to shooting their bows.None switch from trad bows to compounds.