CHOOSING A TRADITIONAL BOW

LOOKS ARE IMPORTANT

Firstly, if you really like the look of the bow – go for it! This may not sound like the most professional piece of advice but, strangely, it works. Ask any traditional archer what their initial attraction to their bow was, and they will undoubtedly talk of the beauty of the curves, the simplicity of design, the natural and historical aspects of their archery equipment and practice.

As humans, we find traditional archery to be an organic activity, and liking the way our tools feel and look is an important part of that. Comments such as: “Traditional bows are difficult to manage”, “Thumb draw technique is painful”, and, my favourite, “You will never be as consistent on the target”, are merely statements of discouragement made by those who have never taken the time to really practise their craft, whose motivation is the outcome and not the process itself. Traditional archery is a lifelong pursuit, with ups and downs, much like any other activity. It is best to go into this new adventure with a strong and positive outlook and, perhaps, without any expectations, especially if you are a highly