Temp.practicing with a compound--will it hurt my development with Trad Bow?

[Al Dean]

I threw my compound away when I realized I could not shoot it any better than my recurve.

[Rob DiStefano]

the far better way to start with a trad bow is to put away the compound for good.  the entire shot sequence for a compound is radically different from a trad bow and it will take away from both learning and ingraining the trad bow shot sequence. 

next, start with a reasonable holding weight trad bow that's on the lighter side, perhaps no more than 40# holding weight or less, maybe lots less. 

this is a form learning experience and struggling with 50 or more pounds is detrimental to learning (because your wheel bow was 60# and your incorrect thinking is that 50# will be a "lighter" trad bow starting point), and one may never learn and wind up regressing back to the cable bow in total frustration. 

this is where a 35# will be far better ... and will make a fine bunny bow later on when a heavier holding weight bow is acquired for deer, hog, elk, bear, moose, etc. 

why do i constantly type "holding weight" and not draw weight?  think about it .....   

[Bowwild]

I don't mean to argue, but their are at least two schools of thoughts on process.  I've been involved in teaching more than 18 million kids to shoot bare bow (50,000+ of their teachers).  The process for any vertical bow can be almost entirely the same. I'll refrain from continuing to chime in here so I don't cause administrators to regret allowing this thread to exist for the time it has.  If someone chooses to use a radically different process to shoot the different equipment, then I certainly agree it might confuse the mind and body to shoot both, depending upon the shooter's ability to compartmentalize.

If the poster wants to PM me I'd be more than willing to share what I mean.

Respectfully
Roy Grimes

[philos]

My newest recurve is 35 lbs-thought it was better to lower the weight from what I was considering and I have a 48 lb already.  I intend to put lots of practice into the recurve this spring & summer.  I had a bit of a setback in February.  Got sick and lost weight (not all that bad) and lost some strength (not good) but I am feeling much better now.

My main goal-by far- is to advance my skills with the trad bow and hopefully not look back.

Thanks to all that replied!

[cacciatore]

With traditional bows you need to became a better hunter and  so limit at the beginning you shooting range trying to be able to get closer to your games. If you’ll practice well without over owing you you be efficient with easy at 15 yards, the rest will come with the time. But don’t play back and forth with a different bow

[Pat B]

I agree with Terry, throw away the compound so you'll have to get good enough with the trad bow. You've got 5 to 6 months to practice.

[Terry Green]

You have plenty of time to be very proficient with the Trad bow at 15 yards before deer season just get rid of the compound.

"The eagle that chases two rabbits goes hungry".... Native American Indian chief

[Bowwild]

I agree that the time between now and big game season is plenty long enough for someone to develop an effective range with a recurve.  Others have said it well, practice until you are kill-zone effective at some distance and then limit yourself to that distance. My first year back to recurves, in 2010 I set my effective range at 20 yards. I passed up three single file bucks at 25 yards. I killed another at 21.

My other point is that you don't have to get rid of the other bow or even be exclusive with one or the other.  You will though find that you have to shoot the curve a lot more than the other bow to develop and maintain the effective range you desire.

[Mark R]

I started over 35 yrs ago with a compound, got good with it, and had successful hunts for many years. Started trad about 10 yrs ago but still shot my compound, as I got better with trad within a yr or so I had no desire to shoot my compound much, as long as I kept  the compound set up it was very easy for me to go back to it and shoot it well, not so with my trad bow but I just like shooting it more. I have'nt picked up the wheelie in yrs and don't miss it at all, this should be enjoyable do what makes you happy.   

[Bowguy67]

Imo if you shoot w proper form either compound or recurve aren’t far removed. If you shoot gap it’s pretty much like shooting a sight. My opinion is the reason you won’t learn a recurve as fast is because when you shoot both the commitment isn’t there the same. For that reason alone I’d say trad only

[pavan]

Terry said throw the compound away?  That, perhaps, sounds a little rough to some.  Over the past few years three times people have left compounds at my house.  A Jennings Elephant bow that was set at about 125 pounds with note, to find a good home for it, "I could never draw it" the note stated.  I shot it a few times with 2317s, tossed it in the trash.  The garbage guy came by, jumped out of his truck, tried to draw it and tossed in the garbage. The same routine happened with a crusty four wheeler Bear and a kid draw Jennings two wheeler. I related this to someone on the Latherbrawl and got bombed with hate pms for trashing such priceless relics, truly priceless, could not give them away.  Perhaps some can switch, but the muscle memory to draw a  trad bow can get confused or go undeveloped.  Commitment is one of the prime ingredients of success. 

[mwosborn]

I threw my compound away when I realized I could not shoot it any better than my recurve.

Al - you must be a very very good shot with the recurve or a very very poor shot with the compound.  Let's go with the first! 

[McDave]

Kind of like the difference between motorboats and sailboats on the ocean.  One isn’t really going to make you more proficient with the other, except by giving you more time on the water.  Most of us either prefer one or the other, and wouldn’t want to spend any time sailing when we could be motorboating, or vice versa.  However, if someone likes to do both, and has the time and money to do it, why not?  Bon voyage!