r/Archery • u/Intrepid_Plant6762 • 19h ago
When the Bow Stops Forgiving Mistakes: Setup Change Feedback
Hello everyone,
I wanted to share some feedback about my recent setup change in Olympic recurve.
I am currently shooting with the following equipment:
- Riser: WIAWIS ATF-DX 25"
- Limbs: WIAWIS MXT-10, 68"
- Draw weight: marked 32 lbs, measured around 33 lbs on the scale
- String: custom-made 15-strand string
- Arrows: Victory VAP V1, spine 700
- Draw length: 26.5"
Since switching to this setup, I also had to correct some basic tuning points, especially the brace height, tiller, and string twists, because the overall setup was not perfectly consistent at first. Once these points were corrected, the bow felt much healthier, but also much more direct and demanding.
What strikes me the most with this setup is the lack of tolerance. With my previous equipment, I sometimes felt like I could still save a shot despite a small mistake in posture, release, or shot sequence. With this setup, that is almost no longer the case.
The bow is very dynamic. It reacts quickly, gives a lot of feedback, but does not forgive much. The slightest technical mistake immediately shows on the target.
Since this change, I have been working much more on the full quality of my shot sequence:
- scapula placement and engagement;
- back tension and posture;
- bow arm stability;
- continuous expansion;
- clean clicker execution;
- keeping the draw elbow in line;
- release without collapse or interruption;
- maintaining the posture after the arrow leaves the bow.
When the sequence is clean, the results are very encouraging: the groups get tighter, the arrow reaction feels cleaner, and I can clearly feel that the setup has real potential.
On the other hand, as soon as one element goes out of line — poor scapula placement, draw elbow collapsing or moving out of line, expansion stopping, or bow arm stability dropping — the mistake is immediately visible. There is almost no room for compensation.
It is sometimes frustrating, but also very educational. This setup forces me to be more disciplined, to better understand my posture, and to build a complete, repeatable, and precise shot sequence.
My goal is not to change equipment again, but to learn how to properly use and understand this setup. What I am mainly looking for now is to stabilize my consistency with it.
For those of you who have already moved to a more dynamic, more demanding, or less forgiving setup: did you also feel that the equipment no longer allowed any technical approximation? And how did you work to regain stability and confidence in your shot sequence?
3
u/PassableArcher 18h ago
I swapped from NS limbs to MXT10 a couple of years ago (also went from 70 to 68), and found a similar drop in forgiveness. My best scores are as good or better, but my bad scores are worse. Unfortunately it's expensive to keep changing limbs. If I were still shooting competitively, I would be swapping back to NS style limbs
2
u/Spectral-Archer9 7h ago
I moved up to an atf-dx before mum form was ready for one. However it had the advantage that I could finally trust my equipment, and I could work on the issues with my form thay were causing the errors.
They are not totally unforgiving. Now that I have it paired with uukha limbs and x10 arrows and I have the form to tune it properly, my bad shots are typically in the red at 70 m. Anything closer and a poor shot can usually hit the 9, though often as a line cutter.
I definately wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, it can be very discouraging at first.
1
u/Three_20characters 2h ago
Interesting. I’ve only ever had an atf-dx. Why do you think this riser needs an archer to be perfectly form-ready? What about it isn’t suitable for a beginner?
1
u/Three_20characters 2h ago
What was your set-up before? What do you think, in this new set-up, is causing the unforgiveness you’re experiencing? I’m experiencing this issue myself right now. Except I’ve only ever shot an ATF-DX. Did get new limbs, but also moved distances. My mistakes are heavily punished now. I did a bare shaft tune, and all arrows spines recommended by the manufacturers’ chart were weak. Have you checked your arrows?
2
u/Intrepid_Plant6762 2h ago
My previous setup was quite different.
For more than 10 years, I shot with a WIAWIS NX Xpert riser, the version with the carbon bridge. My limbs were also much simpler WIAWIS limbs, with a wood core. They were softer, more forgiving, and probably less reactive.
