Its been a while since I've picked up a bow, but I always shot recurves.
I think that the main advantages of the compound are let off, draw stop, and compactness. You should be starting out with a lower poundage bow so that you develop good form first, so let off isn't really all that important, and I think you'll find it easier to find an anchor point (physical spot on your face that you draw the bowstring back to every single time) that you like if you don't have the draw stop and let off dictating your draw length to you. Compactness, while nice, isn't all that important if you're not hunting.
The advantages of a recurve bow is cost, simplicity, and I think its just a little easier to get the basics down. A recurve bow isn't all that hard to unstring or take down, but I've never tried it with a compound. One of the things I like about the recurve it does tend to shoot in more of an arc (it is ARChery, not FLATery, afterall) which, when you inevitably miss the target, will make the arrows much easier to find (ask me how I know).
Like anything, you need to master the basics if you want to shoot well, and I think its easier to master the basics with a recurve. Compound bows don't let you experiment as much with draw length, which will factor into your anchor point, which will be a big part of accuracy. I think that the greater length of a longbow also makes it easier to shoot it with fingers instead of a trigger release, and I think its easier to learn the basics of follow through using a fingertab or glove instead of a trigger release.
With a recurve you have to hold the entire weight of the pull back while you aim. Because of that the biggest trick to shooting a recurve is to shoot very quickly after drawing the bow because your muscles will tire and start to shake within just a few seconds if you're holding back a 50 lb. recurve.
I'm going to disagree with you on that one. Yes its easier to hold a compound at full draw, but its not that hard with a recurve. The idea of shooting quickly being the trick to accuracy is also incorrect. I can see where you're going with that train of thought, and you're in the right direction, but there's another, better way to increase accuracy by reducing shaking: correct form and practice. If you're using correct form, you should be using skeletal strength to hold everything up, and while it won't really be easy, it won't be as hard, and you won't shake as much. You want to take your time when your shooting, and you want your release to be smooth. Think of the release in archery like trigger control. Do you try and do it as quickly as you can, or pull it straight back smoothly?
On a related note, I think that 50# may be a bit much for someone just getting started. I used a 20# for years, and still use it as my "plinking" bow. A lighter poundage bow will make the draw, release, and follow through stages of shooting that much easier to get down. You need to do it correctly before you can do it quickly, or in the case of archery, with a heavier bow. A light bow works just fine for most applications, which brings me to;
My point mainly was that those bows aren't enough to kill game and really a 35 lb. bow isn't either IMO.
I may be wrong, but I believe Howard Hill (He's kind of like the Jeff Cooper of archery) once said that there is nothing in North America that can not be taken with a 32# long bow. I'm not saying that its practical, or even ethical, but it is doable, and if I'm going to take anyone's word for it, its Howard Hill's. (here's a link to his hunting record:
http://www.howardhillarchery.com/the-legends-story-4.html )
There are a lot of different styles of archery, and I think that you can do more of them with a recurve than you can a compound. Field archery is one in particular where I think a recurve would be easier.
Don't get me wrong, a compound is on my list if I ever get back into archery and want to try bowhunting, but there will always be a special place in my heart for the recurve bow.
Arabiannights, What part of the country/world are you in? I'm in western WA, and if you wanted to give archery a try, I wouldn't mind working with you a little at the range.
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
I have a fiberglass recurve and had a compound. Like the other guys I just couldn't get into the compound. I now make my own wooden longbows and a few recurves. Longbows tend to be smoother and faster than recurves because of the distribution of mass. If you want a hobby get a longbow or recurve. If you want to occasionally make accurate shots at longer ranges, ie seasonal hunting, get a compound. One large factor for me was the physical weight of the bow. A compound bow can become heavy and a little cumbersome whereas a good wooden longbow or fiberglass recurve can be measured in ounces.
Ouch! It swelled up like an Alabama tick.
