i shoot a 60# recurve BUT i use a trigger release. tabs are nice too. fingers i feel are the trickiest to get use too. as far as arrows for 50-60# i use either alum. in 2018 or 1916. both are fine. i also shoot light carbons and they fly nice off the shelf. thinner diameter and they seem to penetrate deeper too. if you want to go out this year you have to practice every day. start at 10 yards and move back to 15, then 20, 25,30,40. forty should be shot at just to make a 20 yard target seem easy.i personally wouldn't make a shot past 30 and maybe 30 if in the perfect conditions (broadside, looking away, time to concentrate etc). the lighter the bow (50 lbs is nice) the more you can shoot and the quicker you will be good at instinctive shooting. good luck and let use know how it goes.