Steve Smith knows how to get a newbie set up with a bow.
The co-owner of the newly-opened Archery Connection in Phenix City only needs a few pieces of information from you to get the process started. What’s your objective? How much are you looking to spend? Have you ever shot a bow before?
Smith gets beginners of all ages coming in to look at bows and shoot. If you purchase a new bow from Archery Connection -- a completely set-up recurve runs about $139 and a packaged compound bow will set you back $300 -- you’ll get shooting lessons for free.
“We’re a complete pro shop, so we size the bow to the customer, first thing,” said Smith. “We try to help them and guide them and direct them to the right bow for whatever they’re going to do -- hunting, target shooting, backyard shooting -- we’ll try to fit them in that.”
Smith said an ill-fitting bow is the beginning of shooting problems, noting that everything from the physical size of the bow to draw length to peep site placement needs to be tailored to the individual shooter.
That’s why he said people should go to a pro shop to try out bows instead of trying to shoot one belonging to someone else.
“You don’t have to buy the best on the shelf. Buy a decent bow that they can hit with,” said Smith, referring to getting kids interested in archery. “If it’s an accurate and easy shooting bow, then when you get them started out, if they can hit they’re more apt to continue shooting.”
Two or three lessons is all it takes to learn the basics of how to shoot a bow, but, as with most things in life, practice makes perfect. Smith recommends at least 60 days of archery practice before going hunting.
Also, developing shooting muscles may take a little bit longer. Smith said even someone who is strong may have trouble pulling back a bow at first because those muscles aren’t used to being used in that manner. He suggests using an exercise band to train the proper muscles, stretching and holding it until your muscles give out, then repeating the process.
“It’s a true beginner sport,” said Smith. “Anybody that’s never tried it, it’s a beginner’s paradise if they’re fitted properly… It’s not a hard sport to do.”
