I like to shoot bows with my eyes closed. I shoot several bows I am interested in, even a few I'm not interested in. Then I shoot them with my eyes closed paying close attention to how they feel in my hand, how they draw and how they feel during and after the shot.
I also compare how fast they shoot different weight arrows and how they are designed, but mostly go by how they "feel" in my hand and how much they appeal to me aesthetically. Since I am poor price is big factor for me as well. Most of the bows the guys on here shoot are simply out of my reach. I can't afford to spend close to a grand on a bare bow, just isn't happening.
The key is to shoot lots of different bows. This is why I could never order a bow from the internet. When I got my last bow I was pretty set on getting a hoyt for around 400 bucks (I forget the name, magnatec maybe?) then just for the heck of it I shot a Mighty Might by Bowtech. That bow just "felt" right in my hands. It was a hundred bucks more than I wanted to spend, but I got it anyway because I liked it that much. I really wanted a cybertec, but they quit making them by the time I could afford one[&o].
You never know unless you shoot them
. And they need to be set up to your specifications as well. Bows shoot completely different with different set ups, or if they don't fit you. I have shot bows that I though sucked, but they were a bit too long and had a bit much draw weight for my taste. The same bow set up to fit me properly was a dream to shoot. It really does make a difference.
Paul
Comparing new bows
