Pinwheel,

I see your point and respect your opinion. But, again what your are professing is not an option for me nor has it ever been. It's not even a matter of the internet or shops going out of business. In the 18 years that I have been in archery there has been one quality shop in NE Arkansas, SE Missouri, and Memphis. I lived in Memphis and traveled back and forth extensively, to the area that I now live, until a few years back when I moved here. In that time there was one true Pro shop in this 150 mile radius. That gentlemen went out of business about 8 years ago because he didn't want to quit is other job and he didn't have time to hunt etc. He was one of those truely gifted individuals that was a bow magician. It just all made sense to him and he was very technically proficient with his shooting form etc. To be perfectly honest the guy never worked on my equipment but I have been told by literally hundreds of people how good of a coach and mechanic he was and I have seen all the trophies that he has won. That guy was stuck up there in BFA where only the locals could utilize his talent while the rest of us suffered. In the mean time I have been in every shop in this area that has ever been open and while some of them have been good people there has never been a truely knowledgeable tech in any of them. Maybe archery just isn't big enough in our area to justify those that truely are experts making it their career. But I can tell that it's not a matter of good shops closing in my area because there has never been one here (that includes Memphis and surrounding area). Again, if you feel like you are hurting yourself, I don't blame you for not sharing the info. However, I think you should give consideration to the fact that archery and archery shops and true "techs" may not be as common in other areas of the country as they are in the area that you live. I have never been to a shop that I would trust to give me advice on shooting form. It's just the sad truth. So while your advice is the best advice for your part of the country, it's useless in my part of the country, because the written word is the best advice you're gonna get in this part of the country.


The five most asked questions by the majority of the bowhunting populace in my area after overhearing the conversation two archers in the airport on their way home from Vegas.

1. What's any archery coach? Why do you need one of them?

2. What's a shot round. (I have only talked to a small handful of guys in my area that have ever even heard of spots or spot tournaments)

3. 3D- Isn't that some kind of movie? (We actually have a couple of small 3D tournaments)

4. A what kind of league?

5. What the hell is a back tension release?

I try to support my shops in anyway that I can. I even "cheerlead" for the good ones because I want to keep them around for everyones conveinence and to support my community. But, when you call a shop to see how busy they are, and you have a buddy that you have talked into driving the 90 miles to try this shop, and the ***** at the shop gives you a hard time no matter what angle you go at it from. I don't think so! Here I am trying to recruit them some business and the **** is busting my ***** because I asked what is normally the slowest part of the day. I don't think so! That's when I'll excercise my right to tell them to kiss my *** and just buy at Bass Pro. I have since found another shop that I will drive 20 miles and pay a little more for things just because the tech is pretty good and the customer service is good.