That's what shooting traditional is like... About like an illness.
Grew up shooting recurves, and was lucky enough to be given a recurve for my birthday three years ago. A 2013 Bear Grizzly with that beautiful reddish-brown dymonwood or whatever it's called. That was the first recurve I had shot in 35 or 36 years.
Seven weeks ago, the better half gave the nod of approval for me to get a second recurve. I had been considering options since I received that Grizzly, and pretty well had my heart set on a Super-K. As much as I wanted one of those Grayling Green or a Black Beauty, I knew the additional $$$ of those would be a deal-breaker with the Chief Accountant. I was more than happy to track down a "run-of-the-mill" Super K that fit the budget. A 2016 60" Super-K rated for 45#@28" with a lighter brown and darker grey wood that is really starting to grow on me. I've had it now for about 3-weeks, and we are still honey-moonin'.
The difference in the grip angle took a while for me to get used to, even though that was one of the major attractions of that bow to me. An older, more experienced, and much wiser gent that has helped me along swears by the higher grip, and admittedly, that was probably a huge influence. It did throw me for enough of a loop that it took about five serious sessions for me to adjust the way I shoot so I could loose an arrow more consistently.
With this bow, at it's rated 45#@28", and my draw of 29", I figured I would be pulling in the 48# neighborhood, but evidently that 45# draw was on the optimistic side. At my 29" draw, the scale is showing right at 46#. With Axis .400 Blacks, cut to 31", a 75 gr insert, 100 gr points, and 4x4" fletching on the 75*/105*, those arrows fly like a laser. These arrows are what I've been shooting from the Grizzly for a couple years now... Even though all indications from the dynamic spine calculators are showing a somewhat stiff arrow for this bow and my draw, the arrow flight doesn't lie. Even tried some 125's in these arrows - just to see how they flew. They were almost too soft, and there was plenty of fish-tail kick going on down to the 20 yard line. Went back to the 100's in front, and the arrows once again flew like lasers. Even had the local shop guru watch several of them over my shoulder and he confirmed what I was seeing. In the end, he was really impressed with how nice these were flying for me off this new Super-K. Any erratic arrow flight is my fault - - either a sloppy release, collapsed draw, or just plain, ol' getting into a hurry and a combination of ME... No excuses.
Last Friday, after a session of 50 or 60 arrows, I had to just stop, take a break, and re-group. Sat down and mentally walked myself through my draw, my anchor, and my release. Fifteen minutes later, I settled down enough to give it another whirl. Taking my time, taking each step of the draw, the string, the anchor, and the release one at a time things started to work. Five arrows at a leisurely pace went downrange the 20 yards and into a 3" group. I happily took my time to go and fetch them up and try it again. Another five arrows at a leisurely pace landed in another 3" group.
Looking forward to my next opportunity to fling some more arrows. Having trouble keeping my mind on other things. Still mentally rehearsing my grip, string, draw, anchor and release. Enjoying this new bow so much that my Grizzly is feeling neglected. My compound has been sitting idle since last January and the end of late-season hunting. The Chief Accountant notices enough that even she asked me why I bother keeping it. The only answer that I can give her is that I know I would never get enough $$$ from selling it to justify doing so. I reckon it's only a matter of time before I pick up the compound and get practiced up with it again. As for the Grizzly, it may not be getting shot much right now, but I can't bear the thought of selling it. It is just too good looking, too familiar, and I'm too sentimental.
Yup... Shooting my traditional gear is like an illness. There is no magical pill or vaccine to remedy the obsession, or cure the ailment. About the only recourse is to treat the symptoms as best I can by shooting them, even though that treatment is only temporary. This illness isn't a result of me having a cavalier lifestyle, or associating with people of questionable backgrounds, or that I necessarily have a weak immune system. This illness was inherited from my Uncle Harley when I was five or six - - It's all his fault. And though my illness has been in remission for many years, it's been back with a growing vengeance for the last three years now. And there's no sign of it subsiding this time. Life is good...
Topic: Almost like an illness... (Read 806 times)
