Hi guys,
First of all, big thanks to pamike and Jon Stewart! They each sent me a few arrows to test out (one sent carbons and one sent aluminums so I could see how each worked for me). It was very generous of them to send me the arrows at no charge and I really appreciate it!!
I got my Omega longbow in the mail the same day as the arrows (perfect timing, huh?). It's 62" long, 40lbs @ 28" (I draw about 25"). I've been busy with school but finally got out to shoot the bow yesterday evening.
The first impression I had while shooting is...I suck!!! I haven't figured out how to aim yet. My left and right is usually pretty close but I almost always hit high...and not just a little bit, but 8-10" or more. But I have no consistency. Sometimes I hit where I want to but most of the time its not even close!! No group to speak of either...
As for the arrows, I couldn't really tell if any of them were better than the others. On the .600 spine carbons, it flew pretty straight with a 200g point on the end. It seemed like if I really focused on my release, all the arrows flew straight. And if I knew I had a bad release my left/right was off (arrows usually hitting to the left of where I was aiming, it seemed like).
In case you were wondering, the arrows I were trying were:
GT Traditional 1535
Easton Axis 500 spine
Aluminum 1716
Aluminum 1816
Like I said (and you all told me!), I couldn't really notice a big difference between the arrows because my form is pretty terrible. I need to get a smaller shooting glove because my fingers keep slipping out of the leather, so I'm sure that isn't helping. Also, we had to put on the nock point and I think we have it figured out.
One question is: is the string supposed to have twists in it like a compound string? My string doesn't seem to have twists? Or maybe it came untwisted? I unstring the bow when I'm not using it with the stringer that was recommended by the bowyer.
Any advice you can give me would be great! Maybe I will take some pics to post later :)
I would recommend you find a KNOWLEDGEABLE trad person near you. It is a lot easier to develop good shooting habits that it is to correct bad ones. Let them show you how to set your bow up properly. And then PRACTICE.
David
If your string is served on the ends it is an endless loop and will have much fewer twists.
I wouldn't worry too much about aiming right now, much more important to develop good repeatable form first.
Glad the arrows made it. Please tell me I sent a 600 axis and not a 500 axis???? 600 axis should fly good enough to get you started. Don't get caught up on the arrow flight too much yet. Worry about your form. There are plenty of references on shooting forum or masters of bare bow videos. Assuming u can't find a local mentor. My form improved greatly after a local TG'er gave me some pointers ( thanks Tim!!). And then I called Joel turner (clickerman) and all the pieces came together.
Mike
Great News about the bow and arrows. Things will get better. there is sound advice listed here. This site is exceptional for helping people improve.
Hope you can find someone close to help you out, often little things can make huge differences.
Oops, yes, I meant 600 and not 500 for the axis arrow! And that seems to be the one that flies the best. Though the 1716 aluminum ones work decent too. The 1816's seem to always hit to the left. And it seems like often the tails of the arrows are angled to the left, at least with the aluminums. The carbons are usually straight unless my form is bad. I am getting a little better. I hit the white center a few times! I got a new glove that fits better and I think it helps! I've got some photos and a video uploading :)
Form first,accuracy second. Try using a tab,you will get a consistent and cleaner release plus the tab may help your form.I have been using a glove for over 20 years and just started using a tab and my accuracy and groups have gotten a lot better. Stick with it and good luck :archer2:
Like PAMIKE mentioned...invest in the Masters of the Barebow series!!! You will return to watch those DVD's time and time again and each time you will pick something up!!! Just do it. Ha ha. Good luck.
Here are the pics! The video won't upload for some reason....
Me with the bow
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00789_zps6bf7490a.jpg)
The bow
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00786_zps1ff2ee84.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00787_zpsde949c71.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00788_zpsf0a563c9.jpg)
First time shooting
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00783_zps4b591a6c.jpg)
From above..you can see what I mean about the tails pointing left.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00785_zps17c879e9.jpg)
Getting a little better...Two in the white and one close!!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00792_zpse7322272.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00793_zps12e0db2f.jpg)
The video was of me shooting one arrow but I can't get it to work, sorry!
Nice to see women in the sport. Good luck and stick with it. In prior days there were many women in the sport.
Gil
nice shooting. the accuracy will come. i like the skins on that bow too!
Thank you! It's not actually a skin but just some cloth with a rattlesnake pattern. My husband's is copperhead. I can get a pic of it if you like.
Great to have you on.
The thing that helps for accuracy is to place a SMALL dot to concentrate on. Look at the dot and burn a hole in it.
Aim small miss small.
Have fun with the new sport.
