How Easy Is It to Get Started?

[Arthur P]

This thread is to address a question on another thread, which I think deserves to be a topic to itself.

Frankly, I don't know how easy it is to get started with traditional after beginning archery shooting a compound. When I started shooting bows and arrows, there was no such thing as a compound. I was given a little wood bow and willow switch arrows when I was 3 years old and basically grew up with a bow in my hand, so I really never 'started' either.

So, given all that, I'm gonna let you guys field this question.

[Double Creek]

What do you mean by easy?

In terms of money, there are several things you will need that you don't think about when first getting into it....

1. Bow obviously
2. Arrows
3. Arrow points
4. Glove or tab
5. Arm guard
6. Quiver, atleast one
7. Stringer
8. Bow sock
9. Tip protectors
10. String keeper
11. Bow square

Obviously, you don't have to have some of those things, but most do...... So, the initial investment can be very expensive....

Now as far as how easy is the transition from compound to trad........... I think it depends on what your view on hunting and archery is all about....... If you are obsessed with killing deer, you may want to to stick with the compound, it will more than likely double your effective area...... But, if you are looking for a sport to enjoy year round, something that is challenging and rewarding, nothing compares to traditional archery......It's like golf, but much cooler I've never played much golf, but I think it has many parallels with trad archery. It's largely about form and technique. I must be practiced regularly. It's an extremely mental game. And you are really your only opponent.

Now, once you get started, things can be tough....... I tried the trad thing a few years ago, but gave up after a few weeks of not enjoying what I was doing. I WAS OVERBOWED!!! That's not fun!!!

This go around, I got a bow I could handle and I started out at 10yds....... I was barely able to keep all 4 arrows in the microwave sized target..... But, each day I noticed things got easier and easier. Now, I can keep 4 arrows in a soft ball type target at 15yds.... Its taken about 6 months to get there.... That may not sound like alot of improvement, but for me it is!! Hopefully by this time next year I can shoot 4-5 inch groups at 20-25yds.. Without the Internet I could have never made the transition....... There are just SO many things about trad archery that must be learned, that without others who have experience to guide you, you are up against an almost impossible foe...... Various different styles, holds, etc that must be worked out.....Without some really good one on one with a trad shooter, you really have to have a desire to learn and absorb. For instance, I probably spent 20hrs reading posts about shooting this weekend on another site. You have to be willing to invest that time to gain insights from others who have walked the path your on.

[Bowshopper]

For me it was learning to shoot by canting the bow and not touching the string to my nose as an anchor point.

[Guss]

It is not hard at all to get started, it is vary easy. All ya need is a bow, arrows and a glove, maybe a arm gaurd to. Its not at all hard to get started its hard to get good.

[LBR]

I reckon I fit the category. Other than playing with a few homemade bows and arrows--hickory saplings strung with nylon twine were the bows, and cypress shoots were the arrows (no feathers), I had very, very little experience with archery growing up. I borrowed my uncle's compound bow once, I think I was 12 or 13--shot it without any instruction at all until I lost all of his arrows (didn't take long at all). I was in my early 20's--21 or 22, I think--before I really got into archery. Got a compound (that didn't really fit), and taught myself to shoot it. It was an old Hoyt, wood limbs and a plastic flipper rest (wan't made to accept any other type rest), round wheels, 65% let-off. Pretty sure the longbow I shoot now is faster, but I enjoyed it and it got the ball rolling.

Then one day one of my best friends came over and had these odd little toys with him. He'd picked up a couple of fiberglass recurves at a gun show or flea market or something. He'd had an uncle that was pretty good with a recurve and he wanted to figure it out. He was up to date with compounds at the time, but neither of us had a clue with the recurves. We got out in the yard (not sure how we even got them strung, even though they were really light weight) and had a ball. Meanwhile, I traded for what was then one of the better compounds on the market--a PSE SLR 1000 Infinity, high dollar sight pins, Scott Mongoose release aid--I was in high cotton. Never did shoot that one much--just wasn't much to it. Set the pins, put the pin on the target, squeeze the trigger, hit the bull, repeat. I'd also found a Bear Tigercat recurve--that was the bow that had my interest. Still didn't have a clue as to what form was, but I was getting somewhat close to the target anyway. Then I saw Byron Ferguson perform for the first time, bought his book, found a longbow, and I was ruined. I'd been shooting trad for less than a year, and went to pulling 82# on a longbow. Also found out that we had two local archery clubs, and we had a few trad shooters in the area that were about my age.

Read the book over and over, used what parts worked for me, got a computer and got on the internet, found lots more information, and here I am. It took me several years to get half-way decent with my shooting, and I'm still no Robin Hood, but I'm still learning and loving it.

I don't think it's all that hard to get started these days. Lots of great bows out there, and still a few that can be had at a decent price. Way more information available to the general public now than there was then, and a lot better selection of equipment. If a person sets their head to it, they can do it.

Chad