Selecting the proper equipment for a beginning youth archer can be a daunting task at first glance. While it may be tempting to simplify the purchase by buying a shrink-wrapped archery set at the nearest giant retail store, you may be doing more harm than good. Starting with a properly matched and tuned archery set will make it easier for your young archer to succeed and there will be less worries about the bow breaking or an arrow splintering.
Bow
The most critical piece of equipment is the bow. Compound bows and their pulley systems may look cool, but they rely on a sighting system to get the arrow on target and the mechanical advantage provided by the pulleys can actually hamper the child's feel for the bow. Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery Supply in Ashley, Indiana, recommends starting with a recurve bow. "Recurves are easier to learn on since they are cut past center so it is more of a point and shoot approach." He believes that an additional incentive to using a recurve bow is that it can give the young archer a higher sense of achievement that they pulled the shot off themselves and did not have to rely on high-tech compound bow to do the work for them. Karch suggests starting with a youth model recurve bow in the 20- to 40-lb. pull range that is fit to the child's draw length. Look for a bow that allows accessories to be added, such as a quiver or fishing reel, so the child can enjoy stump shooting, bow fishing or even small game hunting.
Bow Stringer
A bow stringer is a long string with a small pocket on each end. The pockets fit over the tips of the bow and the string is stepped on to bend the bow to allow it to be strung and unstrung. Using a bow stringer is far easier than trying to manpower the string on the bow by bending it around your leg and does not put undue torque on the bow like the leg method does.
Tab
Tabs are leather, or synthetic, pads that cover the index, middle and ring fingers and are attached to the middle finger by a loop. There is a split in the tab between first and middle fingers to allow the bow string to fit when it is being drawn. The purpose of the tab is to protect the fingers and to allow for a smoother release.
Arm Guard
When the bow string is released, there is a slight rotation in the hand holding the bow. As the string snaps forward it will sometimes strikes the inner forearm and can leave a welt. For protection, use a leather arm guard that attaches to the forearm and shields the inner forearm from the string snap.
Arrows
Karch advises starting with a matched set of wooden arrows with turkey feathers. Feathers are more forgiving than vinyl fletching and the wooden arrows are less expensive than their aluminum and carbon fiber counterparts. Count on arrows being lost, so don't spend a lot of money on arrows at first. A good archery shop will match the spine, or stiffiness, of the arrow to the weight and draw length of the bow.
Target Backstop
It is critical to have a target backstop that adequately prevents the arrows from penetrating through the target. Archery stores will sell targets and target backstops made from dense foam that will stop an arrow. A less expensive option is to purchase a burlap target that is pre-printed with bull's-eyes. Much like a pillowcase, the burlap is stuffed with rags or straw and will provide sufficient resistance to stop arrows from most youth bows.
References
- Jonathan Karch, 3Rivers Archery Supply
- "Beginner's Guide to Traditional Archery"; Brian J. Sorrells; 2004
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