I just started shooting a recurve in June. You wouldn't believe how much I've learned and how much I still don't know. I was shooting a 65# compound bow with 65% letoff. I bought a 60# takedown bow because my draw length is only 26", and I wanted to shoot about 55#. I guessed good because my bow was exactly 55# at my draw length. It took me about 2 months to figure out that was too much bow for me. I was lucky enough to find someone with an identical takedown bow that wanted more draw weight. I am now shooting 50# at my draw length. I am shooting much better, and I can practice until I want to stop rather than because I had to stop. Five pounds doesn't sound like much, but it feels like much after about 15 shots.