Skill or Kit ?

[Desbob]

As a newcomer to this fine sport, and having endeavoured to optimise my equipment while at the same time practising as much as possible, I wondered; what is everyone's opinion regarding the question of skill versus kit?

to what extent can you buy or tune your way to gold

how much of archery success is attributable to pure skill and how much is expensive kit and enthusiastic tuning

just wondering....

Des

[tel]

I wouldn't dare to profess to know 'the' answer to that oft asked question. What I would personally offer is that first and foremost learn to shoot (form comes first - at lower poundages/distances - only move on when comfortable). Only when you attain a good level (high end BM and above) of competence will the pound in your pocket make any difference. Only an opinion of course.

[wheeljem]

Sort your form out and then spend proper money but, what ever you do, do go too heavy too fast. I have seen a rash of people up their poundage in some macho mentality and their form goes completely out of the window.

[DHBowman]

Very insightful Tel, I agree with your opinion I have seen in my two years of shooting people who have gone out and bought the most expensive kit and or the same as the current Olympic champion thinking that they will automatically shoot the same and unfortunately not been able to.

Since taking up archery I have invested time in learning and refining a consistent shooting style, understanding how I shoot and how the bow shoots, training, practice, understanding tuning patterns and listening to advice from fellow club members and coaches, in an attempt to get better. Two years down the line it is starting to pay off, coming second in my clubs outdoor championship.

[tel]

I have to admit to coming at this discussion from the wrong side - leapt up the scale poundage/arrow wise and can honestly say I am now paying the price....I now need to take a big step back to basics.

[Shadowblade]

the kit, however advanced can only take you so far its down to skill and the commitment you have to practice to take you all the way to success

[Bald Eagle]

I think we all fall into the "trap" of too much too soon. As Tel said, take it slowly and Keep It Simple, concentrate on tecnique and form and on't be tempted to buy 'cos your mate shoots well with"X"

[ozzy9039]

I have some friends that tell me "Robin Hood Didn't Need All Those Fancy Stabilizers" whenever they see these setups...and to a very good extent they are correct. If I had to pick one or the other, I would say skill, but there is something to be said about properly tuned equipment and, I agree with Tel, The "better" equipment will only matter when the skill can make it so. I would recommend getting a decent setup to start & upgrading when you feel it neccesary, but you want something in the middle I would say; afterall you do not want to regret purchases later. Nothing to much, but nothing you will "outgrow" in a very short time. I left Compound shooting with a Mathews Conquest4 ($$) and went with the KAP Winstar II & Samick Carbon Foam 36# limbs when I came into Recurve shooting. I have not regreted this decision... I do however regret that first set of arrows I bought for them (not quite the right spine)... be very careful with the arrow decision!!! That can get expensive fast. Most of all... Have Fun!

[Cimbian]

It has to be skill.

But it is possible to buy points: shoot compound and stick to York/Hereford... Piece of

[Jerry Tee]

Skill or kit? It's never that simple. There are some items that are worth spending on and will gain you points. For starters a good tab, next a good sight that will give you an accurate click stop change of elevation and windage. You can practice all you want but if your sight is cheap rubbish you'er on a looser. Stabs are worth the money, you will shoot better with them than without.
As for tuning you can only tune as well as you can shoot.(tuning is good practice as you have to shoot well to get repeatable results.)

[ozzy9039]

Another good thought Jerry!!! Once you have a good sight, you can never go back! They are worth the money and will last a lifetime!

[Amateur Barbarian]

If you want to invest in equipment to make you instantly better, get a compound. Otherwise, I have seen a lot of shooters doing quite well with KAP TREX risers and limbs -- and Winstar II's are excellent risers. If you do not work on your form now, you will have to rework it later. I have 5 bows from entry level to top end and I can probably shoot the same score with each of them.

[arutha]

Oh Desbob!
You'd be better off throwing a grenade into the forum.

It depends on what you want from archery. I've paid for top notch recurve kit after my beginners course, and fought the long hard fight against my "clicker".

I then bought compound to play with and asked for advice again.

All I can say is, when I was stuck on something, I asked for advice on here and I was greeted with the best/constructive advice available.

I have to admit, the guys on here are more than helpful and you'll never wait too long on an answer. AIUK is a goldmine of information.

Enjoy yer sport and...

....you never seen me..alright...:-)

[Desbob]

Thanks for the views everyone, consensus is pretty much as expected

Obviously a disadvantage to shoot competitively without certain standards of kit being met, but much more important to get form developed and lots of practice.

Thing is, when you start this game, all the shiny things you want (sometimes confused with need) keep tempting you and its hard to resist, but of course thats part of the fun

[Whitehart]

What do you want when you buy kit - consistancy/accurate repeatability.
Entry level kit = most ILF stuff Winstar and equivalent and Easton shafts is consistant.

Next that the bow is set up correctly, the simple stuff, don't confuse with wasting time on bow tuning if you are a beginner that comes much later although many start too early.

Once you have these two done then its down to you as you can be confident that a bad shot is down to you even at the early stage.

Most archers see a big jump in scores from using club equipment to getting their own kit, why because if set up and matched correctly they have a solid platform to progress.

As you get better then the more expensive kit is made better and has a higher level of consitancy so IMO kit and skill should compliment each other not one or the other because at the very top end practical skills and kit give way to strong mental skills but you still need the other two.

I also cannot understand the attitude in our sport where beginners are looked down on if they have splashed the cash, coaches seem the wortst culprits (equipment envy or just being over protective?) and got some really good kit, it cannot do any harm and ok initially it will make little difference but it is their money afterall to spend how they wish, but as always the key is it has to be matched and set up correctly otherwise it really is a waste of money.