Bow Recommendations

[Brett F]

Hi all I am only new to the archery scene. I have only been out to a archery club and shot 2 events of ABA. What i am wanitng to know is what the best brand of bow be for shooting both ABA and IFAA. I have been looking at the Martin, Matthews and Hoyt website and not to sure which one i should go. I have a lone of a Hoty MT Sport, Set at 38 pound and about a 26.5" pull length. I was looking at getting a Matthews Apex 7, or a Martins Cougar, or a Hoyt Ultra Elite. I have been told to get a bow with a axle length longer then 36" for shooting targets with. I will be starting off shooting it as a barebow but will be looking at shooting with sights and release aids.

Any help would be great.

[Robert43]

HI Brett I do ABA / IFFaA and use a Mathews Switchback , other people like Beatle use a Mathews Apex7 , with exlent results so you can use a long a/a or short like my switchack on 33" :D

[Sandy Hancock]

*disclaimer* recurver speaking

A longer axle to axle distance is more of an issue with finger shooting (ie barebow).
There are many archers shooting shortish bows very well with a release.
For field/3D you could consider Bowtech (Allegiance, Old Glory) as well as the others you listed. They also make a nice bow (Equalizer) specifically for short draw lengths.

[Brett F]

Does anyone else have some more infor for me. Or should I be better off going to a store with a wide range of bows and trying a few to see what feels good and shoot good groups for me.

[wareagle]

I have a Hoyts Ultraelite, a Mathews Switchback and Apex7, if I had to choose one of these bows, it would be the Ultraelite, because with the cam and a half, you can change your draw length, without having to buy a new cam, like you would have too with the Mathews. just my opinion.

[Sandy Hancock]

I think you'd be better off *waiting*. Shoot the Hoyt you have borrowed for a while. Get your technique settled, get some coaching.
Fast is good for your type of shooting, but there are plenty of fast bows around.
Seriously, getting opinions here will not really help you find the best bow for you. It will get you the best bow for someone else.

[Brett F]

I think you'd be better off *waiting*. Shoot the Hoyt you have borrowed for a while. Get your technique settled, get some coaching.
Fast is good for your type of shooting, but there are plenty of fast bows around.
Seriously, getting opinions here will not really help you find the best bow for you. It will get you the best bow for someone else.

Thanks for the infor But the bow i have got a loan of has been sold and I will not have one to train with so that means I will be after a new or good s/hand one very soon.

I will have to try and see what I will like than go from there.

[Robert43]

To be honest if you are going to shoot 1st finger then release you might be better of getting a bow with adjustment as when you go from fingers to release you usually lose a 1/2" - 1" in draw length
I love my Mathews but as it was stated you have ZERO adjustment with Mathews and you have to buy new cams which can get $ after a while :D .
A nother thing make sure you get some one to measure your correct draw length , not what you think you are,
When I 1st started out I measured what I thought was the correct draw length only to fing out I was 1 1/2" too long :oops:
Robert

[Brett F]

I will get checked for my draw length soon. I will be heading to Brisbane on the Mayday Long Weekend and I was aiming to have a browse in a couple of shops to see what I like. Any suggestion who I should go and see.

[Pete]

Get them all!

[New Tricks]

Howdy Brett.

You should swing by Al at Canga on the way south on the Sunshine Coast. he stocks a heap of stuff. http://www.canga.com.au/ and address is 5 Belar Court, Wurtulla QLD 4575. It is just near Kawana shopping centre. When you get to brisbane, visit the idiots at Zen. They do ok. The address is at the bottom of my post.

100% personal opinion here with your shooting choice as I shoot the same rounds. Axle to Axle does not really matter all that much. If you set up a bow correctly and have reasonable form, it matters not.

If you came to me and asked what you should get I would tell you, for IFAA, Apex 7, Carbon Express 3D selects with ACC 60 series points and inserts and G nocks as well as a 4x scope. the rest is up to you. Not a great deal of difference.

For ABA, interesting question. I personally never shot a clarifying peep but if I had my time again, would do so. 270 fps is all you need. There are bows that will give you 320+ but in my opinion, the extra speed does not get you any extra points. I have shot speeds from 220-310 and did my best with a 40" ATA bow with ACEs full length at around low 270 FPS.

If you want to shoot ABA well, you must learn the Max/Min distances for each group and know what group (1-5) the targets belong to. Additionally, know the Junior max/min distances as well as often, you can eliminate a whole range of possibilities if the junior peg is behind the red. Also, you IFAA will help you shoot it well as you can mentally compare distances to known distance. It helps if your club also has an IFAA course that doubles as an ABA course so you can look at the animal targets when you shoot circles. You only need to be within 3 or 4 yards at 270 FPS to get in the A zone every time.


I have not shot any of the new hoyts, but they seem to do OK. Songle cam is where it is at though as they are easy to tune. Try a Ben Pearson Gen II. Similar specs to wqhat I would pick and good price. Zen sell them.