- Find a good retailer in your area where you can try out bows. Testing is extremely important!
- We recommend TD (take-down) bows, which grow with your strength and skill. They can be disassembled, and the limbs can be replaced with stronger ones relatively inexpensively.
- Eye dominance: Since we perceive the target with our eyes, eye dominance plays a key role. Therefore, it's important to determine your dominant eye. While it's not absolutely necessary to focus with your dominant eye, it will make things easier.
- Bow length: The optimal bow length depends on your personal draw length, that is, how far you draw the string to the anchor point, which is located on your face near your ear. This point should be familiar to you if you've already learned to shoot. Manufacturers usually provide recommendations for the draw length of their bows.
- Arrow: Now let's talk about the actual arrow. Personally, I believe that arrows are just as important, or even more important, than the bow. Ultimately, the stick flies to the target!
- Especially as a beginner, I recommend keeping the arrow as long as possible. A 10-15 cm extension won't hurt; an arrow can never be too long, but it can easily become too short (risk of injury!).
- Your specialist retailer should measure your personal draw strength using a draw scale and use this to interpret the spine value. The bow window and the choice of string material also play an important role here. A very deep bow window accommodates stiffer arrows, as the arrow has to bend less around the bow window (archer's paradox). On the other hand, a shallower bow window, as is the case with most longbows, accommodates a somewhat softer arrow. The spine value, which describes the arrow's ability to bend, is very important, but it is not the sole factor responsible for a good arrow flight. Just as important is the weight of the finished arrow, the FOC (front of center), i.e. the center of gravity where the arrow rotates over its entire length. Roughly speaking, in 3D archery, this should be between 6-12% in front of the geometric mean of the arrow.
- Personally, I prefer an FOC of up to 17% depending on the strength of the bow.
- Okay, is your head spinning yet?
- Now, a few words about protective gear: I recommend a good leather glove or finger tab, as well as a leather forearm protector. This should prevent unpleasant bruises on the forearm caused by poor posture. Please wear this protective gear at all times! I often see archers at my range shooting without forearm protectors. Yes, it's true; with correct posture, the string's grazing of the forearm is virtually impossible. However, I would like to point out that an arrow can sometimes break during the firing process. The broken pieces of the arrow then fly just a few millimeters past the forearm. If one of these hits you, it's stuck in your forearm; I speak from my own painful experience.
- Quivers: Here you can indulge your preferences. From back quivers to side quivers, from holster quivers to back pocket quivers, there's a wide selection available. You should just be a little careful with bow quivers: the added weight on the bow will affect the shooting behavior.
Thomas Müller has been an active 3D archer since 2005 and founded his own 3D archery course, "Bogensport Pottenbrunn," in 2016. He still loves the sport, but he also loves to inspire others. He tries to convey this enthusiasm during his numerous training sessions and during customer service in the shop.
www.bogensport-pottenbrunn.at
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