Beginner seeking advice on bow purchase
Question:
I’ve taken a couple of private lessons at the local pro shop, and want to buy my own equpment. These are my thoughts/interests: I’m male, 5′ 10", 34, reasonably strong, and in good health. I want to get a compound bow, and will be finger-shooting. I won’t be hunting, and probably won’t be shooting competitively (but you never know). I live in Southern California, if that makes a difference. I DON’T want to buy a "decent" bow now, then decide in a year that it is inadequate and have to buy another one. On the other hand, I don’t want to spend a fortune now then give it up in six months because I don’t have the time. (But I’d rather do this than have to by a second — I tend to like to buy quality stuff that will last me forever. Heck, if I buy it now and give it up for a few years, I’ll still have it to try again). The pro-shop is about a 30 minute drive from here, but there are open fields I can use just around the corner, so I definitely want to buy something rather than have to go there every time I want to shoot. Ok — so this is where I’m at in the decision process: I’ve only looked at Hoyt bows, and from recommendations I’ve had from my instructor and others, this is probably what I want. The Accutech sounds very nice, but is a bit too much. I want a longer bow, since I’ll be using my fingers. The pro-shop suggested I should probalby shoot in the 50-60 pound range, which seems like a lot to me, but what do I know? The strongest bow I’ve shot so far is a 30 pound recurve. I’m leaning toward the Oasis Plus, with Accuwheel cams, which sounds like it should be nice and smooth. The Carbon 4 limbs are longer, and look beefier which I like. Somehow the Carbonite limbs just look skinny/flimsy in comparison. But the price difference is significant. Even though I won’t be hunting, I’ll probably go camo just because of the price difference — I don’t REALLY care what it looks like, just how it performs. Comments/suggestions? Are the carbonite limbs so good that the extra money isn’t worth it? Should I just grit my teeth and buy a $200 bow and risk having to buy a new one in a year or less? BTW — what are the purposes of an overdraw and the arrowrests that they have to go with them? Is it just so you can get a shorter (= lighter = faster) arrow? What is nice about these rests? Suggestions on sights also very welcome! Thank you all very much for your input! — Brian Wainscott | No Jesus —> No Peace
Response:
I don’t know anyone still shooting who still shoots the first bow he/she bought. There are just too many things you can’t know until you’ve been shooting a while — and some of them are things no one can tell you, either. Think of it like a car. You’re not going to drive it forever. Times change, people change. I know several shooters who use the Oasis Plus and do very well with fingers. For shooting fingers, get the model with 65% letoff (as opposed to 75%) as that will make it less likely your fingers will twist the string at release. Overdraw rests are for increased arrow speed. RB >I’ve taken a couple of private lessons at the local pro shop, and want >to buy my own equpment. These are my thoughts/interests: > >I’m male, 5′ 10", 34, reasonably strong, and in good health. I want to >get a compound bow, and will be finger-shooting. I won’t be hunting, >and probably won’t be shooting competitively (but you never know). I >live in Southern California, if that makes a difference. > >I DON’T want to buy a "decent" bow now, then decide in a year that it is >inadequate and have to buy another one. > >On the other hand, I don’t want to spend a fortune now then give it up >in six months because I don’t have the time. (But I’d rather do this >than have to by a second — I tend to like to buy quality stuff that >will last me forever. Heck, if I buy it now and give it up for a few >years, I’ll still have it to try again). > >The pro-shop is about a 30 minute drive from here, but there are open >fields I can use just around the corner, so I definitely want to buy >something rather than have to go there every time I want to shoot. > >Ok — so this is where I’m at in the decision process: > >I’ve only looked at Hoyt bows, and from recommendations I’ve had from my >instructor and others, this is probably what I want. > >The Accutech sounds very nice, but is a bit too much. > >I want a longer bow, since I’ll be using my fingers. > >The pro-shop suggested I should probalby shoot in the 50-60 pound range, >which seems like a lot to me, but what do I know? The strongest bow >I’ve shot so far is a 30 pound recurve. > >I’m leaning toward the Oasis Plus, with Accuwheel cams, which sounds >like it should be nice and smooth. > >The Carbon 4 limbs are longer, and look beefier which I like. Somehow >the Carbonite limbs just look skinny/flimsy in comparison. But the >price difference is significant. > >Even though I won’t be hunting, I’ll probably go camo just because of >the price difference — I don’t REALLY care what it looks like, just how >it performs. > >Comments/suggestions? Are the carbonite limbs so good that the extra >money isn’t worth it? Should I just grit my teeth and buy a $200 bow >and risk having to buy a new one in a year or less? > >BTW — what are the purposes of an overdraw and the arrowrests that they >have to go with them? Is it just so you can get a shorter (= lighter = >faster) arrow? What is nice about these rests? > >Suggestions on sights also very welcome! > >Thank you all very much for your input! "She sang beyond the genius of the sea …" — Wallace Stevens
Response:
Brian, I would recommend to Accutec or Oasis Plus to anybody, especially finger shooters. I have been shooting both of these bows and they have been performing great. As far as limbs go I am shooting the Carbon Plus 4 limbs and I am pleased with them. The Carbon Plus 4 limb is flared, unlike the carbonite limb to increase stability, but it is also a longer limb. I think they are worth the extra bucks, but you’ll have to decide for yourself. I would recommend the Command Cam over the Accuwheel though. I have shot both and the Command Cam seems to be a more consistant shooting wheel. You can get it in 75% or 65% let-off. Good Luck Roger Hoyle Hoyt Pro Staff
