Traditional has become a label that was not asked for, to distinguish the archery that led to compound bows. Although there is not much claim to anything “new” in traditional, it has never refrained to seek improvement, and always made use of the best of what was on hand.
Without compounds, archery would still look a bit different than it did prior to the 70’s and there would still be some fussin’ about anything “new”…but only where “competition” enters the equation. And, aside from competition there is simply no argument with people shooting the way they want to.
That said, when compounds came on the scene it was easy to see that more people who would have given up on shooting a bow within 2 weeks before, would now have a better chance of lasting longer…if the rewards were available without having to do the same work. I actually thought that was a good thing but somehow failed to guess at what the future held in store and how quickly I’d belong to a minority, viewed with some disregard by those who pump the most money into the sport (…not entirely a negative).
Metal risers and no longer shooting off my hand (…and digging feathers out of it) is not something archery wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I enjoy shooting my Bear magnesium takedown as much as any other of my “traditional” bows, and aluminum arrows allow me to spare my woods for more serious business.
Where I can now get a bit more extra pleasure is seeing the bows I used before the 70’s increase in value, where that’s certainly not been the trend for even last year’s compound models. And that might not make it into anyone else’s definition of traditional…but “maintaining/increasing its original value” works for me. Rick.
Topic: what is traditional to you? (Read 1689 times)
