Stereotypes come from Stereotypical Behavior

[Desert Archer]

I have long thought the trad claim that compounders have to have a new bow every year was an exaggeration. Then I saw a post on another archery board that started with, "My bow this year is a..." and a new compound model was named. In the indoor league I shoot at only one guy is shooting a different bow this year from last, and it is a used one he bought because it was, according to him quite a bargain.

I know there are some recurve shooters who have to have every new bow they see (hope you're feeling better rusty - lol) and I'm sure there are the same types among the straight ended bow fanciers. Guess that post got me wondering if; a) the stereotype is as confined to compounds as the trad boys think; or b) recurve and long bow shooters are just as bad?

I've been known to buy new toys to play with or try out for a specific purpose but I still have as my primary shooting bows the two Spigarelli risers I bought used 3-4 years ago. I can't imagine selling either one as they do exactly what I need a take down, metal recurve riser to do.

A related topic is...why do manufacturers discontinue very successful models and replace them with "new and improved" models, which in many cases may be new but aren't improved. Is this market driven, but the urge described above, or is the drive to buy the latest and greatest spurred on by the makers bringing out new models every year or so?

Inquiring minds want to know! (smiley face goes here)

Dave

[Pinelander]

I think it's a mixture of both. There are lots of consumers out there that want the newest, latest, and greatest thing available. And of course, most retailers know that a product advertised as "new and improved" has always been a catchy approach in advertising.

When it comes to compound vs. traditional, the confound folks seem to really thrive on the newest accessories (and even colors) that come out each year... and the tarditionalists never seem to be satisfied with just one or two bows, sometimes reaching a fever-pitched addiction of collecting and perusing nearly every bow on the market. Many people in BOTH groups are guilty as sin about going from one product to another with no end in sight. Wished I could say that I were DONE, but that wouldn't even come close to being honest with myself.

[Scooter]

Dave,

I think the new bow thing is a phenomenon for both camps. There are guys that do find "the bow" for them and shoot it for several years, especially if on a budget. But it seems like more often than not those with the money have to have the latest and greatest (or at least different). In terms of compounds I think the advancements come much faster and can be more easily noticed and or quantified in terms of speed, noise vibration etc.. A ten year old compound is often completely outdated and thus shows up in the resale price where as most recurves and longbows hold there values quite well.

I mean a ten year old Black Widow for example is not severely different than a 2008 widow. Same for a Hill bow or a in reality a Elan riser vs a Nexus riser. ILF limb technology/improvements can be argued but there are still some pretty good wood glass carbon limbs out there.

Seems to me like "trad" guys are more apt to have several bows in the herd that may rotate periodically, while keeping a couple of "you'll pry them from my cold dead fingers" bows stashed away. I see more compound guys rotate one or two bows every few years never keeping any one bow more than maybe 5 years.

[warbow]

A lot of trad shooters have way, way more bows than compound shooters--the main difference is that most trad bows don't come out on strict annual schedule the way cars and some compounds and recurve risers do...

The compound makers do all they can to encourage yearly upgrades buy making "improvements" and by sponsoring top shooters and giving them the latest and greatest to use every year...

Field archery, not so much. I was shooting with a national barebow field archery champion and he said he couldn't get sponsorship to save his life--not even so much as an arm guard. Barebow just isn't equipment intensive enough for the sponsors.

[JackAldridge]

I've bought and sold the same bow (I mean the exact same bow!) twice....and just bought it back again! My theory is to buy high...sell low...and make the difference up on volume!

[BigCnyn]

I have had a few recurves, Brakenburys, Stotlers, some that I still own sentimental value alone.. I Have always wanted a Black Widow, I was able to trade for a 92, MA11 in 1993. That has become my go to bow, When it needs to be done, I can do it with the Widow.
My Theory is this, The longbows, recurves, selfbows, take on a spirit. I learned with a white glassed Indian, thin handle, in the middle 70's, bought my first, a Browning nomad stalker.
Then in the late 80's, I shot compound for the Wilde Arrow in Pocatello, Martins, But those bows never had the feeling of being alive. I dropped the compound in 90, and started shooting the Indian, instantly feeling the old ghosts talking to me. I have never been at a loss for peace when Im shooting the old bows.. thats why I think newer and better, mentality exists, they dont feel the spirit in the bow.

[Desert Archer]

I've bought and sold the same bow (I mean the exact same bow!) twice....and just bought it back again! My theory is to buy high...sell low...and make the difference up on volume!

Jack, that is just plain funny, I don't care who you are! (ROTFLMAO)

Dave

[Larry Hatfield]

i don't think that mindset is exclusive to archery! it's in every sport. when i go to a steer roping i get a real kick out of guys who's main focus is on what kind of pickup you drive, what kind of trailer you pull, what brand of rope you throw, and who made your saddle.
they don't look much at the horse you win on or wonder why you dont miss much. if you drive the right pickup, have living quarters in your 5th wheel aluminum trailer, and sit on a hamley or ralph shimon saddle, AND win some money, they know it's those toys that did it.
i admit i ride a hamley but it has a lot of grey duct tape holding the seat together. have to fix that sometime.

[ahshoot]

It seems that compound shooters will get rid of old bows or keep them and not shoot them. Recurve/longbow shooters often keep older bows and have several bows that they shoot, although one is the primary bow. I think this partially has to do with the greater time it takes to maintain the gizmos on the compounds and how each will go out of sight and out of tune. I know you can spend a lot of time tuning stick bows too, but I can easily pick my martin hunter up, check the brace and nock pt and shoot straight arrows.

Seth

[Sam Dunham]

Compounds are just machines designed to shoot arrows. Tradbows=one strings are a Bow. I see them as personal Items with a companionship value which surpasses anything I had with compounds. OK, a bit hypocritical here, I also feel an attachment to my old 95 Nissan truck I have driven to Colorado in 13 plus times. I would trade any of them for my dog"s life. I could replace the Bows, but not my dog. Yes it is driven by bigger and better hype. I like getting on new pipedreams, it keeps me interested and progressive in life"s interests. I just hope my Bows and my dog live a long time.

[LostHawg]

I own as many bows as my budget will allow.


+2. :D