This is a great topic ... especially for us ancient arrow flingers.

I owned the following equipment in 1972: A Bear Grizzly recurve 45/50#, a quiver, 6 fiberglass and 6 aluminum arrows and 3 Bear broadheads. That gear was retired in 1984 (12 years). I bought my first compound with 4 round wheels, 12 aluminum 2114 arrows and a quiver. That gear was semi retired in 1998 (14 years).

1999: I bought a release, a Bear 2 cam, sights, peep, arrow rest and arrows.
2000: Sold the 2 cam for a Jennings single cam and bought new arrows, new release, peep and sights, new quiver and a new arrow rest.
2001: Bought a PSE Target bow for indoor with all new accessories.
2002: Sold the Jennings and bought a Golden Eagle, new arrows, new rest, blah blah blah ....

I never seemed to find a combination in harmony with each other. Does my bow exist? Will I ever find a combo that is "mine"?

Every gear purchase I've made since 1998 was plaqued with decisions such as "Is this arrow rest better for indoor than that one?" "If I get an overdraw, what spine would I need?" Thankfully, I am dedicated to my sport and have access to the Internet and all the information needed to get my equipment tuned but I wonder how many beginners are frustrated. Hell, I'm frustrated!

I miss the simplicity of bowhunting. The new gear increases accuracy, efficency, speed and everything else. The problem as I see it is the crucial setup needs of the new equipment. The solid wall makes draw length critical. The let off valley is critical when you want to let down a shot. The spine of the arrow cannot be chosen by the arrow charts alone anymore (trial and error with several spines are needed). You need to re-tune your equipment every time you make a small adjustment (and every accessory is adjustable).

In the early days you decided what draw weight you needed. Pick the arrow spine from the chart, go home and start practicing (and never stop). The bow became part of you and you were part of it. You wouldn't even THINK of changing bows after your bonding process was complete.