Oh, well they look real good anyhow. start close and work on your form before trying to move back and actually shoot for groups. get on you tube and look up jimmyblackmon and moe1 something.. they have excellent! videos on there pages! watch them and you can learn allot. trust me work on form and proper techniques and you will get off on the right foot and avoid problems down the road.
TG member Moebow has several youtube videos and posts fairly often over on the Shooting Forum. He's a great coach and knows his form stuff.
Just get that first thousand arrows downrange and then get back to us...you are already shooting fine for just starting out...you are a traditional shooter now...no need to sweat the small stuff...by the end of that second thousand arrows you should be ready to do some fine tuning
DDave
I feel better - I thought the 600 would work and If I sent you the wrong arrow - oooyyyy!
The 600 axis is hitting the target nice and straight. I would grab a couple of them and mbb 3 and 4. You will be off and running.
Most important thing - HAVE FUN!!!!
Sorry, what is mbb 3 and 4? I don't know all the lingo yet :) That Axis arrow is my favorite one...of course it would be the most expensive one, too! Haha
QuoteOriginally posted by hntngrl:
Sorry, what is mbb 3 and 4? I don't know all the lingo yet :) That Axis arrow is my favorite one...of course it would be the most expensive one, too! Haha
They are videos by some sponsors here called masters of the bare bow.
very informational and fun to watch.
Hey Laura,
You are new like brand new so yeah you suck! You would be a total freak if you shot awesome groups on day one! Don't worry about tuning yet. Focus on good form and stay close. When you have the basics of form down and you can keep a reasonable group at 10 yards start thinking about tuning. Also if you bare shaft tune do it at the distance you shoot. So if you most accurate at 10 yards tune them there. As you improve move back and increase the distance. Good luck and nice bow.
Thanks!
Is there a reason the GT 600 spine doesn't fly quite as well as the Axis 600 spine? The GT's are about $50 cheaper per dozen :)
Laura, not sure where ya are in Iowa but Nebraska Traditional Archers has our annual rendezvous Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend in Fremont not to far from Omaha. Lots of good people to get you and your husband on the right track.
Link nebraskatraditionalarchers.org
Cory
Thanks for the invite :) Unfortunately I live on the complete opposite side of Iowa. Davenport, to be exact!
QuoteOriginally posted by hntngrl:
Thanks!
Is there a reason the GT 600 spine doesn't fly quite as well as the Axis 600 spine? The GT's are about $50 cheaper per dozen :)
are they the same length? also do they have the same weight inserts/points up front.
half the fun is trying to figure out what works for you. I cannot reiterate enough how nice it is to shoot with other people who know their stuff. The learning will be much quicker and the frustration levels will be cut tremendously.
Others have said it, keep it fun, you will get there.
The Gold Tip is 28.5" and the Axis is 29". Both have a 200g tip on the end.
Also - if I do buy a dozen Axis arrows, does it matter if they are the black ones or the wood grain ones? The black is the one I'm shooting now.
Ugh 5 1/2 hrs is a bit of a drive. Should be plenty of trad archers your way just takes time to find them. Go to your local club some one will be shooting traditional gear.
From proper form, all good things spring. Man oh man, I'm beginning to "wax poetic"! Somebody get me another cigar! Seriously, focus on one thing at a time; don't overload yourself and try to do too much. Practice doesn't make perfect-that's garbage! PERFECT PRACTICE makes perfect. Most importantly, for all of us today, this is a hobby. Take it back a thousand years, and it wasn't a hobby, but a matter of the utmost seriousness. We're all lucky that it's just a hobby now! Small steps, focus on the small steps and pay attention to detail; the rest will come in a while.
QuoteOriginally posted by hntngrl:
Also - if I do buy a dozen Axis arrows, does it matter if they are the black ones or the wood grain ones? The black is the one I'm shooting now.
Nope just about aesthetics.
But will the wood grain ones fly exactly the same? I notice the GPI is different and the insert weight is different.
I am around for another 2 weeks, then off to western WY till early October. Bring your bow and your beau and come on over for some shooting pointers anytime, just call ahead - only an hour away. Have indoor shooting so evenings OK too.
Gotta change the toenail color to cammo! You are doing great and there are many here proud of you. Welcome aboard
I doubt that the wood grain will fly exactly the same. They are slightly different arrows, but you should still be able to tune them to your bow. You could also try ordering some Easton Trad Only shafts from 3Rivers. The 600 spine is a smaller diameter like the axis, but they are much cheaper, and use a conventional style insert instead of the HIT's. I believe you can also order them in half dozens.
