Well I decided to join the traditional archery world. I picked up a Martin x200 at a local store. I sure wish I had done some reading before I made the purchase because I think the salesman just wanted to make a sale.
I got a 50# draw, which it turns out is a bit much for me. I can draw it ok, but after a half dozen shots I start shaking.
Also, I was having trouble with my accuracy. After several shooting sessions, I just wasn't getting a decent group. After some research on this site, I discovered I am left eye dominant despite being right handed.
So I bought to heavy of a bow and the wrong hand. I guess I will put it up for sale on craigslist in hopes to get close to what I paid for so I can pick up a lighter bow in a LH model.
If there are any other newbies out there, please don't make these mistakes. Do some homework first. Get a bow you can comfortably draw, and make sure you know your dominant eye. Don't repeat my mistakes. They are costly ones.
Aside from that, I am happy to be a part of the traditional shooting community, shooting a stick bow is a BLAST and I can't wait to take my first deer once I get my mess sorted out.
Thanks for these forums, they seem like a great place for info.
You're in the right place, everyone here will be wiling to help you with any questions you will have. Just browsing the pow wow everyday you pick up a lot , if there's something you can't find either use the search feature or just simply ask! welcome to the gang!
Hey hang in there we all make mistakes at first. I sure did but it's all worth it when it all comes together! I can tell you learn from your mistakes and that's the key.
Good Luck
Need help let us know.
Try and find someone to lend you a lighter bow for a while until you have your form right. You will quickly grow into the 50# bow.
I did almost exactly the same thing except I was given a 60# X-200 as a gift. NEarly killed myself for several months but did eventually get to where I could keep 6 inch groups from 20 yards. I am left handed but right eye dominant. I did buy a 45# pearson cougar in December off of ****. That did wonders for my form. I think by deer season, I'll maybe be ready for the heavier one. Its a beautiful bow.
Welcome to Tradgang!
Ask all the questions you need to, there are many folks here willing to help you out.
Welcome to a great sport / hobby / lifestyle.
Welcome to the Trad world of archery and Tradgang.
Welcome to Tradgang. Do not worry about the mistakes in learning, that is how you learn. I started shooting in 1966 and believe me I still make them. We all keep learning.
Nothing wrong with your bow. You will get stronger and try slightly squinting your left eye. Have fun.
Welcome to the gang! Hang in there, you will be glad you did.
Theese guys are great! just catching the bug myself. alot of good info and an even better family. welcome!
Welcome to the group.
Welcome!
I am continuously learning on TG and still don't have the knowledge to fill a thimble.
Welcome and don't worry about the mistakes; we've all made them. You'll get good advice here.
If you can sell the bow for what you paid for it, great; but I wouldn't dump it for a loss quite yet. You still need to figure out if you want to learn to shoot left handed (assuming you are predominently right handed); or shoot right handed and learn to aim with your right eye. Either way can work; only you can figure out which works best for you. You could ultimately end up looking for a right hand bow of about 50# after you build some strength and figure out if you'll be shooting right or left handed; which is why I wouldn't take a loss on that bow quite yet if you can swing it.
In the meantime, I'd suggest finding a used left hand bow of a weight you think would be comfortable; I'll throw 35# - 40# out there as a suggestion. I wouldn't worry about the bow being of "hunting" weight quite yet; just something to learn good form on and build the strength a bit to handle more pounds should you chose to do that.
The classified ads here are a good place to start looking as well as the online auction site.
Good luck and have fun!
I'm sure it's one of the most common mistakes for a guy starting traditional later in life (switching from the one with wheels especially). Have no fear, I'm sure you'll make a different mistake soon. Lifetime of learning, if you'll willing to listen.
The "ONLY" way to not make mistakes is to do nothing!!!
That would be a really big mistake to make in itself.
In my opinion.
God bless,Mudd
You will do just fine, if you were'nt making any mistakes, you wouldn't be learning anything.
Hang in there, we're here to help as much as we can.
I often use the Martin X200 as an example of just such a situation. Martin makes some very good bows, but in my estimation the X200 is not one of them.
Unfortunately, it is in a price range that seems attractive to new buyers and often shops do not give their employees anything else to work with.
The Bear Grizzly is a better bow for about 200 bucks less.
Still I recommend neither to a newbie. I always say go to the classifieds or **** for your starter bow.
One thing you should do is look for Rob DiStefano, the tradgang techie, and read his treatise for new shooters. It is the best I have seen and had you read it first you would never have bought that bow.
Unfortunately the harsh lesson still to come is how much of a beating you are gonna take on a bow that is not too much in demand used.
I paid not a whole lot more for my 1960 Kodiaks than you did for that X200; I could easily sell at least one of them for considerably more than I paid for it.
I just bought a brand new Bear Panda for 150 bucks and I am pretty sure it is a 1959 version. If you draw 28 inches or less, I am betting you would like it better than the Martin, and it can be shot either right or left handed.
DDave
Thanks for the support guys. I got the bow for a steal, I thought, only $260. So I think I could get that out of it if I tried hard enough.
I have been trying to train myself to shoot with my right eye by drawing repeatedly in the mirror so I can see the line. As soon as I step away and draw, then go back to the mirror, the arrow moves right back to my left eye.
There sure is a lot of information in these forums. This place is great!
My advice is to hold onto the bow until you have 100 posts here and sell it here. I'd also buy a left hand bow around 45# or so and learn to shoot with your dominant eye. You will be happier in the long run. You can look for used bows in the classified here and be comforted that the sellers are upstanding members and won't take advantage of you.
I also recommend you not try and dump the bow on CL. You may even work out a good trade once you have enough posts to use the classifieds. You could build that up in a day or 3.
You may develop bad habits if you continue to force yourself on the bow. I dont think this mistake needs to be as costly as you think, and you can learn something too.
Welcome to the Gang and ask as many questions as possible. Also, Make good use of the search function you can research age old questions.
Yea get a used left-hand bow in a weight you think is right for you,e-bay has lots of used bows,you can find some good deals.Just stick with it,Traditional archery is kind of a never ending journey.
are you shooting with both eyes open,and if you want to sell the bow you can right here and might find a used one at the poundage you want.
Great advice from many. I would say that switchng to lefty would serve you better in the long run, and I don't think it will take that long to develop good muscle memory.
Click on the "NEW TO TRAD ARCHERY" on the top right of this page. Welcome to Tradgang
I am also new to trad archery. I bought a rt hand bow to later learn I'm left eye dominant. I was pretty upset at first but also learned I Shoot instinctively so dominant eye doesn't really matter too much. Keep practicing and your groups will improve. I may buy a lefty bow next to try but am doing well rt handed now
Hey, at 260 bucks you did exceptionally well.
If you go into the Outdoor World store we have near Calgary they will want $569 for one of those puppies.
At that price I would hang on to that bow. You will eventually learn to shoot it well enough. I tell people who say something does not work for them to come back to me after they have shot a thousand arrows that way and then tell me it does not work.
I just had a perfect example this weekend of an advantage of shooting both ways. One of the young fellows I was training got to the point where the fingers on his right draw hand were sore, so by switching to lefty he could continue to shoot some.
It was pretty hilarious actually. He picked up one of my lefty bows and after a few shots decided he did not like it. So he grabbed another bow and tried it. He was back holding it in his left hand and looking at it kind of puzzled. At that point I informed him he had picked up the only other lefty there and he decided he was gonna shoot it right handed. I told him that there was no way he could shoot it right handed to which he replied "You been telling us all along there is no such thing as can't in traditional archery" and he proceeded, with considerable difficulty, to launch an arrow right handed.
DDave