Perhaps you're holding your arm too straight. If you bend it -ever so slightly- outward, your arm is out of the danger zone. In the pic the arm is too straight. The green line shows a less straight -and thus safer- hold. Of course you can (and should) use an arm guard. They come in different sizes and styles:
Macaronus is giv1ng good advice about protecting the bow arm. As for the arrow, it is in front of your right hand. The only way to injure yourself with the arrow is to keep your grip too close to the arrow rest. A loose grip, well below the arrow's position will keep your fingers safe.
I'm getting more and more interested in trying this. I saw that there is a club in my town where I can try it out for a fee of 6$. So I'm thinking about doing it. But I don't want to do it now, I want to know that I have more time for it before joining =)
I wanna try it right now badly! But you know Mike, it's just the way you say... I think if I try it now it will be in my head and it will be to difficult to ignore. I have a tendency to love distractions from my studies hahaha I can't add another obsession. Plus.. It will be difficult to buy the bow I would like to get. It's about 350-375$ hahaha. It looks amazing and it says in the description it shoots with 60-75lbs. Which I THINK is pretty good
Thanks Sara and Mac. I like the arm guard idea, but not so sure about the one belonging to the man with the shorts. Does anyone in your group use them?
Neat! How about second hand? If you're a bear or anything hairier than me. 150 pound yellow tictacs don't have much real estate to shave... Only when they are impersonating a gladiator...
@macaronus I wouldn't feel confident buying something like this second hand. I love this bow already.. I want it as much as a fat kid wants cake =P
Yup we all do use them! There are other models as well, of course. I know the feeling. Be sure not to take a bite from the bow, though!
60-75 lbs is a lot of weight for a beginning shooter. There are bows that are more adjustable; that is to say, they can start at a lighter draw weight, and gradually adjust up to 60 or 70 lb.
That was a typo, its 50-75. Is 50 okey for a beginner? I want something with impact. I don't want to pay 200$ only to spend 450$ a year lather for a better bow. I think it's better to get 1 bow I can use a long time and not get tired of it =)
50-75 sounds a little better, but 50 is still kind of a high draw weight to start. The starter bows that my husband & I bought had a draw weight range of 10-70 lb. When he got the bow, he started out at 35 lb. and gradually worked his way up to 60 lb, which has plenty of impact. Unless you are bowhunting for elephants, that is plenty of impact.