Can you start too low?

[Westy]

I've been doing a lot of researching and reading on the forum and have a couple questions. Seems like common mistake is starting out with a bow that is too heavy. Can one make a mistake of going too low?

Looks like the legal limit to hunt in Illinois is 40# at 28" so obviously I would need a bow that meets those requirements in order to hunt. But to get things started, is something like a 35# a good way to learn and then upgrade to a heavier bow once I am comfortable?

Also the wife has expressed interest in shooting with me so I was thinking it might be light enough for her to take over as I moved on to a heavier bow.
My second question is on arrow length. Is there a general rule of thumb to go by, for example +1" to your draw length or something like that?

Thanks in advanced for your help.

Westy

[Whip]

35# would be a great bow to start with and learn proper shooting form.  Work up from there to a comfortable hunting weight.  
Although plenty of deer have died from an arrow launched from a 35# bow it is certainly pushing the limits of what can be expected.

[woodchucker]

Personaly I do not believe that you can start to low in bow weight.

Although most EVERYONE likes having numerous bows of differant styles and weights. It is perfectly practical to buy just one bow of legal hunting weight and use it untill either you,or it dies. Looking at it from a practical standpoint,if you use the same bow and arrows and broadheads day after day,year after year,NOTHING changes. If for some reason you "miss" it's all you Brother!!! LOL. If need be you can also stop shooting for a period of time,and within a short while you will hitting the mark like you always have been.

As for arrows, 1 inch past the end of the shelf is about average for most people and a good place to start.  

[freefeet]

I bought my first bow thinking it was 35# - just to be on the safe side.

But it's marked wrong and is 40#.

Then my draw length is 30.5" so the bow pulls 46#.

Bit of a struggle at first, but ya muscles soon build up to it.  Just take it easy and don't overdo it.

[Curveman]

I think it is good to start light to learn correct form but 40# is light-and legal. If you are an average uninjured or otherwise impaired male, you should be able to start with 40-even if you're not in shape. I'd start with 40 then you and your wife will both have bows to legally hunt with.

I have arrows a half inch past my draw length and some up to 2 inches past it (I shoot the same arrow from a recurve and a longbow). If they fly right it is right is the only rule I'd go by.

[dragon rider]

I think 35# is a great place to start learning your form.  It helps you work on perfecting your form without having to fight the bow.  When you have to move to 5 spot targets because groups are getting too expensive, move up to 40# or 45# or whatever's comfortable, but before you pay to move up, try a heavier bow and make sure you can hold it at full draw for 3 or 4 seconds without starting to shake.  If you can, you're almost certainly not overbowed.

I agree with Curveman on arrows - most of mine are my draw +1.5" which makes them fly well for me.  When I first started shooting trad, never having shot compound, I asked a number of people, including Leon Stewart and Rick Welch what bad was likely to happen if the arrow was "too long."  The answer was "nothing."  

In any case, there's a distinct possibility that as you get more used to shooting and stronger, your draw length will increase some, so don't be in a hurry to cut your arrows shorter.  Leave them hanging off the front of the bow until you're really sure what works for you - it's sort of the archer's version of measure twice, cut once.

[BobW]

an arrow that is too long?  amazing, never seen one.....  

[reddogge]

I feel a 30# bow is plenty for a woman starting out although some who have shot for a long time can handle plenty more, some into the 50s depending on their strength.  Combined with light arrows and 3" fletching her arrows will match yours in speed and trajectory.  A 30# bow will be good for you to learn form also.  I used one this year recovering from elbow surgery and had a ball with it. 35# may be a stretch for her so take care of her first so you don't discourage her.

You could probably handle a bow in the low 40s after a month of shooting so I'd stick with a 43-45# bow for yourself but develope some shooting muscles with the 30 first.

[Westy]

Wow I appreciate everyones response, keep 'em coming!

My thoughts were the lighter bow would help develop form and help to start condition the muscles used while shooting a bow. I have had an injury to my left elbow (I'm a righty) that has left me without full range of motion which is another reason I thought I'd start out light and move up from there.

Thanks again,
Westy

[Dick in Seattle]

Good advice...  

I have problems that require me to shoot light, usually 28#, but didn't have too much trouble working up to a temporary 42# in a month for a recent hunt.  I felt I could get away with it because in a hunting situation, you release few arrows (I hope!)   On a four day hunt, I released 2.  Now I'll go back.   By and large, I like, and recommend, shooting light.. not shooting hunting weight all the time unless you hunt all the time.  Over a lifetime of shooting, elbows, shoulders and back have to absorb a lot of wear.  Shoot lighter, shoot longer is my motto.  (I'm 71)

As to arrow length, if you're just starting out, you still have the whole issue of arrow type, wood/aluminum/carbon, and arrow matching ahead of you.  Don't worry too much about length.  You'll find that length is one of the major ways to adjust arrow match, especially with carbons.  (Carbon arrows do not have spine... They only have attitude!)   Many folks start with a full length arrow and simply cut back until they get good flight.  That's their length, whether it's one inch or four inches past the shelf.  Generally, you do want at least 1", so you don't accidentally draw a broadhead up onto your finger.  Yours is not the blood trail you want to follow!

Above all, have fun!

[wvtradbow]

Bad habits are hard to break,and starting out with a bow too heavy,you'll surely develop some.IMO....Bill

[geales]

The best advice I ever got was to start light. Which I tried to do. I bought a bow that was marked 45# @ 28. It felt really heavy. It scaled as 51#  :(  I then found a used ILF set up with 32# limbs for $150. That was the best thing I ever did. I still shoot it a lot. You can find ILF target bows pretty reasonable in some classifieds.

[SCATTERSHOT]

Excellent advice above, and good thinking on your part. Most guys overbow themselves for whatever reason, and then spend most of their shooting time trying to overcome the bad habits they develop as a result.

A lot of it stems from archers coming over from the compound, where they figure if they can shoot 80#, that's what they need in a trad bow. What they forget is the fact that they are only holding 15# or so at full draw.

Good luck, and you're in the right place. Lots of good info here.

[John Scifres]

If you can learn to get a crisp release on a 35# bow, you will be amazed how well you will end up shooting a 45 or 50#er.  That string will jump from your fingers.

[Ssamac]

To learn the lighter the better I think unless it's so light you overdraw past your point of hold. You may also start drawing too fast with a light bow, or holding too long. You need to police yourself to use good form all the time.

Lighter weight bows have more arc in the arrow flight and drop faster. As you move up the weights you will have to adjust a bit in your sight picture since the heavier bows will generally shoot flatter. But that comes with practice. If you don't get the good form in the first place, it will always hurt your shooting.

sam

[Westy]

Well with the sale that Brent was having over at Black Mountain Bows, I couldn't resist.

He had a Sheepeater Spirit with traditional grip -  Bocote riser, osage core with clear glass with osage limb underlay's and bocote tip overlays. The bow is 35#'s @ 28".

Guess it's time to start looking for the rest of the gear. I'll be sure to post some pictures of the new bow once it shows up!

[freefeet]

Originally posted by geales:
The best advice I ever got was to start light. Which I tried to do. I bought a bow that was marked 45# @ 28. It felt really heavy. It scaled as 51#

Was it  a Martin bow?     :D

[superkodiak]

Westy,
 
  good choice man.  You won't regreat starting there, great bow choice by the way!!!  work up to your desired weight.

shawn

[Westy]

I can't wait for it to show up. I was trying not to rush into buying my 1st bow but the deals that Brent has going on were too much! I think I'll be happy with my choice of starting low and working my way up from there.

My search for arrows begins - if ya'll have any good pointers, I'm all ears!