QuoteOriginally posted by hntngrl:
But will the wood grain ones fly exactly the same? I notice the GPI is different and the insert weight is different.
Close enough for government standards at bow hunting ranges. I looked a the specs looks like axis black is 7.5 and axis wood grain is 7.9 gpi. You will have to practice a long time to notice that kinda of weight difference. In a 28 inch arrow that's a weight difference of 10 grains. If you were an Olympic archery then yes but, shooting a long bow for 3d or hunting no way.
QuoteOriginally posted by Shaun:
I am around for another 2 weeks, then off to western WY till early October. Bring your bow and your beau and come on over for some shooting pointers anytime, just call ahead - only an hour away. Have indoor shooting so evenings OK too.
Two things I look for on tradgang for good advice...a four digit or lower member number and a high post count...you have both...if I was closer I would be coming on over for some shooting pointers with cash or gifts in hand...and I would be listening very attentively
DDave
Love the skins on your bow!
Keep 'em sharp and shoot straight!
Buddy
Congrats hntngrl on your new bow and welcome to the Gang. You are on the right path in trying to get your bow "tuned" first. However your arrows will fly better as your form gets better.Form is everything. Learn what good form consist of and work on just form. Don't worry about hitting the bullseye at first. I can tell by your smile that your having fun. That's what it's all about!
Thanks for all the comments. It is definitely fun! I haven't picked up my compound since I got the longbow...and that's saying something! But I will still be hunting with the compound this year since I'm not good enough to hunt the trad way this season. If I can get good enough before rabbit season starts, I might try to take a rabbit at 10 yards. I can usually get to within 10 yards of them around my house before they take off. It would be my first rabbit with any weapon. I would also like to take a duck or a goose sometime. Both of those are in abundance at the pond across the road from my house. From my deck to the water is about 30 yards. As long as the neighbors wouldn't mind, I think I could get a shot at one...once I improve. It's outside city limits so it would be legal as long as there are no PETA-types around..
Here are a few more pics. My husband Tyson decided to do a glossy finish on his bow, and I liked the way it turned out so he did the riser area on my bow, too. His bow has a copperhead pattern on it. He is getting pretty good!! At least at 10 yards. I'm sure he's happy being better than me with his longbow because I usually beat him with the compound ;)
Mine
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00800_zps9a156b4f.jpg)
His
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00806_zpseaed7b9b.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00804_zpsf8c86e42.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00805_zpsf2f0ed8c.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/zomgitslaura/Longbow/DSC00802_zpseddfbcc8.jpg)
Good dhooting
You two are gonna make a good team.
Congrats on new bow! Are you and Tyson located near DesMoines area? Just made up some aerial targets and flu flu arrows. Can't never have too many arrow flinging pals ( target throwers :) ).
We live in Davenport right now so I think about 3 hours from Des Moines. I have never done aerial shooting before, sounds like a blast!
Beautiful bow! I am sure you will get better with practice. I can see an improvement already through your photos. Go slow. I am sorry, I know this question has been asked, but is there someone close by who is knowledgeable and can help?
I did read all the post but the axis are a skinny carbon and the others take a 5/16th insert. Shawn
Laura don't worry so much about having great accuracy just yet. While it is a very important part of archery even more important is proper form. When I first started shooting a trad bow I didn't know about this forum and really only had one person to help me, but I didn't really start hanging around him until a year after I started shooting. I learned how to shoot all the wrong ways focusing on accuracy and developed some bad habits that thanks to my friends help and LOTS of proper practice with the proper form went away. It took me close to 3 years from the time I started shooting to break all those bad habits and develop good form and consistently good accuracy. If I had done right as I know now and focused on form first I probably could have been shooting with a pretty good form within a year and been pretty accurate. I am just very thankful for my friend's patience and tutelage, because of his help I have been shooting now for going on 8 years accurately and consistently.
Great looking bow. Keep working on the form and accuracy will largely take care of itself.
If you find that you are having specific form problems, there is a thread on this site specifically for getting advice on form issues. Mainly, just keep practicing and have fun with it.
That is a good looking bow. Keep practicing and it will come together for you. By all means keep asking questions, you are at the best place for that.
Practice as others have said and you will tighten your groups in no time...PR
I made a post on the form forum with pics of my form.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Form looks great in the pictures! If that is the anchor you are shooting with, I don't see how the string is hitting your cheek - your glove maybe, but definitely not the string. I think you would enjoy and learn a lot from watching a video taken at the same angle. I've been saving my videos from when I first got started and it's encouraging to review them and see my form problems starting to clear up.
I'd say you're doing fine.