I've been pondering on my progress through the senior gents recurve classifications / down the handicaps, and what mattered at each point. It occurred to me that, at each stage, there were different things that most mattered. I know it's probably a bit different for each person, but here it is anyway....
Here's a very crude summary, just to illustrate what I'm rambling about - and to get your reactions (all below is for Senior Gents recurve)...
Handicap >58 (chasing 3rd): bow and technique basics; club bow's fine; aluminium arrows; 25lbs enough
3rd = 58
Handicap 58->50 (chasing 2nd): getting used to 60yds; best to have your own bow - or rental; 30lbs ok; aluminium arrows are fine; clicker & rods optional; mostly about kit
2nd = 50
Handicap 50->44 (chasing 1st): getting used to 80yds; 35lbs or thereabouts helps; carbon arrows necessary; clicker & rods necessary; still a lot about kit, and can still get away with sloppy technique
1st = 44
Handicap 44->36 (chasing BM): getting used to 100yds; 35-40lbs helps; spinners recommended; no longer about well-tuned kit (that's assumed) - good technique now critical
BM = 36
Handicap 36->28 (chasing MB): 40lbs+?; handling county tournaments; no longer a hobby - becoming full-time; arrow spine & weights important; increasingly about mental?
MB = 28
Handicap 28->22 (chasing GMB): handling international tournaments?; no longer part-time - a full-time job; arrow spine & weights critical; 95% mental game now; high-quality coachingGMB = 22
PS. This item started out at the end of another post - but as it's a separate topic I've transplanted it here.
Here's a very crude summary, just to illustrate what I'm rambling about - and to get your reactions (all below is for Senior Gents recurve)...
Handicap >58 (chasing 3rd): bow and technique basics; club bow's fine; aluminium arrows; 25lbs enough
3rd = 58
Handicap 58->50 (chasing 2nd): getting used to 60yds; best to have your own bow - or rental; 30lbs ok; aluminium arrows are fine; clicker & rods optional; mostly about kit
2nd = 50
Handicap 50->44 (chasing 1st): getting used to 80yds; 35lbs or thereabouts helps; carbon arrows necessary; clicker & rods necessary; still a lot about kit, and can still get away with sloppy technique
1st = 44
Handicap 44->36 (chasing BM): getting used to 100yds; 35-40lbs helps; spinners recommended; no longer about well-tuned kit (that's assumed) - good technique now critical
BM = 36
Handicap 36->28 (chasing MB): 40lbs+?; handling county tournaments; no longer a hobby - becoming full-time; arrow spine & weights important; increasingly about mental?
MB = 28
Handicap 28->22 (chasing GMB): handling international tournaments?; no longer part-time - a full-time job; arrow spine & weights critical; 95% mental game now; high-quality coachingGMB = 22
PS. This item started out at the end of another post - but as it's a separate topic I've transplanted it here.