The Black Widow recurves I have shot were very well built, felt good in the hand, and I was consistent with them. A good bow. I do not feel like they are worth the price, as I have shot a lot of good bows that, to me, were as good, maybe better. Bows that were cheaper and had a better warranty. Higher price does not always mean you are getting better quality.

Just starting out, I'd look around for a good used bow--you should be able to find a good old Pearson, Bear, Shakespeare, Root, Wing, etc. pretty cheap. A few reasons I say this: first, you won't know yet what you like or don't like in a bow, so ordering a custom made one is going to be tough. Lots of different choices of woods, lengths, styles, draw weight, grip styles, etc. You need to shoot for a while, maybe trade on a few bows, and get a feel for different ones and see what works better for you. Second, although I love it and don't want to discourage you at all, traditional archery isn't for everyone. If you buy one of the bows I mentioned, you will most likely get your money back if you decide to sell it. Black Widows do have a high resale value, but you are still looking at loosing $100-$300 (my experience)--enough to buy 1-3 or more of the bows I mentioned. Finally, you will need to start out light, but as you develop your form and your muscles, most likely you will want to move up some in poundage. Also, you may not be comfortable with the first bow you buy (back to reason one). Starting out used and cheap could save you a lot of money.

Black Widow does have a "try before you buy" program, but I don't think it's nearly enough time to know what you want just getting into it. It took me 4 years to decide on my first custom bow, and even then I changed my mind a time or two after I got it.

Good luck!

Chad