Bad info from pro shop?
 

Hey guys, I'm new to bows and looking to pickup my first. I have done a TON of online research about everything. I have narrowed my search to the martin cheetah or the bear element/instinct. I went to thebass pro shopin savannah georgia while on vacation to check them out. I like the way the martin felt compared to the element but the guy told me to get the bear because it came with better components.

Next he sized me up for my draw length, he had me put my fist on the wall and pull my other hand back to my face, he measured and said I'm a 27" draw. I thought this method was full of holes I could have bent my arm more or less, pulled my arm back more etc. I'm 6' tall and have a wingspan of 73". I was thinking the 28.5 or 29" range.I just looked at the bows and left.

I'm hoping the next place I check out will be a little more in-depth.

I don't hear much about the martin cheetah's anyone have any insight on it?

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I have not and will never concider Bass Pro to be a Pro Archery shop.
The guys they have working there where probably in another section yesterday and will be in another section tomorrow.

Take what your told from these guys with a ton of salt, best bet is to go to a "TRUE" Archery Pro Shop;)

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Exactly... Might I add, don't hem yourself in by limiting your choices to those two bows.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

After going to visibly check out and feel all the bows in my price range these are the two I like. I tried all the major brands.

Only way I might end up with something else if a good used bow comes along.

I'm headed to the sportsman center in bordentown NJ this week to try again.

What do you guys think about ordering something from huntersfriend if I know my sizes and what I want?

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

If huntersfriend is a mail order deal, then I'd say no. The reason you pay more at a good pro shop is because it's generally a small operation with personalized service geared towards setting the customer up with a bow that fits, is properly equipped andin a decent state of tune before it ever leaves the store.

At my place, if something goes wrong with my rig, it gets taken care of quickly. Often at no charge. If someone else walks in the door with a bow bought at Bass Pro, mail order, etc., they will certainly pay for any and all services done to their bow.

For me, it's worth spending the little bit of extra money knowing I have some recourse if anything happens to my rig. Your mileage may vary.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I can't speak for there ready-to-hunt bows, but i got my arrows from hunterfriend and i am very pleased with there service. if you read the info on there bows it claims they set everything up to your exact specs then actually paper tune it and target tune it before they ship it. sounds pretty good, but like i said, i have only gotten arrows from them. the nearest pro shop to me is a 45 minute drive and being married with two small children it is hard enough to get out to go hunting, so getting out to the pro shop is very difficult. just my 2 cents.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

And to answer your original question... No, you'd have to be a human abnormality to shoot a 27" draw length at nearly 6'... I'm 5' 11" and comfortably shoot a 29" dl...belowis a 28.5" with a loop, and you'll see how much bend is in my arm at that dl...

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Took my brother there the other day to buy his first bow. Had a young guy that didn't know what he was doing. To him three tries to get the draw length changed and it never did change. We bought the bow and going to take it to a REAL archery shop. They have good prices on bows but wouldn't trust them to work on them. Anybody know any recommended shops in SW Ohio/SE Indiana?

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I'm 6'1" with a 73" wingspan as well and I shoot 29.5" although I can shoot 30" pretty comfortably. (I used the same method you describe and came out with 30" even, 3x's in a row; trick is that you've got to sight down the tape with your dominant eye like you would look down an arrow shaft and keep your shoulders square as if you were executing proper form.)

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Had to stick that Predator in there huh, Greg? LOL:D:D

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I have to agree, none of thelarge retailersare pro shops. And I was at one a few weeks ago and I was suprised that my pro shop had most things cheeper(broadheads,rest, releases, ect.). So before you just throw down your money you might want to check.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Whatever extra you MIGHT pay at a local archery shop is money well invested in getting cheap insurance on your purchase. Think nothing is going to go wrong on Nov. 12th in the middle of the rut? Want to be dealing with a cust serv. rep. at Bass Pro or Cabelas when your limbs crack? Not me!

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Squirt. ;) I'm 6'6" with an 83" wingspan and shoot 33".

Subtract 16 from your wingspan and divide by 2. That's about the best method you can use to come up with an estimated draw length.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I'd say with a 73" Wing Span 29" draw would be a good place to start. If you are shopping at Bass Pro don't forget to check out the Diamond line by Bowtech;)Some top quality bows at very affordable prices:D

Dan

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I've used wingspan divided by 2.5 pretty successfully too; 73/2.5=29.2

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Put that thing away Arthur! This ain't a measuring contest!!! :D:D:D

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I've used that for years;)It'll get you real close:D

Dan

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Shooting with a D-loop........take 73 in wing span divide by 2.5 = 29.2 in draw length. I bet I'm real close. When you measure the wing span, don't stretch, just stand normally.

If shooting fingers: take wing span minus 10 then divide by 2. 73-10=63/2=31.5

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Mine changes throughout the year. Gets shorter during hunting season whenmy sleeve starts getting hit.

I've never been in a shop run bypro, large or small, chain or family. You have to know what you want in any of them. I've been in one owned by one but not run by one. It's one of those big dissapointments in life. Can't blame any of them though. I blame the manufactures.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

When you go to an actual pro shop,you are buying products and getting all that hard learned experience free!
Those guys wouldn't be there unless they ARE experts and have usually tried everything they stock and some things they deemed unsuitable to stock. In other words-if it don't work-they wouldn't stock it. There are exceptions based on personal preference.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I agree with mean vee , no way you are 27 inch draw , I have a wingspan of 70 inches , and my true dead on draw is 27 7/8s , I shoot a 28 inch bow .

Find a quality pro shop and have an archer whos been doing it for awhile set you up , its worth the cost , being misfit with a bow is like wearing the wrong size shoes only way worst .

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

In a perfect world that would be true. In the real world, they're selling what they got and I'm only aware of one company that will take back unsold stock, Darton Bows.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Im 5'6 and have a 30 inch draw.....am i an abnormality????

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

I'm 6'1 qnd 1/2 and use a 31.5" draw length.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

at the end of the day.. its your choice, your cash. good luck. When arrows are placed well..all bows kill

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

YES, or you are shooting too long of a draw.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

Todd's right.

That's not a slam against you personally, wis bow... but the word "abnormal" simply means "out of the normal range"... It's certainly not normal for someone who's 5'6" to shoot a 30" draw length. Heck, Matt / PA, who's won more state championships than I can count and has finished in the upper echelons of top shooters at Worlds, is 6'3" and shoots a 29.5" dl with a loop.

RE: Bad info from pro shop?
 

wisbowhunter, turn yourself, at once, in to your local university research department - you my friend are the missing link:D;)