How to choose a bow or a crossbow?

It is important to us that you buy what you truly want and expect. That your bow or crossbow brings you joy and practical value. That you are satisfied with your choice and with how your bow or crossbow performs over time. However, you often may not have the experience or knowledge, and it can be difficult for you to choose, which we understand. That’s why we are here to help you. With the right questions, we can quickly get closer to your needs, and in the end, you will find that it was not difficult at all.We try to make every purchase special. You don’t buy a bow every day, so let the experts guide you.

Choosing a bow, setting it up, and preparing it for accurate shooting requires time and expertise. It involves answering several questions, and it is always ideal if you can visit us in person. If that is not possible due to distance or time constraints, we will do our best to help and advise you over the phone and send the goods by courier.

Tip for you when choosing, try doing it the other way around...

If you are not sure which of the 6 basic types of bows would suit you best and you want to gain experience first before making a choice, many years ago we created, being the first in Slovakia a special product that we have since called SUPER PACKAGE OF 8 BOWS. It is a one-time experiential course with each of the 6 basic and 2 additional types of bows, conducted under professional supervision, with an archery coach guiding you the entire time. Within 2 hours, you will try all the bows. Not only will you know after 2 hours which one you want to buy, but you will also find out what you don’t want, saving you money and time. At the same time, you will learn the basics of technique, which will help you when starting with your new bow. And it is still a great experience, even better when attended in pairs or groups of three. There is also an option to include all 3 types of crossbows, and you will experience something in one place that you are guaranteed not to find anywhere else in Slovakia in this quality!

Before buying your first bow, answer these questions:

• do I want to shoot recreationally, occasionally, or do I already know that I will practice archery regularly, intensively, and often?
• will I shoot alone, or will I look for a club and a coach and want to learn proper technique? (we have been running courses the longest in Slovakia and at the highest level)
• what is my budget for the bow and equipment—do I want something basic, or am I more demanding and ready to invest in advanced equipment that may also be suitable for competitions?
• will I be the only one using the bow, or should it also be for others (partner, family, friends)?
• will I shoot in just one place, or do I want to transport it?
• am I left-handed or right-handed, and most importantly, what is my dominant eye? (you can find out with a simple test)
• am I interested in maximum shooting accuracy (target bows, compound bows), or do I prefer tradition and historical character (traditional bows, horse bows, longbows)?
• do I want the bow for target shooting only, or am I also considering hunting use? (compound bows)

Before buying your first crossbow, these are similar questions with the following specifics:

• do I want a crossbow for recreational hobby shooting or for serious shooting or hunting use (this also determines the budget I have)?
• will I shoot often or only occasionally?
• do I want to use the crossbow only for sport or also for hunting?
• where do I want to shoot with the crossbow?
• who will be using the crossbow, Can someone pull the string back, or do I need a crank cocking system?
• what distances do I want to shoot (20–40 m or also 50–100 m)?
• am I looking for the smallest, most compact crossbow, or does size not matter that much?
• do I want to be able to perform basic maintenance myself, or will I always prefer to bring it to the shop for service?
• if you are unsure which one is suitable, you can attend our crossbow super package course with an instructor and choose based on your own experience

For an in-person purchase of a bow or crossbow in our store, it is necessary to BOOK an appointment in advance for a specific time. We allow you to come to our physical archery shop in the village of Viničné, where you can see, hold, and after purchase also shoot with the bows or crossbows, so you can best choose the one that suits you, together with our professional recommendation and our genuine interest in you as an archer. (Please make a CALL BEFORE you come at 0911 45 45 52 to arrange a specific time for your visit so we can give you our full and undisturbed attention, and also so you can avoid waiting while we assist a customer who has a scheduled appointment. Choosing a recreational bow and accessories, setup, and consultation takes approximately 1–1.5 hours. a compound bow 1.5–3 hours, a crossbow approximately 1–2 hours depending on complexity and equipment).

Compound bow equipment

Crossbow equipment

Bow setup, selection of the right arrows and accessories, and tuning of the bow and crossbow for shooting

The setup and tuning of bows and crossbows purchased from us has been the most important service for our customers since the beginning of our shop, and it is included in the price. Installation of accessories on bows and crossbows that were not purchased from us is subject to a fee.

It is also in our interest that the bows and crossbows you buy from us leave fully prepared, tuned, and adjusted so that they shoot accurately, consistently, and safely. With both bows and crossbows, You get detailed usage and safety information from our professional sales staff, complemented by our written manuals, which are based on many years of experience with bows and crossbows.

Professional sale and setup of a bow or crossbow therefore takes on average around 1.5 hours; a compound bow often takes over 2 hours. Each sale is personal and individual, and we dedicate more time to each customer than is typically expected. That is why appointments are required for both purchasing and service.

More information about setup and service can be found here: luk.sk/servis-a-nastavenie/