Do you prefer a compound bow or a recurve bow?

2015-08-29T03:33:14-04:00

I qualified in 1994 to go to the World shoot off in Chicago but about a week before got my trigger finger seriously damaged ( destroyed all my ligaments. 35% disabled in my right hand) so I had given up bow shooting until my 19 yr old daughter asked me to teach her. I have started her out on a basic, no sights, no stabilizer bar, no fancy arrow rest 35 lb pull Thundor recurve. Today was her first day. She did really well for her first time . I always used a Compound. I owned many of them, Browning Mirage, High Country Safari, High Country Supreme, Jennings Carbon Stealth Hunter, Jennings Carbon Extreme to name a few, but after destroying my trigger finger in 1994 I gave up and sold all my bows except for the Carbon Hunter.. All her life she has always checked out my trophies and would look over my bow, but never asked me to teach her until yesterday. She came over and looked around and said where are your trophies. I said I needed the room and that was so long ago I donated them off. She almost cried and said I loved seeing them, ( She was born in 1996 & never saw me shoot.) then hit me with teach me and let me shoot some tournaments. I decided to use recurves ( Less expensive to start) to begin her out on and if she liked it to move up to a compound later on. Which one do you like better? Do you think I should have started her out on a compound?

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 29 at 2015 6:51 AM

2015-08-29T06:51:08-04:00

Cpl James Waycasie Tough decision.I started with a re-curve 45 lb. Browning(no sights,no stabilizer,no rest,etc) and really enjoyed shooting it.I have used Browning,Martin,PSE,Matthews,etc. and now shoot a Bear which i really like (80% let-off,whisker rest,fiber-optic sights,etc). Question being--will she shoot in competition for re-curves or plan to shoot in compound competition?The compounds now have so much technology,you have the knowledge and experience to make her exceptional (you know--get the basics right and practice,practice,practice) ---the only down-side of the re-curve i can see is if it causes her to lose interest(being hard to pull and hold(even at 35 lb.) and the re-curve isn't as flat shooting as the compounds of today. In the end YOU know your daughter,so i guess i am just applauding your interest in her. Semper Fi

Response by LTC Matthew Tieszen made Sep 2 at 2015 10:35 AM

2015-09-02T10:35:11-04:00

Despite starting on a recurve, at age 8, many years ago, my personal preference is a compound bow. I’m not a traditionalist, I’m not a competitive shooter and I’m not a ‘born again bush crafter’… I shoot as a hobbyist and a hunter. While both bows can be equally capable, I like the fact that a compound bow allows for more growth with the shooter; changing draw weight, etc. I no longer know enough about recurves to tell you if they are more forgiving than a compound but I’d be less than honest if I didn’t add that I rely on the ‘let-off’ of a compound as my shoulder ages with the rest of me. I started my daughters shooting 2 years ago (6 and 9 then) with compound bows and they are shooting the same bows today at ages 8 and 11. The adjustability of the compound bows allowed this, although my 8yr old is almost at the limit of the bows draw weight and I know that one growth spurt and/or increase in strength will be the precursor to getting a new one.
I also need to add that I got both of their bows for a really good price. I do understand that recurves can be much cheaper than some compounds and, for financial reason, less of a risk if the intended person does not like shooting or doesn’t pick up the hobby. My fall back plan, if my girls didn’t like it, was to convert the bows to a bow-fishing rig.
I think you did fine. No fancy rest, sights, stabilizer… still teaches the fundamentals/instinct shooting. There will always be compounds and they will continue to get lighter, faster etc… if/when she wants to make the transition, or you want to influence it then get one. If she wants to stay on a recurve… that’s great too.