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Author Topic: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?  (Read 737 times)

Offline Bullet_Bob

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AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« on: January 30, 2009, 10:00:00 PM »
Ok guys I had a post in the classified   “WTB 35# For the Boy”  . There was a lot of good bows shown to me but I was not sure really what # bow he should shoot. So this is what I did. I went to GreenTop and BassPro today to let my boy draw a bow to see what he can do. At Basspro he tried to draw a Martin Rebel that was 40@28 and when we put him on the draw Leigh bow the guy said he was drawing  24.5 and he had a hard time drawing the Martin.
So I then went to GreenTop and saw a simple and cheap, Bear Cherokee fiberglass longbow type that is 30#  I guess at 28” but does not say. He can pull it and hold it for a short time.

I think for him to use this until the middle of the summer so he can get his strength up is the way to go.

I thank every one for all the help that has been shown me. I will be looking again for a bow this summer after he get his so-called GUNS.

For you out there who knows way more about this than I do.
Am I doing right?
Should I get this bow?
"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." - Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

Offline vermonster13

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2009, 10:05:00 PM »
No. Get one he can draw easily and have fun with. If he strains at all he'll develop bad habits or even hurt himself if he forces the shooting. Kids like to shoot a lot and lighter weights make so they can shoot until they're done as opposed to being done and still wanting to shoot. Talk to Mike at Maddog Archery. He can set him up for cheap with a bow that will grow with him.
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Offline Bullet_Bob

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2009, 10:09:00 PM »
He can pull the 30# back and hold it for 5 sec. good with out shaking and it is really cheap.
"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." - Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

Offline vermonster13

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2009, 10:11:00 PM »
5 seconds fresh. How's he do after a dozen arrows?
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Offline Wannabe1

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2009, 10:17:00 PM »
Dave is right on this one. My son is 8 and I got him a bow that he could pull back but, after shooting for only a few sessions he burned out and would sit and watch me. I ordered him a Rhino longbow in a more suitable weight and he'll shoot as long as me and is always asking when we can go shoot again.

Good luck and stay safe.
Desert Shield/Storm, Somalia and IOF Veteran
"The Mountains are calling and, I must go!" John Muir

Offline dragon rider

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2009, 10:22:00 PM »
Don't overbow the kid; he'll get frustrated and lose interest.  Get him something in the 20# range that he can succeed with and gradually work him up.
Don't meddle in the affairs of dragons; people are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

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Offline BowHuntingFool

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2009, 10:29:00 PM »
I'm in the same boat. I got the boy a sweet K-mag that he can shoot for a 2 or 3 dozen arrows then he is done, no fun for him. This K-mag is 43#, I found a grizzly at 35#, he is pulling 22/23 inches. This bow will be better. Its kinda a shot in the dark when it comes to kids, it tough to find the right bow.
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Big River Longbow 66" 52# @ 28"
Big River Longbow 66" 47# @ 28"
Big River Longbow 62" 52# @ 28"
Big River Recurve 60" 48# @ 28"
NewWood Longbow 58" 45# @ 28"

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Offline Bullet_Bob

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2009, 10:43:00 PM »
Man I hate this. I think I'm getting more frustrated than the boy will be.
Trying to get him something is driving me crazy. hehe
"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." - Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

Offline Recurve50 LBS

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2009, 11:26:00 PM »
How old is your boy? I started my son when he was 5 with a 15# Martin Protogy recurve. That little bow cost about $100.00 He has since moved up to a 25# recurve and now he is shooting a 30 something pound longbow at 28". He is now going on 12 years old. He has attended a few archery shoots with my friends and I and he'll shoot all day with the best of us.

Just remember to start him out with a light weight bow and keep the shooting fun. Invent some shooting games but teach him that shooting has it's responsabilaties too. A few of the games we "play" are sticking a dollar bill to your target and shoot with him using GW's nose as the target. The one that gets closest to GW's nose wins the dollar. I never win that game..lol Another way to have fun with him is to take him stump shooting with some judos.

Keep the bow light, have fun shooting and keep the lessons simple.

I hope this helps you out.
Larry W.

