DVDs and Books

PCF · August 09, 2011, 04:46:00 PM

What books and/or DVDs are recommended for general traditional information. Shooting form, arrow tunning, equipment and so forth.
What are your favorites?

Blackstick · August 09, 2011, 06:32:00 PM

It's hard to find more information in one spot than "Shooting the Stickbow" by Anthony Camera. It should be in every archer's library and a number of Trad Gang sponsors sell it.

Orion · August 09, 2011, 08:06:00 PM

The Traditional Bowhunters Handbook by T.J. Conrads is also very good. Timeless Bowhunting by Roy Marlowe is also an excellent resource, though a bit more technical than the others. Of course, G.Fred Asbell's shooting books are hard to beat.

LBR · August 10, 2011, 02:32:00 AM

QuoteIt's hard to find more information in one spot than "Shooting the Stickbow" by Anthony Camera.

It may have some good info., but you'll need to know enough to separate the good from the bad. I read the "glossary", and it has a lot of opinion, ego, and downright error in it--so much I could never in good concience recommend it. A few examples:

"Archer – Someone skilled in the use of a bow and arrow. Note the word "skilled"."

I guess there's no such thing as a novice archer, beginning archer, intermediate archer, etc.?

"B-50 – Dacron bowstring material made by Brownell. B-500 is the same material, but made by BCY."

B-50, B-500, and B-55 are all made from Dacron, but are not the same material. I wouldn't mix them in the same string due to differences in tensile strength, rate of strech and creep, etc.

"Bowstring, Flemish Splice – String made from individual strands of material and bound together by braiding or "splicing" the ends together."

There are no braids or splices in a Flemish string.

"Fast Flight – Bowstring or bowstring material made from Vectran."

Not even close. The Fast Flight brand is/was made from Dyneema. There is no 100% Vectran string material.

I've also read the "starter" list. 14 strand Dynaflight '97 string for 20-50# bows? Do you put ethanol in a dragster, ankle weights on a sprinter, and tie out a chihuahua with a logging chain?

IMO there are much more accurate resources, by people with actual verifiable credentials (the author of STS has none concerning hunting, competing, or coaching). My favorite is "Masters of the Barebow, Volume III. Two World Champion archers, one who has also coached World Champions. Easy to understand, easy to follow.

Chad

Turkeys Fear Me · August 10, 2011, 07:19:00 AM

I don't think you can find better information that was is contained in the Masters Of The Barebow DVD series.

Pretty much everything you will ever need to know, for however you decide to shoot, is contained in that series.

Downtime · August 10, 2011, 07:47:00 AM

It's hard to find more information in one spot than "Shooting the Stickbow" by Anthony Camera. It should be in every archer's library and a number of Trad Gang sponsors sell it. I agree so much with Blackstick. The 2nd edition is even better than the 1st edition.

Master of the Bare Bow DVD series, very good information, I keep getting new insight on how to become a better archer, every time I rewatch these DVDs.

Blackstick · August 10, 2011, 08:10:00 AM

That's funny Chad. I guess I should have looked up the definition of archer before using it in a post. I probably don't qualify myself.

BTW, your DVD on string making (Doin' the Twist) is also very good and the only resource on that I use.

August 10, 2011, 08:18:00 AM

Another vote for the Masters of the Barebow dvd series, especially volume III.

WPAtrapper · August 10, 2011, 09:37:00 AM

Rick Welch's "The Accuracy Factory"

Lee Viv · August 10, 2011, 09:51:00 AM

Sorrells" Beginners Guide to Traditional Archery, MBB series, Asbell, there a many sources...my suggestion would be to eventually get as many as possible and pick the best from all of them...

Just depends on how in depth or involved you want to get..

lee

Pat B. · August 10, 2011, 10:04:00 AM

MBB 3

Blackhawk · August 10, 2011, 11:27:00 AM

I enjoy reading those definitions in some books, such as...

Archer - one who shoots bow and arrow at targets.

Bowman - one who hunts with a bow.

As for DVD's, the Masters of Barebow 1-4 are tops.

T.J. Conrad's book is also excellent.

LBR · August 10, 2011, 11:54:00 AM

I hope my post didn't come across the wrong way (easy to do on a computer). I just hate to see misinformation spread, and it's human nature to believe "it has to be true--I saw it in a book!".

My point is, do your homework. Research the "author" of a book or the players in a video--that can go a long way in helping you find out if it's legit.

Chad

Bender · August 11, 2011, 12:28:00 AM

I've read "Shooting the Stickbow"cover to cover. Sure it has some valid info in it, but basically it sucks, especially as a book for beginners.
Tons of misinformation. It really is not fair to a beginner with extremely limitted knowledge to expect them to be able to sort through the nonsense.