Before You Buy a Bow, Answer These 9 Questions

Are you thinking of buying a bow? Here is my recommended checklist for beginners who are looking for a bow to buy. These are the things you should know and decide on to be ready to start shopping around for your first or next bow. Go down one by one and make sure you have all these considerations and qualities written down before you start looking at specific bows. There are a lot of bows out there and it can be a little overwhelming to decide which one is the best for you. Having this list handy will make the experience enjoyable and easy.

Any kind of bow

This list applies for all types of bows. One item on the checklist is to decide what type or types of bows you are interested in. If you are not sure yet check out these articles about the most common types of bows:

• Read about recurve bows
• Read about compound bows
• Read about traditional bows
• Read about crossbows

List to make buying a bow much easier

To make it easy, I made the list in the form of questions or steps. The answers could be one, multiple or a range. Click on each question to read a more detailed explanation of how to find out, or why it is important. I recommend going in order because some questions depend on previous ones.

1. What type of Archery will you be doing?
2. What is your budget?
3. What type of bow do you want?
4. Which one is your dominant eye?
5. What is your draw length?
6. What is your draw weight?
7. How much do you want and can you carry?
8. What is your existing skill level?
9. What shapes, textures, materials and colors do you like?

Steps to buy the perfect bow for you

1. Decide the type of Archery

The type of archery depends on what is available, what you are interested in and how much time do you have for it.  There are many types of archery styles. Some are more common and easier to access like indoor or outdoor target ranges. Some require more time commitment like competitive target archery. Others might not be accessible like ski archery or bow fishing, still other types require almost no type and equipment commitment like a game of  archery war. It depends on where you are living and where and when you can shoot some arrows.  I cover a lot of archery types and the equipment required in this comprehensive overview.

Why is it important?

It is important to know what context you will be in so that you can pick the best bow for the demands of the situation. If you are going to be walking, running or trekking around then the weight of the bow matters more. If you are going to be hiking in tight spaces in the midst of bushes and trees, then the smaller the bow the more portable it will be.  When you are hunting in the woods, it would be hard to be hauling a large heavy bow.

However, for target archery, and specially for competitive target archery, you should use all the help you can get with as much added stabilizers, sights, etc. Unless of course you are in the barebow category and you like the most challenge.

Bows for bow hunting are generally shorter and lighter to increase their portability. On the other hand, the longer and heavier the bow is, the more accurate, precise and forgiving it will be during target archery.

2. What is your budget?

This is the easiest thing on the list. Always have a maximum budget. Be prepared to spend it all, because truly you get what you pay for.

The most budget-friendly bows are simpler recurve bows. If you are considering buying a take-down recurve bow you can consider buying used parts separately that fit together.

If you have more money to spend and you are interested in compound bows , then the more budget you have the more and better technology you can afford so I would recommend looking into a reverse-draw compound bow.

Higher budget in the traditional bow category will get you a higher end material and prettier more durable bow.

3. Skill Level

This will dictate much of the decisions that will follow.  If you already know what you prefer, then feel free to skip my explanations.

4. Type of Bow

You should decide on the type or types of bows you are interested in so you can narrow down your options.

In general, are you more interested in shooting easily and more accurately sooner? — Buy a crossbow (if legal in your area) or compound bow if your budget allows

or do you want to slowly learn the fundamental with a constant challenge, but in the end really master the archery fundamentals? — buy a traditional bow, a long bow, or a traditional recurve bow.

Other types of bow offer a different mix between these 2 extremes. If you are interested in target archery a good compromise would be a modern take-down recurve bow that you learn to shoot barebow, and that you can later deck-out with more gear if become interested in competitive target archery.

If you are into hunting and you don’t want to get a compound bow, either because of budget or you want the added challenge, then get a good quality recurve bow with at least a 40 lb draw weight. For more bow types check out — Overview of all types of bows.

5. Dominant Eye

Some bows don’t have arrow shelves so the arrow can be shot from both sides, the bow would be called reversible. However most bows do have either a left or a right side configuration.  So find out if you are a lefty or a righty with my simple guide to finding your dominant eye.

6. Draw Length

Check out my guide to how to determine your draw length and weight.

A note on Brace height

Unless you are experienced and you know what brace height you prefer then this number does not really matter. For one, you can adjust it for modern recurve and traditional bows by twisting or untwisting the string.  For compound bows it is predetermined by the manufacturer and can be slightly increased or decreased. In general it has been found that it does not make a big difference in how a bow shoots.

7. Draw Weight

Same as the previous section give my guide a read to how to determine your draw length and weight.

You can adjust both draw weight and length for compound bows. For crossbows they are not really relevant. For traditional bows the draw length and draw weight are related to each other and are not really adjustable. Take-down recurve bows can be adjusted up or down on draw weight. If the draw length or draw weight are not easily changed, make sure you consider them when you are going to buy a bow.

8. The weight of the bow

This is another point of comparison between bows. Everything else the same, lighter is better for hunting and 3D archery. However heavier bows are more forgiving and slightly more accurate.

8. Aesthetics

Bows are generally sleek and attractive. I had no problem choosing my bow, since I liked all of them. It might be different for you. You also would like to get a camouflage design if going hunting.

You are ready to buy a bow!

The bow you should buy should match your dominant eye and be fitted to your draw length and draw weight. Your budget will dictate the level of technology and material, but there are other things like aesthetics and dimensions that do not depend on the price but rather the intended use of the bow.