So you gave it a try and you were immediately hooked. You're ready to take the plunge and get a bow and some arrows but you don't begin to know where to start looking or what to look for.

Well you're not alone. At least you know enough to ask for help rather than spending a lot of money on a bow that's all wrong for you.

Before you go any further you're going to need to find out the draw length and pounds of pull you need for your bow. Calculate your draw length by measuring the span of your arms, from tip of the fingers of one outstretched arm to the tip of the fingers of the other outstretched arm. Then divide that number by 2 ½. This will give you the approximate draw length you'll be looking for.

The approximate pounds of pull (strength needed to draw back the string on your bow) is to calculate using your weight. For women and children, the draw weight would be approximately 35% of your body weight – and for older boys and men, the draw weight would be approximately 40% of your body weight.

If you don't already know the type bow you're interested in shooting, I would first recommend going to a local range that has equipment you can use or rent in order to see the different equipment and get some ideas of what you like. The bow you choose will depend on budget(as in money), what it will be used for, and the time you'll have to spend shooting.

Once you've made up your mind about which bow suits you best, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision. More expensive is not always better. Most of all you want a bow that is comfortable to you and serves your needs.

As for proficiency with the bow, a compound bow is probably the easiest to learn, followed by the recurve. And the traditional bow is harder to master by far than the other two.