Archery for a 6yo - advice - help
 

What I know about archery isn't much, but I don't think it has to be super complicated.

We bought my grandson a Bear First Shot kit. It's got a little fiberglass bow and is intended for kids 4-7 years old. He just turned 6, so this should be OK for him to use (size and draw weight).

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/15...g?v=1506770674

The only complaint that I see consistently is about the arrows.

"On the negative side, the arrows that come with it stink. I used some of the arrows from my own bow with it and it is much better. The small arrows that come with it are unbalanced and tend to fly all over when shot. This could be very frustrating for a new shooter so I would suggest looking for some better arrows."

"you CANNOT shoot vanes off a shelf"

"The issue is the plastic vains on the arrows cause the arrows to come off the shelf/handle sideways. So tomrrow I will go to my archery shop amd see if they can put feather fletches on those arrows."

But I wouldn't know what sort of arrows to get for a bow like this. Would bear really sell junk arrows with a kit like this? I've also seen some folks talking about modifications to shelves to help with this (in general, not necessarily for this bow). Should I get different arrows or go with what came with the bow?

How do I know where to put the finger rollers since there isn't a nocking point on the string? SHould I eyeball it? Should I use a square and set it just a hair above the level of the shelf?

I'd like to give my grandson the best chance to have fun, so any pointers or tip would be greatly appreciated.

I remember having a bow and arrows when I was that age with a hay filled target. I dont remember it ever not being fun… as long as its safe shooting you can relax and the kid will have fun either way.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1652149995.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1652149995.jpg

Excellent gift Steve. Lots of fun.

Don't worry about the arrows too much. He'll lose them soon enough and can be replaced with a bit nicer ones.

It looks a bit like the one I had as a kid.

First and foremost, remember that the reviews you're reading might be from people with high expectations for a bow that really isn't designed for group accuracy. It's designed to teach kids how to handle and shoot a recurve. If you want dead nuts accuracy, that ain't the bow for the job. Spending some time with grandpa will be the fun. Don't stress accuracy, stress form. With form comes accuracy. And I can tell you from experience, don't have him target shooting with an experienced shooter. I know my son got frustrated because I was hitting my target while he was struggling and wanting to shoot like dad.

Do a search for proper recurve form. That'll help you with helping him learn to enjoy shooting. Keep the distance to the target short and let him build confidence.

Good point, thanks.

Oh! And if possible start with a long sleeve shirt! It doesn't have to be a sweatshirt just a thing long sleeve shirt. That along with the forearm guard will help prevent the cherry red forearm. The forearm guard is usually enough to keep the line from hitting skin. Proper form will also help prevent the line from contacting the skin! Nothing will turn a young shooter off more than their arm hurting after shooting.

OK, yeah, it comes with an arm guard, but it's small, so a long sleeve shirt would probably be a nice extra layer of protection.

I've got 2 grandsons. The older is less of a daredevil. If something hurts, he doesn't want to do it. The younger one is not going to be like that.

I've got a kids Hoyt bow, 15lb draw weight that was for my then-10 year old daughter. Think I still have a few good arrows for it too somewhere. I'll look and see what it would take to ship it to ya...

If your Bear kit turns out to be total junk, lemme know. Bear Archery is local and a buddy works in the warehouse there and can pass some product feedback direct to the people who matter.

Thanks tons! THere are a lot of good reviews for the Bear. I tried it out the best that I could yesterday considering it's so small, and it works. The bow seems OK, and the arrows seem OK other than that the vane does smack the shelf and cause the arrow to drift. A lot of folks talk about putting a little bump on the shelf and the side of the bow to compensate for that.

Anyone have any idea how to set the finger spinners in the right spot so the nock is in a good position on the string?

Been a loonng time:)

https://archeryforbeginners.com/blog/set-your-nock-point/

Just one bit of advice (all the safety aspects are assumed): Let them have fun. Sounds easy but a lot of folks try and over instruct at such an early age. Safe fun.

My son started just like your 6 year-old and he stayed with it...he deer hunts with a bow, has since HS.

Years ago, his best Robin Hood splitting the arrow.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1652190137.JPG

If your son enjoys archery I really suggest getting him something like this when he’s a couple of years older. Archery is a blast and is such a great way to clear your mind when shooting. A torn up shoulder pretty much ended my archery days. I miss it. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/bear-archery-brave-youth-bow-set?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CAllProducts% 7CHigh%7CSSCCatchAll&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmuiTBhDoARIsAPi v6L9QsqiYcpLlXpXXbDwY7jhg_5DfWIjCIv1VHZoqs0SF6-reQ6ir3K4aAnMiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Excellent points. Safety, of course, will be the primary focus. Right after that, fun. It would be very (too) easy to get to into the weeds and sap the fun out of it.

Nice on the Robin Hood moment!

Right, we figured this would be a good way to start. It was <$20. Then if he (or his brother in a year) ends up enjoying it, then we can/will spend money on better kit. Little kids can be finicky, and no point spending a ton on something that might last 5 mins.

If we're getting into what a good setup would be once beyond this stage, Diamond Archery makes a Infinite Edge that goes from something like 8 lbs all the way up to I think 60 lbs. I actually bought a Diamond Nuclear Ice (great starter bow) that my son outgrew the draw length capability of, so I went to the Infinite Edge. It's an impressive little beast. If I could have gotten it to my draw length I probably would have kept it. Caution! It is not inexpensive.

Here's the new model of the Infinite Edge. Don't look at the price!! I'm one of those dads who just goes all in.
https://diamondarchery.com/bows/infinite-305/

Seahawk nice BR T-Shirt in that picture.
I'd start with a .22 bolt action and a rest on a table. They learn about safety and accuracy without the frustration of developing skills, strength, accuracy, breathing all at once. or maybe crossbow like someone else pointed out.

I agree with this, though I'd probably go for a pellet rifle rather than a .22. I think 6 is maybe a bit young to take up a bow as anything more than a toy.

Flip the arrow over so the least feathers will contact the bow/rest.
Make a sharpie dot on the side which faces you.

Safety first: Always down or away. Arm guard and sleeves. No left finger gripping tight the arrow which puts the knock into the eyeball after leaning forward. etc.

Then go have fun and laugh at all the mistakes.
Don't take the thing away from him and stress out about manufacturing and physics and all that crap.
It's not about that.
It's about the both of you. The experience and a new thing to share together.
(and for god's sake don't buy him a crossbow lol)

My last junior archery experience was winning a college class tournament decades ago in a very close match.
#45lb at 50-60yrds iirc. A nice Bear wooden re-curve which I really liked.
So much fun.

So you're saying put the arrow on backwards so the different colored vane faces the bow?

Interesting, I'd have never thought of that. Essentially no wandering around with the arrow nocked. Nock the arrow and fire, if for some reason you don't fire, de-nock.

Cool

Did he shoot his eye out with a Red Rider BB gun?
My Father did the same thing, including a big square bail of hay. That was the best way to extend the hunting season was to start with a bow. Every so often I get the bug, and a good friend has set up a decent range in his back yard. Problem is, since I had PRK eye surgery years ago, my dominant eye switched and I have to retrain myself on everything.