Before knowing what bow and arrow is best for beginners, you should first know the that there are two main forms of archery:

What bow and arrow is best for beginners?

Target Archery

This is the type of archery you are most likely to be familiar with, and is the Olympic form of the sport. It consists of shooting a given number of arrows at targets at a set distance.

Field Archery

Takes place on a course of targets set out in rough country (often woodland). The shooting distances are frequently unmarked so that archers have to rely on judgment and instinct. As well as the traditional targets, field archery can also include animal targets.

Now for the part about what bow and arrow you should consider, here is some helpful information just for you:

Styles of Bow

A quick look at our bows section will show you the vast range of bows available. They can be broken down into four types:

Recurve

This is the only bow style allowed at the Olympics. Mainly associated with target archery, and ideal as a starter bow, recurve is the most popular style of archery in the UK. Click here for recurve bows and here for recurve kits

Compound

Compound bows are the newest type of bow, and almost anything is allowed as long as it is not electronic. These bows consist of cams to make drawing the bow easier and giving a much larger weight. Accessories include telescopic sights and release aids. Click here for compound bows and here for compound kits

Traditional

Archery in its simplest form, traditional bow includes English Longbows, American Flatbows and Japanese Kyudo Bows. Wooden arrows with feathers are usually used. Other accessories include quivers and gloves. Now that you know about the bows and arrows that are suitable for a beginner like you, you can start canvassing the perfect pair for you!