The first thing a beginner archer must do is choose his first bow. To do this, it is important to consider various criteria so that the bow can meet your needs (type of bow, type of use desired, the morphology of the archer, the power required, etc.). To help you in this process, here is how to choose your first bow.
According to the type of bow
If you don’t know yet, there are 3 types of bows.
The classical bow (or recurve bow)
This type of bow is the most commonly used type of bow today. The recurve bow is available in one-piece or collapsible form. If you are a beginner, it is better to choose the monobloc made of plastic or wood. The lightness and low power of your equipment will make it easier to handle. For experienced archers, it is possible to choose a dismountable bow made of composite material (aluminum, steel). The advantage of the recurve bow is that it can be adapted to your needs, ideal for accompanying you in your progression.
The longbow (or longbow or traditional bow)
If you are looking for simplicity, choose the longbow. It is a basic bow, usually made of wood. It has straight, one-piece limbs. Because of its simplicity, this bow does not have an arrow rest on the riser. As a powerful bow, it is not easy to master, so it is better to give it to an experienced archer.
The compound bow
The compound bow is a real engineering jewel, suitable for both target shooting and hunting. Combining accuracy and power, this bow is capable of gaining up to 60% draw weight while shooting. And, its accessories will optimize the shooting accuracy as you wish. The only thing you need to know is how to use and adjust it properly.
According to the chosen discipline
The choice of your bow may be dictated by the shooting discipline you choose. To put it simply, there are two main families of archery, namely :
- Target shooting
- Instinctive shooting
Target shooting
It is practiced indoors or outdoors. In competition, the shooting distance is between 18 and 70 m. The target used can be a coat of arms, a picture or a 3D replica of an animal. The goal in target shooting is to hit the central part of the target with as many arrows as possible in the allotted time. In target shooting, compound and traditional bows are the most popular.
Instinctive shooting
This is a shooting discipline for high level archers. It is a really dated shooting technique. The objective is to shoot at a target, fixed or mobile, with a longbow equipped with no aiming system.
According to the specificities of the bow and the archer
In order to gain precision and performance, the bow must become an extension of the archer. In other words, the bow should not cause any discomfort during its use. To achieve this, when you plan to choose a bow for the first time, consider the following criteria.
Draw length and bow limbs draw weight
Draw length defines the distance measured between the string hand and the arrow rest when the archer is cocking the bow. It is one of the main criteria for selecting a bow. Draw length is used to determine the size and draw weight of the bow that best suits you.
For a young person (under 18 years old), it is advisable to choose an upgradeable beginner’s bow kit so that you don’t have to change it every time you grow up. It is important to know that draw weight is expressed in pounds (Lbs). And, it corresponds to the force that the arrow receives at the moment of release. Depending on the type of bow used, it varies, most often, from 15 to 60 LBS.
For beginners, choose a low draw weight bow. This will allow you to correct your mistakes and reduce the fatigue caused by repeated draw length while cocking your arrows.
For example:
- For a child under 12 years old, a draw weight of 10 to 15 lbs is suggested
- For a child between 12 and 15 years old, we suggest a draw weight between 15 and 20 lbs
- For an adult, you can choose a draw weight bow between 20 to 30 lbs (man) and 20 to 25 lbs (woman)
The size of the bow
In the archery world, the unit of measurement used to see the size is the inch. Knowing that 1 inch corresponds to 2.54 cm. This is usually symbolized by quotation marks. The size of the bow depends on the actual draw length of an archer. As a guide, here is how to choose your bow according to your actual draw length.
For a draw length of 24″ or less:
- For a person with a height of 1.25m, opt for a 54″ bow.
- For a person with a height of 1.35 m, choose a 58″ bow
- For a person with a height of 5’10”, bet on a 62″ bow
For a draw length between 25″ to 27″
- For a person with a height of 5’10”, choose a 66″ bow
- For a person with a height of 5’7″, choose a 68″ bow
For a draw length between 28″ to 30″
- For a person with a height of 1.85
The height of the arc
Bow height is considered to be the distance from limb tip to limb tip along the curvature of the bow limbs. This value depends on the bow in question, the size and draw length of the archer, and the draw weight of the limbs. As a guide, here is the value of the bow’s height depending on the type used:
- The classic bow: 66″ – 68″ to 70″
- The longbow: 68″ to 71″
- The compound bow: 44″
The directing eye
To define your directing eye, here’s a simple trick you could easily use.
With both eyes open, point with your thumb at an object 5 meters away. Then close your left eye.
- If your thumb stays centered on the target, that means your right eye is your director.
- If your thumb shifts to the left of the target, your directing eye is the left eye.
Generally, a right-handed archer aims with his right eye, picks up his bow with his left hand (right-handed bow) and cocks the arrow with his right hand. The reverse is also true.
How to choose your traditional bow?
The traditional bow has many names, but all refer to a bow with a string that is arranged so that it does not touch the limbs when it is strung. Once the strings are in place, the traditional bow takes the shape of a crescent moon (section D).
Traditional bows are available in sizes from 1.70 m to 2.10 m. The cross-section is circular at the handle and D-shaped at the end. The width at the head of the limbs is 1.8 to 3 cm, the middle is 3 to 4 cm and the handle is 5 to 6 cm.
The traditional bow is rather simplistic. For example, to use it, it is not necessary to have an arrow rest, sight or other devices. In the shooting position, the arrow just rests on the archer’s bow hand while waiting to be released. This is why the use of this type of bow requires a minimum of control on the part of the archer.
How do you choose your ideal traditional bow ? find out, you need to consider a few specific selection elements such as :
The height of the arch
The choice of a bow is often based on its comfort of use. The height of the bow depends on the archer’s draw length. Here is a table that can help you find the right size of bow according to your draw length.
Height(in inches) Extension (in inches) 24″ 25″ 26″ 27″ 28″ 29″ 30″ 31″ 32″ 64″ 66″ 68″
The power of the bow
Normally, the power of a bow presented by the manufacturers is given in pounds for a 28-inch draw length. On average, the power of today’s bows is between 35 and 60 pounds.
As an indication :
- For a woman, opt for a power of around 30 pounds
- For men, choose a bow in the 45 to 50 pound range
If you are new to archery, it is advisable to choose a low power model. As you gain experience, you can change to a more powerful bow.
The type of wood used
Generally, they are either made of a single wood or of strips of several materials (wood, fibre, bamboo) that are glued together. This is known as glued laminated bow construction. In contrast to the “glued laminated arch” model, a single-material longbow is less efficient, except for yew wood (or bay yew).
Apart from yew wood, there are other alternative woods for making the traditional bow. These include, in decreasing order of effectiveness, elm, ash, hazel and oak. The general shape of the traditional bow must follow the grain of the wood, which often results in a humped shape.
In fact, yew wood allows the traditional bow to have a simple design, to be made from a single piece of material, while behaving like a composite bow. The properties of yew wood give the bow ballistic qualities far beyond those of simple bows made from other species.