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56" 45#@28" Thunder Stick Mag
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1966 42#@28" Bear Grizley

Offline Bjorn

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2009, 11:35:00 PM »
If your boy is under 10 go with a very light small bow. 20#@24" max; and just because one kid is bigger than another it won't matter. Most don't develop much strength till they are between 11 and 12.
At 12 Adam could shoot a bow that developed 52#@28 but only 30# at his 20" draw.
Also pulling a bow back in a store with no arrow and no aiming is as different for him as it is for you.
In a store I can manage 10 more# with no aiming and no arrow and no reps, as in 30-50 shots.
The goal is to keep him/her having lots of fun-light arrows and light bows and no nagging; I have taught a lot of kids.

Offline Bullet_Bob

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2009, 11:48:00 PM »
What makes it hard is he is 14, 5'6" tall 95 lb. if he falls in a creek and never shot a bow. I know he will get his, what he calls "GUNS" fast. With me learning to shoot a longbow for the first time and not understanding much about it makes me frustrated.....

Sorry guys for being a pain...
"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." - Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

Offline vermonster13

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2009, 11:59:00 PM »
It's the back muscles not the guns that make or break your draw.
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Offline Ssamac

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2009, 12:01:00 AM »
A friend lent my son one of those green glass bows they use in schools. He hated it. Another lent him one of those wheel bows, Genesis, and he hated it. (trad to the core - chip off the old block). I got a ragim vector 25 @ 24. He draws about 22. Then I got some kids arrows from 3 Rivers and he loved it. ragim makes a lighter vector and they are a straight shooter and under $100 new. Now he likes to shoot my Wing Falcon recurve which is 25@ 28 but a totally smooth shooter. Bow is taller than he is so he keeps going back to the ragim. It just goes easier and you save time and money getting the right thing.
I've spoken to Mike at Maddog terrific guy and that's the next step.

Quinn archery also has some terrific kids bows, and all their bows are low price for the value and great shooters.

Kids need success, and if he's struggling to pull the thing, much less to hit the target, or the arrows bounce off the target, they get discouraged fast. Can just see it on his face

sam

Offline Billy

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2009, 11:02:00 AM »
I bought a "u-finish" bow kit for our youngest(13 at the time); thinkin he'd grow into the bow weight of 40-45 at 28....he chose the handle shape, we sanded and sealed it, and he shot about 2 dozen arrows from it...then a few here and there...in the last six months he picked it up again and is now comfortable with it and shoots it well!
I caused a lot of lost shooting time with him in the last 5 years. But, we are shooting together more as time goes on.
Go LIGHTER to start, enjoy more shooting in the short term...jmho
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Offline wingnut

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2009, 11:33:00 AM »
I'll echo what the guys are saying.  Get a bow that he can shoot for an hour without fatigue.  He may be out of it in 4 months and on to something else.  The only way it's fun is if you can shoot.

Heck there is great market in used kids bows.  

Mike
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Offline gregg dudley

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2009, 12:23:00 PM »
You are in a real fix because he will definately develop those muscles quickly with regular shooting.  However, you need do put something in his hands that is easy to shoot now.  A lot of the bowyers recommended above let you trade up as your kid grows.  Why don't you talk to one of them and see what kind of deal you can work out?
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Offline joekeith

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #16 on: January 31, 2009, 07:16:00 PM »
Talk to Mike at Maddog Traditional Archery, he's a sponsor here.  He'll be able to help you out.

Offline Bonebuster

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #17 on: January 31, 2009, 08:12:00 PM »
Fourteen or forty, drawing a bow should be as easy as walking up a slight hill.

Anything other than that can cause grief.

Hats off to you for caring, and showing the boy he matters!!!!!!!!

Offline stringstretcher

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #18 on: January 31, 2009, 09:13:00 PM »
Bullet.  This is Charlie, the one you talked to. Like I suggested, please start him with a light poundage bow that he can hold and shoot.  The worst thing you can do to him is rush him to be a heavy poundage shooter and learn everything bad while "trying" to shoot it.  Get the lighest bow you can find for him right now and let him have fun.....as we stated the other day,,,,25 lbs would be a good starting place for him...nothing more for now.  If I can help, you know where to find me
Genesis 27:3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me [some] venison

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Offline Ssamac

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Re: AM I Doing Right For The Boy?
« Reply #19 on: January 31, 2009, 10:39:00 PM »
Try out this pearson. Bow and glove for $100 TYD
Might be a nice one
sam

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