Yes, but not right away.

As your skill level improves a bow is like an extension of your arm and should be personalized to fit you. But before you invest the money, get to know what you need.

My recommendation is to let your child use a club bow for the first year. This will ensure your child wants to continue in the sport of archery and help you know what your child needs in a bow. If you do choose to purchase bow prior to them starting please read the rest of this article to ensure you get the right kind of bow.

The New Prague Archery Club is a part of the NASP program requiring all archers 4th grade and older to use a full size Mathews Genesis bow (pictured in this article).

Step 1: Right or Left handed bow?
We base this decision on several factors, don’t assume because your child is right handed they should shoot a right handed bow. We attempt to use a child’s eye dominance to determine the bow they choose. We found that it is better to train hand placement than attempt to overcome eye dominance.

Step 2: Mini or Full size?
Archers are required to shoot a full size Genesis bow by 4th grade. Genesis does offer a mini for smaller kids. The only significants differences is the weight and height of the bow. It does not effect the draw weight. If your child is able to lift and hold a full size bow, get him/her a full size bow, they draw back at the same weight. My 5 year old daughter started with a full size bow and had no problems. My son started shooting at 5 with a mini because he had not yet hit his growth spurt. He is now 7 and shooting a full. It just depends on the child’s height and strength.

Step 3: Color?
Have fun picking out whatever exiting colors you can find. There is only one rule. You are not allowed to have marks on the bow to use as sights. What that means is the sight window needs to be a solid color. If you choose a camo design you will have to make slight modifications to make the bow legal. One of the coaches can help you. We simple use a 3 inch piece of black electrical tape in the sight window.

Step 4: Accessories?
Archery’s are not allowed to use sights or releases. The only accessory permitted and recommended is a bow wrist sling. You will also want to protect your investment with a bow case.

Step 5: Where should I purchase my bow?
Wherever you can find the best deal. The New Prague Archery Club works with Cabin Fever in Victory, MN. If you chose to shop at Cabin Fever let them know you are a member of the New Prague Archery Club. If you find a great deal on line, let me know and I will feature the site on our app. If you choose to buy used, inspect the bow carefully before you purchase it. Loose cam/wheels are the biggest issue with used bows. Often times you may need to replace the string but this is fairly inexpensive.

If you have any question about purchasing a bow please talk to a coach. If your looking for Holiday Gift Ideas a bow makes a great present.

Coach Tim