First off, sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, just looked like the likeliest subforum to me.
Anyways, I'm looking for suggestions for a beginner ladies bow. I don't want to spend a ton, 'cause she is likely to only shoot it a handful of times a year.
She's right handed, about 5' tall and we're looking for something around 30-35#. She doesn't shoot as often as I do, and doesn't hunt, but she does like to come along to the different archery tournaments and has fun when she is able to borrow our friends bow. So, I'm looking to get her her own bow without braking the bank.
I'm currently keeping my eye on the classifieds here, but 35# bows aren't as prevalent as I'd like.
So, I'm looking for suggestions of different bow makers/companies, as well as other web classified sites I might browse.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
First of all, 30-35# may be too much weight for her is she is only going to shoot infrequently. I would drop to 25#, make up some soda straw aluminimum arrows and let her shoot all day long. I would be looking for an old bear target bow if I was you. You could also look at some of the youth bows that 3Rivers sells. The GreatTree, magellon, Intranature type of recurves are around $100-$125 in sizes that will nicely fit her 5 feet tall frame. They are also pretty dang indestructable as my kids can attest to.
Greg is on the money and you can checkout fiberglass bows as well Mudd has some he just sold me 2 that are in great shape.
I got an ILF bow for my girl friend. It has some adjustment so that when she starts shooting more she can move up in weight some if she want. She shoots very well and loves her bow.
Have a new Mad Dog mid-size recurve on its way for my wife, 28# @ 26, zebrawood riser and brown glass limbs with her name on it, $190 shipped, hope she likes it. She will probably only shoot a few times a year as well, just wanted something she would enjoy shooting, and not be something she wouldn't want to be seen with, Mike has a great reputation. Todd
Wow, thanks alot guys! The suggestions so far will help a ton. You guys gave me a lot of options to look into, Thanks!
As far as poundage is concerned, I'm gonna try to hook up with a buddy of mine and do some family shooting. He has a wife and two kids, so he should have a pretty good range of draw weights to let her try out.
Gregg, you brought up another question I didn't realize I had. Aluminum v. wood?! I shoot wood, but I know it would probably be easier to get straight and tuned arrows if I went with aluminum for her. But I have no idea how to buy aluminum arrows.
Diameter, wall thickness, spine weight, field tip weight, length? Agh, it'll be like learning a whole new school of thought if I go that way... Then if she misses and bends one, it's no good!
I guess she would break a few woods, but they seem to be a little more forgiving when you miss than aluminum?
P.S. What does ILF stand for, so I can google it?
You might want to take a look at the Dryad Phoenix if she is interested in a longbow. The price of those bows are more than reasonable.
Black Rhino longbows. My girlfriend only shoots #26@24 and only for about two weeks a year (prior to the Compton shoot) then it's put away. They offer a trade-in program where you get some money off your next bow if you trade for a new one if she ever wants more weight.
QuoteOriginally posted by stingray4540:
P.S. What does ILF stand for, so I can google it?
International Limb Fit
Many sponsers here use it in there line.
I got a Morrison for my girlfriend.
I have a 30# at 28" Ben Pearson Colt that my wife started with. It is a GREAT beginners bow. My wife learned to shoot with that bow. She could pick it up after laying off and still shoot it well. When she shot regularly, it was an easy draw and smooth. I would sell it pretty cheap if you think it would work for her.
PM me if interested.
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/Breast%20Cander%20Archery/Pam3.jpg)
I have a 35# PSE Razorback on its way for my wife. She tried 35# at a recent expo and reckons its fine for her. If she doesn't realy use it in the long run, I'll keep it as back-up for friends who visit without their bows.
Depending on her draw length a 35# @ 28" might be the ticket. My wife shoots a Ben Pearson philly at that weight her draw length is only around 25-26 so the actual weight is low. Check her draw length and find a light weight used bow for her. I bought my wife's bow off the big auction site dirt cheep and she just loves it.
The Ben Pearson Colt is a great bow! I had mine refinished. I have had it for almost forty years. Another sweet shooter, that would sell for even less is the B.P. All American. I got one in a liquidation sale at a mini-warehouse, and it was the surprise of my life, how smooth it was to shoot.
Aluminum is fairly inexpensive, and is repeatable. Easy to learn, to me, easier than carbons. Find out what weight your wife will like to draw, and we can get you the aluminum size that she will need.
Killdeer
Most important piece of information is going to be draw length--that will determine what weight bow @28" will be comfortable for her. Get her something SHE likes, not just what you think she'd like. Bring her into the process. My 2 cents. :archer:
You defiantly want to keep the draw weight light. I got a 28lb at 28" for my wife. It was to heavy for her. I have a 24lb at 28" coming that she can handle. Remember when the draw weight is that low 4 lbs is all most a 20% difference. I would get her carbon arrows. To get aluminums spined that light they bend just removing them from the target. You can't shoot a bent arrow straight. You want her to have fun and some success to keep her interested.
Nothing will be comfortable for her at first. That is just the way it is. Unless, you get her a kid's bow.
Everyone, has to work up to a shootable weight. That is how the ball bounces.
Here was the trick for me. The Ben Pearson Colt was actually my son's beginner bow when he was 10 yrs old.
My wife rarely, I mean rarely shot.
But, I got a blown up picture of one of the Survivor Castaways that she dispised from the Survivor TV show. I had a target image photoshoped on the picture. I put it on my outdoor target. As soon as she saw the target, she asked it she could shoot.
Now, her mental attitude overcame her lack of strength. Within a week she was looking for a heavier bow.
My advice get a good but cheap bow. Then, get her motivated. Very soon, she will be wanting to upgrade! Now, you are in trouble!!! $$$$$
I have the same problem with my wife. She would have to have a very light bow. I have had a 30 and 35lb@28" bows and she couldn't pull either one back to full draw. So now looking to buy a kids bow about 24lbs just so she could shoot it. Carbons if you can find them spinned light enough would be the way to go for durability but I will probably get mine some kids arrows to match the bow until she gets stronger and ready for more poundage.
Don't do it....
After she shoots one of these.....
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/Breast%20Cander%20Archery/Pam3.jpg)
She will want one of these......
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/Pams%20bow%202/Pamsbowcombi.jpg)
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/Pams%20bow%202/Pamsbowrisercombi.jpg)
And, I want one of these...... :bigsmyl:
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/90%20LBS%20Howatt/Armguard.jpg)
But, if you want to see how the bow shoots, watch this video with sound....
(http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac327/Asgard2010/Chet%20Archery/th_ChetArchery.jpg) (http://s912.photobucket.com/albums/ac327/Asgard2010/Chet%20Archery/?action=view¤t=ChetArchery.flv) ]Ben Person Bow[/URL]
Quote
And, I want one of these...... :bigsmyl:
Lol, I'll take two!
Cool, thanks for the video, that's pretty friggin quiet.
As for upgrading bows, we'll see. As of right now, she only shoots a handful of times a year. But I wouldn't mind if she got really into it and wanted a nicer bow, then she can't complain when I get one... ;)