10 Tips when buying a new bow We have been selling bows and accessories for over 25 years and we know that purchasing a compound bow is not the easiest thing to do. With so many choices available one can find themselves wondering which one is perfect for them. This easy to follow buyers guide will help you stay focused on what is important to you making your purchase a successful one. The tips below are not in any specific order as each tip has a different importance for each individual buyer. Draw weight. This is a very important aspect to consider when purchasing a new bow. It is imperative that you choose the bow that will match your ability. All too often archers will purchase a bow with a higher poundage in hopes they will be able to pull it back at a later date. This can be very problematic as it can and usually does compromise your form which in turn leads to poor shooting and loss of confidence in the bow. Brace Height. Brace height plays a huge role in the bows forgiveness. The bigger the brace height the more forgiving the bow. Generally though with larger brace heights some speed is sacrificed. Speed. This is in most cases the first specification archers look at. Everyone wants the fastest bow they can buy. We agree with that notion completely, but not if you have to sacrifice other important features on a bow like brace height for example. Camo/Color. Many archers are both avid target/3d shooters as well as bowhunters. Some even find themselves tussling with the notion of purchasing a color bow. If you intend to bow hunt with the bow we would advise against any color bow. Generally these bows are made with a very high gloss finish leading to sun glare while hunting. Weight. The weight of a bow is more of an individual preference than anything. Some like a heavier bow while others want as light as possible. Try a few bows out that have a variety of weights and see which one feels best to you. You will need to remember that with accessories comes additional weight however so keep that in the back of your mind as well. Length. Axle to axle length is something to consider as well. Same rules apply here as with the weight. Try some out and see what you like best. For those who like to hunt from tree stands or out of blinds the shorter the bow the better. Adjustability. Many manufacturers make bows that are adjustable in draw weight and or length. Some require just a new cam or module while others will require new limbs. Find this out so you know what to expect should you desire a change in the bow. Cams. We now have single cam bows (most popular today) ,cam and a half bows and two cam bows available. Shoot them all and see which you like best. The single cam in our opinion tends to offer the smoothest pull as well as the best let-off Let-off. Let-off is something that should never be overlooked. Let-off ranges from 60-80%. The higher the let-off percentage the less tension felt at full draw. So 80% would mean that at full draw you would only be holding 20% of your draw weight. This greatly will improve your accuracy if you can hold longer on your target with less fatigue. Warranty. Be sure to check the manufacturers warranty on the bow before you buy it. Some are as much as lifetime, so be sure to check before you buy. |