As a parent of an Archery beginner, I have learned that there are different criteria needed to choose the first Archery equipment. My daughter recently joined JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Division), training under the Stanford University Archery Team. I have learned from accompanying my daughter during these lessons ,and in speaking to the instructors as well as doing my own research online, that there are certain things you need to consider when choosing the right equipment.
How to Choose the Right Bow:
1) CHOOSE HAND. When my daughter first started, her instructor asked if she was left handed or right handed. A right handed archer would hold the bow in their left hand and draw the string with their right hand. So the right choice for her was the “right handed” bow.
2) CHOOSE LENGTH. This refers to the bow length. Bow length relates to the arrow length. To measure length, my daughter’s instructor had asked her to fully stretch her arms out in front of her and asked her to put her palms together with fingertips fully extended. Then the center of her chest to the tip of her fingers was measured. Then by adding an inch to this measurement we were able to determine her arrow length.
Arrow Length/Bow Length
14-18/48″
18-20/54″
20-22/58″
22-24/62″
24-26/64″
26-28/66″
28-30/68″
30+ /70″
3) CHOOSE WEIGHT. Check the poundage of the bow when pulled to 28″. If the bow is pulled more than 28″ then the poundage will increase. If you pull the bow less than 28″ the poundage will decrease. The poundage change is approximately 2# per inch. When buying your first bow, ask questions from the store sales person specializing in archery equipment. Most of these sales people should know what to choose, they can give you proper guidance in making your choices. You can also do what I am doing now. Since it is not a requirement to buy my daughter her own equipment for the training, she uses the ones they have. These are high quality bows. Once my daughter gets used to the right one for her, and if she is comfortable with it, then I will buy the same kind.
How to Choose the Right Arrows:
Choosing the right arrow is very important. Without good archery arrows your aim will always be off, no matter how accurate you can shoot.
1) LENGTH SELECTION. Refer to the chart on item number 2 above. It is best to go long when you are between sizes; there is nothing wrong with choosing arrows that are a bit too long.
2) SPINE SELECTION. Spine is the stiffness of the shaft. The stiffness of the shaft of the arrow affects how much the arrow wobbles after being shot from the bow. You don’t want an arrow that bends too much, or it will be less accurate. Heavier bows require a stiffer arrow, and lighter bows weaker arrows. Choosing the correct spine depends on the length of the arrow and the weight of the bow. A heavier arrow will impact the target with more force, but will travel much slower than a lighter arrow. Make sure to take this into consideration when choosing an archery arrow.
3) MATERIAL SELECTION. The material that an archery arrow is made of can affect its performance. Arrows can be made of wood, aluminum, or carbon. It is important to select arrows of the right material to suit your needs. The nock of the arrow is the slit on the end which holds the arrow in place as you shoot; it should not be too tight on the string, or it will not release properly when you shoot. The fins attached to an arrow are called the fletching. It can be made of real feathers, plastic, or synthetic feathers. Buy quality even if they cost more, it is well worth the price and remember to select good quality arrows for they can improve your shot tremendously.