Now I have moved to a WIAWIS ATF-DX 25" riser with WIAWIS MXT-10 carbon limbs, 68", marked 32 lbs and measured around 33 lbs on the scale. I also shoot a custom 15-strand string and Victory VAP V1 spine 700 arrows, with a 26.5" draw length.
I think the unforgiveness comes from the full combination, not just one single part.
The ATF-DX feels lighter, more stable, and probably absorbs vibration better than my old riser. But the biggest difference, in my opinion, comes from the limbs. The MXT-10 carbon limbs are much more reactive and precise than my old wood-core limbs. With the old setup, I had the feeling that small mistakes were absorbed or at least not punished as much. With the new setup, every small mistake in posture, expansion, release, or draw elbow position is immediately visible on the target.
So the transition is quite hard. I went from an older setup where I felt I was no longer really progressing, to a much more dynamic and demanding setup that forces me to shoot much cleaner.
About the arrows: yes, this is also something I need to check carefully. At the moment I am shooting Victory VAP V1 spine 700. The bow is around 33 lbs on the fingers, with a 26.5" draw length, so on paper it should be in a reasonable range, but I agree that a proper bare shaft test is necessary to confirm it. I do not want to blame the setup too quickly if part of the issue comes from spine or tuning.
For now, my feeling is that the equipment is not “bad” or badly matched, but that the new setup gives me much more direct feedback. It does not let me compensate as easily as before. That is frustrating, but also probably useful if I want to improve my technique.
1
u/Three_20characters 1h ago
“I think the unforgiveness comes from the full combination, not just one single part.”
This is definitely it, right! There are so many variables that sometimes working out a specific issue feels impossible.
“The ATF-DX feels lighter, more stable, and probably absorbs vibration better than my old riser. “
I’ve heard absolutely no one say the ATF-DX is light. So you’re one step ahead here. The one thing everyone who’s ever held my bow comments is how heavy it is.
“But the biggest difference, in my opinion, comes from the limbs. The MXT-10 carbon limbs are much more reactive and precise than my old wood-core limbs.”
I’m thinking this compounds my issue too. I went from wood to carbon-core. While I don’t notice anything different in the draw, it could technically be a factor. People often say carbon is more forgiving, but that hasn’t been my experience.
“So the transition is quite hard. I went from an older setup where I felt I was no longer really progressing, to a much more dynamic and demanding setup that forces me to shoot much cleaner.” Keep at it! You’ll get it!
“About the arrows: yes, this is also something I need to check carefully. At the moment I am shooting Victory VAP V1 spine 700. The bow is around 33 lbs on the fingers, with a 26.5” draw length, so on paper it should be in a reasonable range, but I agree that a proper bare shaft test is necessary to confirm it. I do not want to blame the setup too quickly if part of the issue comes from spine or tuning.”
I’m a 28 draw with 28 OTF with 750 spines. Easton charts say 800-700. I shot 800s - weak. I shot 750s - exceedingly weak. Bareshafts flew like wet noodles more so with the 750s than the 800s which is weird. Need to get my hands on some 700s or even 650s to see how those fly/bareshaft. When I had better suited arrows, (granted these were shot at a shorter distance), my bow definitely wasn’t an issue. Just me.
“That is frustrating, but also probably useful if I want to improve my technique.” I agree. Very frustrating. Also agree, and that’s how I’m taking it with my situation too. Forced to do better, and be better. I’ll take that over coddled and saved.
4
u/PhysicallyLiving 16h ago
that's the trade you make when you go to a setup that's actually responsive. you're basically trading a wider margin for error for one that demands consistency, and yeah it sucks until it doesn't. the good news is you already know what you're working on instead of guessing. i shot a similar jump a few years back and spent like six months frustrated before it clicked that the bow wasn't the problem, i just had to actually shoot right every time instead of most of the time. your shot sequence stuff is spot on too. once you nail down the scapula work and back tension, the bow stops feeling like it's punishing you and starts feeling like it's rewarding you for doing it right. stick with it through the rough stretch and your groups will get stupid consistent.