Well I finally got my first arrows after much searching for inserts for 2514 aluminums. Got them glued in and went to the yard. Had a feed sack from my barn stuffed with old clothes. From 15 yds I was hitting the bag pretty good. The bag is not quite half full. But since I am shooting such a large diameter arrow they were hitting the bag really hard. Around my 12 arrow (I only had 3 made up to start with) my second shot in a run of 3 drove the bag over with both arrows sticking straight up out of bag. My third shot was high missing the bag completely. But not the arrow that drove the bag over. It hit that arrow right where it entered the bag and hit it so square it sheared it off!!!! Hahaha it made such a resounding thud I knew what I had done. Now I practice with 2 arrows and another old target behind the bag. have any of you ever done this???

I have never done that,but my 1st mistakes were overbowed and cutting my arrows. yours was way cooler lol...ron

olboy, what pound bow are you shooting? Those arrows would be for like 90# bows, they are awful stiff. Shawn

I have fence post smaller than those lol

I got a smokin deal on a foley. My very first recurve. Always shot compounds. Anyways... I am left handed my bow is 57 lbs at 28 inches. And before you say it I know I am over bowed. But I have had it 2 months and have been drawing it a lot to build strength. I know I should have gone lighter but lack the funds do when a buddy offered me his mint condition foley takedown and a selway quiver in exchange for a diamond compound I had 300 bucks in I jumped on it. And he gave me 60 bucks to boot.

Beware of your target falling forward onto your arrows and bending all of them at once.....Nah...I never did that :)

As far as the arrows go I left them full length. My riser is cut past center and I "think" I am getting decent arrow flight. But then again I am brand new to this so how do I know?!?! Haha

Since this is posted as a beginner's first mistake, let me add one that is even more common.

If you wear a size 12 shoe, how good a "deal" is it to find a pair of $500 shoes for $10 BUT they are size 6???

SOOOO?!?! A good deal in archery equipment MAY NOT be if the equipment doesn't fit?? The MOST wonderful bow ever made at 80# for $50 is not a good deal if you are buying it for your own use.

Again, the excuse that I don't have much money so I bought my buddy's XX# bow is a really poor use of limited funds, IMO. Smoken deals -- yep.

Arne

57# is not that heavy you will do OK if you put your mind to it. Keep shooting and having fun

I don't mean to rain on your parade but you could of bought a nice lighter weight bow with the money you spent. It's too bad you didn't come on here first and ask stick bow shooters opinions.

He didn't spend any money. He got money plus got rid of a compound. Win Win. If it is too heavy he can make another swap or lighten it up a bit. I would buy wonderful bows all day long for $80. Some one will want them. Good for you olboy. Don't be cutting your arrows into though. If you have any questions just holler. There are some real good guys and coaches here. One of the best coaches around just don't like shoes that hurt his feet. :^) Lol Good Luck. >>>-----> Ken

Oh yeah. You won't 'do fine'.

My first bow was free. 60# Pearson from my father in law. I was strong enough to pull it so I did. Eventually I got a 'light' 45# bow. I didn't start getting good until I finally got a 38#. Then I got 35# and got much better.

Now I prefer to shoot low 40's.

olboy if you like the bow keep shooting, I would look for the cheapest 60# bow I could find and shoot a few arrows a day with it and the foley will be easier to shoot. I have a old 70# recurve I shoot occasionally and it makes my 55# fill like a kids toy,

Jeez...Or learn how to shoot on a 40# Better yet, get a 100# and then your bow will be really easy :)

I just don't see any reason to bust a new guys balls about having a 57# bow not everyone has to shoot a 40# bow to be proficient and not everyone like being told they are basically dumb for getting the first available trad bow that came along. Show some support not negative attitudes. I happen to know a lot of folks who shoot that weight just fine.

The weight is not an issue, I am not a real believer that you need to start out light to get good form and shoot well. My concern is the beer cans you are shooting. Even at 33"s and a 125 grain head they will be plenty stiff. Try a .400 spine cut to 29.5"s with a point weight of 275 grains and I think you will be very happy. Aluminum if you draw 28"s then try a 2020 or even a 2018. Shawn

yes with a brand new arrow , I found out which shaft fit inside it and spliced it together . Took a coyote with it . Now when an arrow drop after hitting the target and sags down I stop and go pull it out. You might want to make more then one spot on the target to aim at and shot one per spot. I tend to shoot two at each spot , but that's pushing my luck.

I was given the same advice when I started and I didn't listen. I finally did, and now I can shoot. Your mileage may vary. And you won't find one instructor that will tell you to learn on anything higher than 40# and they would prefer you started on a 30-35#

It took me a year to figure out spine lol

Let's clear up the "bow doesn't fit" thing. I am 5' 10" with a 28 inch draw. Grew up on farm. Did 4 years in marine corps. I am more than strong enough to handle it. I understand that to most of you that seems like more than a beginner needs. But I did know this coming into it so I strung up an old Pearson at 45 # and worked with that a lot to try to establish form. I actually watched everything I could on YouTube that guys like Jeff kavanaugh and Arne moe put on there as well as many others. As I started on this site I very quickly realized that most guys do not shoot quite that heavy so I knew I had work to do to do it right. And trust me I will.

Well you got what you got. I am fortunate enough to have a wife that puts up with my shenanigans with archery and shooting sports. If you wish to try, try these four things to get you more comfortable with your bow:

1) air bow! (just like air guitar) Just practice your form and follow through without a bow.

2) Get a nylon strap that you can adjust and practice isometric pulling through various stages of the draw up to the anchor point holding strong and actively pushing and pulling for at least 15 seconds.

3) If you have access to resistance bands, pull and hold them. If you only have one resistance band fold or shorten it to increase resistance.

4) If you can successfully anchor on your 60# bow, hold it for 2-3 seconds and let down until you begin to fatigue. Every 2-6 weeks depending on your comfort level add a second or two.

Olboy,

It isn't a strongman contest. It is technique. That got me too. I am 6'1" 200# and was a martial arts instructor. I was plenty strong enough to pull it. That wasn't the point.

Don't look at heavy draw weight as being advanced and low draw weight as being beginner. When you know what you are doing, there are many things that actually require much more control to shoot well on a light bow. It makes you better. I promise.

Agree light bows help.. form will better all aspects of your shooting and make your tuning efforts more accurate.I just slo mo videoed me shooting today, and I am correcting flaws I saw in it. Don't give up, work your way into it. My students use exercise bands from Wally World to get the form right-mirrors help in developing form

Some how we got into form when you were laughing at yourself for shooting your arrow. Embrace the suck, semper fi

Yeah no doubt. I was making a joke about my own stupidity and found out I was more "stupid" than I thought. Haha I got what I got. Everyone kinda missed the 45# Pearson I have been working with. Like I said, it was meant to be FUNNY. Guess I missed again!!!!!

olboy, by the time you got around to telling the rest of the story, most of these guys had already made up their mind as to what you were doing "wrong". Most on here don't take the time to read the whole thread; they just read the OP and are off and running. lol. bvd

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