Archery is not the cheapest sport around. Let’s face it, even the most affordable complete competition level rig is still more than a month’s wages for most Filipino parents. I do however strongly believe that the benefits of getting into archery far outweigh the cons. This is a sport that Filipinos can truly excel in. Unlike mainstream sports like volleyball or basketball, we don’t need to be super tall to be great in Archery. Physical strength is a big part of archery, but it is something you can train for. You can’t train to become taller 😊.
Archery gear has become more accessible to everyone these days. Because of this, more parents and new archers end up investing hard earned money on the wrong things. I can’t count how much money I’ve wasted on buying the wrong gear at the wrong times in my growth as an archer.
Here are my top 5 things parents and new archers should invest in when starting out in Archery:
1. A Good Finger Tab
When shooting your bow, there are 2 main points of contact. The grip or where you hand contacts the bow; and the hook or where your hand connects with the string. The finger tab protects the fingers hooking on to the string from abrasion/friction and pressure. Using the wrong tab with the wrong material and size will not only affect your release and ultimately your shot, for beginners, it may stop you from really enjoying archery.
Get the right size. Finger tab sizes are more based on the width of your palm than the length of your fingers. Each brand has variations on sizes but a good archery shop should help you find the right size for you.
The right stuff. Different tabs use different materials for the tab faces and backing. The tab face is the material that actually comes into contact with your string. These are generally stiffer, smoother leathers or material. The backing is the material the meets your fingers. This is normally the softer material. The palm plate is the rigid part of the tab the gives structure and support to your tab. This can be made of metal, plastic or leather. This also adds weight to your tab. Which materials to select or the kind of tab to use will depend on your budget and preference but I recommend focusing on the face material more. Cardovan leather is widely known as the best material. It allows the string to slide off your fingers smoothly which is exactly what you want in your release. Luckily, there are affordable tabs with this material already. There are also new tabs out that have face materials that closely mimic Cardovan at a fraction of the cost. These can be good alternatives as well.
2. Good, properly spined arrows
Let me start by saying properly spined arrows or consistent arrows do not have to mean expensive arrows. There are good brands available that produce less expensive and dependable arrows.
It may not be that obvious, but your arrows will affect your accuracy more than your bow will. Even if you’re shooting the latest greatest top end bow, if your arrows are not properly matched and spined to each other and to the bow, you still won’t shoot well. The spine of the arrow is the amount of flex it has when a weight is suspended in its middle. Another thing that is not obvious. Arrows don’t fly straight. They flex and ungulate through the air as it flies to the target. In order to get the best shots, you need arrows that have spines that are properly matched to you and your bow. Also as important, all the arrows in your set must have the same spine.
Getting the wrong arrows will only lead to frustration since no matter how much you practice, your shots will never be as good as they should.
3. A good riser
The riser or handle is the central part of your bow. It is your bow basically. It is the platform on which you will add all the other parts that will make up your setup. Getting a good quality riser that will last you for years is a good first step in making sure you spend your money on the right things.
Getting a good riser that will last does have to mean buying an expensive riser. Contrary to what most shops and archery snobs will tell you, the brand is not the most important thing. It’s more important to know the limitations of the riser you are buying. If your budget can only get you an entry level riser from smaller brand, that’s perfectly fine. Just understand that your riser may only be able to handle certain draw weights. You’ll get more out of your bow if you know your goals before investing. If you are buying for a child who plans on competing, then yes, investing in a better-quality riser that can be upgraded to higher levels would be better for you in the long run. But if you know that you’re going to be shooting in your backyard for fun, then a simple bolt on bow or an entry level ILF riser will be more than enough. A good archery shop will help you find the bow that will meet your goals better.
4. A good teacher
I have been incredibly lucky I had the best teammates and the best coach all throughout my archery journey.
I can really attest that having the proper guidance will help you improve in archery MORE than any upgrade in equipment. Investing in a good coach will not only help you learn the proper technique; it will also save you from the many pitfalls new archers hit. Investing in a good coach will get you better results faster than upgrading gear.
Archery is easy to learn but extremely difficult to master. Watching youtube videos and reading how to’s and guides will only get you so far. Archery is about form and the feeling of the shot. It is also very personalized in that there will be nuances that will apply to some and not to others.
A good coach will help you figure these out.
5. TIME.
I believe that in archery, skill matters more than talent. I might even say there is no such thing as a talented archer. The archer who practices more and is more prepared will win tournaments. Like many sports, in order to “git gud,” you need to put in the hours. You can’t really buy points in Archery. Better gear will perform better but if you don’t put in the time, you’re not going to be able to take advantage of the equipment’s potential.
In archery, it pays to be patient. Don’t be too eager to upgrade your gear. I’ve fallen into the trap of buying more expensive gear even when I wasn’t at a level where I would even know the difference. Practice first. Then practice some more. Then shoot more arrows. Eventually, you will reach a point where your limbs are too soft, or the gear that you have is holding you back, then it would be a good time to upgrade. Let your gear catch up to your level instead of you playing catch up with your gear.
Archery is not like other sports where all you need are a pair of good shoes and you’re good to go. You will need to make some investments. But unlike other sports, anyone can shoot archery. You don’t need to be 6 feet tall or well-built to excel in this sport. You don’t need perfect vision or a fully able body to shoot. All you need is time, a good coach and investing in the right equipment at the right times.
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