When beginners take their first archery class, many want to run out and buy their own equipment afterwards. Many of us can relate to that initial enthusiasm. But, unlike sports such as tennis, basketball or baseball, buying archery equipment shouldn’t be an impulse buy. The equipment is pricy and it takes a while to figure out what type of bow works for you (e.g., recurve, longbow, compound, etc.).

In this video Catherine Curtis, a volunteer instructor at the Rancho Park Archery range, gives some sage advice on archery equipment and why it’s a good idea for beginners to resist the urge to run out and buy their own equipment right away.