My daughter, 8yo, returned from summer camp this year very interested in archery. I’d like to get her a bow/beginner set to let her shoot at home in the back yard (we have a large field behind the house so this is possible to be done safely), and pursue the interest further. I’ve done some internet reading on sizing a bow, but would love to hear suggestions as to how to go about this, what products I need, etc. Don’t want to break the bank on this as who knows if her interest will really blossom, if it does, we can look at better equipment later. There is a local store that sponsors a JOAD team, and I’ll likely seek out their advice and possibly lessons, but would like to have a little more information and ideas of what I should expect before going in. Thanks!

2000Z-71 is your guy. I've gotten a lot of good information from him. Our daughter is about to be 8 & is enjoying archery. We've taken her to a few beginner classes to see if she really would get into it, and she loves it. Likely buying her a bow for her birthday. Thinking about a PSE Razorback/Jr/Lil

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/8380003064

Definitely hoping 2000Z-71 enters to give his knowledge, experience, and opinions on the topic!

his eyes will light up and his heart will race when he sees the title of your post! He will be happy to guide you through everything I'm sure! Good luck to you and your daughter!

I just bought one of these bows for my son who is 5 and asked for a bow for his birthday.

Diamond Infinite Edge

I was going to pick up a cheapy one just to let him play with, but then someone showed me the specs on these. I didn't know such a bow existed. We have it down to a 17.5" draw length and I cranked the poundage way down.

We shoot at my targets in the back yard and he loves it. Especially popping baloons.

Best part is, if he sticks with it he can literally use this bow his whole life. Not that I expect that as I'm sure like me he'll want a new one at some point

I got his off ebay for half what they are going for new, and it was in great shape. Saw the same one used in a righty model on a local hunting site for $200.

You're definitely on the right track looking into the JOAD program at the local shop. That's where our daughter got her start. They can probably give better advice in person than I can over the internet.

One of the biggest determinants will be to see if she is left or right eye dominant. That may determine if she uses a right or left handed bow.

The other big decision will be recurve or compound. There is a lot faster learning curve with compound than there is with recurve. But some like the, "Simplicity" of a recurve. I've also had some beginning archers that were scared of the noise and the speed of a compound. Others like my daughter see the speed and hear the thwack of an arrow hitting the target bale and go, "COOL!"

A good shop with a JOAD program should have loaner equipment to get started with. Don't go out and buy pro level equipment when they're just starting out. One of the nice things about starting kids in archery is that parents can ease into the equipment costs. Get a basic beginner bow to start with and gradually start upgrading components like sights, stabilizers and arrows as their skill grows. If they stick with it and get good, when they're ready for a quality target bow, you've already got all of the nice components to take off the old bow and put on the new one.

The one thing I absolutely love about youth archery is the life lessons that come from it. We all need to learn in life how to deal with victory, loss and how to overcome obstacles. If kids can learn that through archery at 8, 9 or 10 rather than later in life, they're much better for it.

The other thing I'll warn you about, archery gets addictive. You'll see how much fun you daughter is having and think, "Flinging pointy sticks downrange with a stick and a string looks kinda' fun..."

Feel free to post up if you've got specific questions. Also feel free to e-mail me, e-mail's in my profile.

Check to see if there's a "Centershot" program near you...

It's church based, but you dont have to attend the church to be a part of the program.

See here for more info - Looks like there's a "find one near me" on their website:
https://centershot.org/Home/About

As for gear...they use Genesis bows (made by Matthews), my daughters (7.5 and 9) love theirs. They are basically built for standard NASP aluminum arrows, easy to find and inexpensive. NASP is "National Archery in the Schools Program", I believe.

Anyway...I'd recommend both the Genesis bow, and Centershot for a beginner.

- Brian

What part of NC are you in? There is a really good shop in North Raleigh and I think they have a kids league.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
2000Z-71 is your guy. I've gotten a lot of good information from him. Our daughter is about to be 8 & is enjoying archery. We've taken her to a few beginner classes to see if she really would get into it, and she loves it. Likely buying her a bow for her birthday. Thinking about a PSE Razorback/Jr/Lil

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/8380003064

Threaddrift-of-sorts:

Bought our daughter a PSE ProMax takedown recurve.
Picked up a target at Academy & set up in the backyard.
12 arrows in the target, no fliers & the majority in the blue or better.
Need to work on form, then accuracy.

I love to see these kids getting into this.

quote:

Originally posted by SR:
What part of NC are you in? There is a really good shop in North Raleigh and I think they have a kids league.

Also just north of Charlotte in China Grove, NC there is Grafton Archery & Outdoors.
They were very helpful setting up my daughter and getting her sighted in.