OK, I will try to help you out as much as I can. First off it is true what BC said about brace height. Normally a higher brace height will be more forgiving. I would tell you to look at bows that are in the about 7 1/2" or greater BH. I shot a bunch of bows just this past Monday. I've been shooting bows for over 50 years (long before compounds). I have a few Martins but on Monday I shot PSE DS DNS, Hoyt Carbon Matrix, Bowtech Insanity, Matthews Helium and Ballistic, And an Elite (can't remember the model). I ended up buying the PSE DNA because it was smooth and very fast. But, and I mean a big but...the bow has a very low brace height due to its riser design. I would not recommed that bow to a beginner unless they were disciplined in proper bow form and dedicated to a lot of practice. From all those I shot on Monday, the Matthews Ballistic would have been my second choice. That is a very nice bow and for only about $500. I'd recommend it to anyone. Martin also makes some very nice bows that are reasonably priced. Something like the Exile would also be a great bow for beginner on up. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'd hate to see you throw away your money on a bow that you have difficulty shooting accurately. If you can't shoot a fast bow accurately it only means you will miss your target faster.