Welcome to our review of the Centershot, a youth compound bow from BARNETT.
Designed for children aged 5 to 8 and priced at $59.99, this bow is a potentially compelling entry-point into the world of archery for youngsters.
It boasts a number of features that promise a user-friendly experience for beginners, such as a modest draw weight of 17lbs and a package that includes two fiberglass arrows and a hip quiver, all finished in a Mossy Oak Bottomland pattern.
In the course of this review, we'll delve into the details of the Centershot, discussing everything from its design and build quality, to its performance and user experience.
We'll also evaluate its value for money, and compare it with other beginner bows on the market.
By the end of this piece, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what the Centershot offers, and whether it's the right choice for the young archer in your life.
So let's take a closer look at this promising youth bow.
Specifications
Here are the key specifications of the Centershot:
- Draw Weight: 16 lb
- Draw Length: 18″ – 22″
- Age Range: Suitable for ages 5 & up
- Limb Tip-to-Tip Length: 37″
- Hand: Ambidextrous
- Type: Compound.
The features of the Centershot
- True Ambidextrous Shoot-Through Riser: This design allows both right-handed and left-handed young archers to use the bow with ease.
- Easy to Use: The Centershot is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring young archers can operate it without difficulty.
- Fits Most Young Archers: It is made to fit the majority of young archers, making it an ideal choice for those starting their archery journey.
- Soft-Touch Reinforced Grip: The grip is reinforced and has a soft-touch feature for comfort and better control.
- Mossy Oak Bottomland Camo Wrap: The camouflage wrap gives the bow a unique aesthetic touch.
- Integrated Arrow Rest: This feature aids in keeping the arrow in place and helps improve accuracy.
- Soft-Touch Finger Rollers: These ensure comfort while pulling the string.
- Built-In Adjustable Sight Pin: This feature assists in aiming, enabling more precise shots.
The Centershot also comes with the following accessories included in the package:
- (1) Compound Bow
- (2) Fiberglass Arrows
- (1) Hip Quiver.
With all these features, the Centershot Compound Bow stands as a comprehensive package for young archers, ensuring they have all they need to start their archery journey.
My Personal Experience
As a father, introducing my child to the world of archery has been a remarkable journey, and the Centershot has played a pivotal role in this adventure.
The first time we unboxed the bow, I could see the excitement in my son's eyes.
The Mossy Oak Bottomland camo wrap, along with the overall design of the bow, made quite an impression.
My son was fascinated by its aesthetics, and I was impressed by the built quality and the thought put into its design.
The first time my son held the Centershot, I noticed how comfortable he seemed.
The soft-touch reinforced grip was just the right size for his small hands, and it allowed him to hold the bow with confidence.
The soft-touch finger rollers were a blessing, too, protecting his fingers from the strain of pulling the string.
One of the features we found incredibly useful was the true ambidextrous shoot-through riser.
My son is left-handed, and it's often challenging to find sports equipment designed for left-handers.
The Centershot, however, catered to this need brilliantly, allowing my son to shoot comfortably and naturally.
The adjustable sight pin became a critical learning tool for my son.
It helped him understand the importance of aiming and how to align his shots.
I watched his accuracy improve over time, and the sight pin played a significant part in that growth.
But what made the Centershot truly stand out was its overall ease of use.
As a parent, I appreciated how user-friendly it was, easing my son's learning curve.
The integrated arrow rest ensured the arrow stayed in place, allowing my son to focus more on his aim rather than managing the arrow.
The bow was also the perfect fit for him.
I could see how comfortably he handled it, which made his archery sessions enjoyable and helped him improve his skills more rapidly.
The included accessories, especially the hip quiver, made our archery sessions more organized.
My son enjoyed having his arrows within easy reach, and the quiver became an essential part of his archery gear.
Overall, the Centershot has been a fantastic introduction to archery for my son.
It's not just a bow; it's a tool that has taught him focus, patience, and the joy of hitting a target.
And as a father, watching him grow and learn with the Centershot has been an experience filled with pride and joy.
Price and Value for Money
Priced at $59.99, the Centershot offers significant value for money, especially when you consider the comprehensive package it provides.
It's not just a bow; it's an all-in-one starter kit for young archers that includes two fiberglass arrows and a hip quiver.
This eliminates the need for additional purchases, saving both time and money.
The bow itself is designed with a slew of features aimed at enhancing usability and comfort for young users, such as the ambidextrous design, integrated arrow rest, adjustable sight pin, and soft-touch finger rollers.
These features, typically found in higher-end bows, contribute to the bow's value proposition.
Considering the age group it targets (5 to 8 years), the Centershot is more than just a toy.
It's a functional, durable, and user-friendly piece of sports equipment that can provide a meaningful introduction to archery for children.
Moreover, the bow's build quality and the durability of its components suggest that it will stand up to the rigors of use by enthusiastic young archers, providing long-term value.
While there are cheaper bows on the market, they often lack the features and accessories that come with the Centershot.
And while there are more expensive bows as well, they may offer more power and features than a beginner in this age range would need or be able to handle safely.
In conclusion, considering its features, accessories, build quality, and the enjoyment it can provide to young archers, the Centershot offers excellent value for its price.
It's an investment in a child's journey into archery, and the returns – in terms of skills learned, confidence gained, and fun had – are potentially priceless.
The Drawbacks
Despite the many merits of the Centershot, it's only fair to mention a few minor drawbacks that we've encountered during our use.
One issue that some users may face is related to the draw length.
While it ranges from 18″ to 22″, it may not accommodate all users perfectly, especially as children grow rapidly at this age.
I noticed this when my son's friend, who is a bit taller for his age, tried to use the bow and found the draw length a little limiting.
Another minor issue is the lack of assembly instructions included in the package.
While the bow comes largely pre-assembled and is straightforward to set up, a detailed instruction guide would have been helpful, especially for first-time archery families.
I remember spending a bit of time online trying to make sure we had everything set up correctly.
Lastly, while the included arrows are of decent quality, they may not withstand heavy use over time.
We had to replace one of our arrows after a few months as it started showing signs of wear.
However, given the price point of the bow, this isn't a significant drawback, and replacement arrows are readily available and reasonably priced.
These drawbacks, while worth noting, are quite minor in the grand scheme of things and do not detract significantly from the overall value and enjoyment that the Centershot provides.
They're part of the journey, and in our case, they even provided an opportunity to learn more about the sport and the equipment.
Should You Buy? Concluding the Review
After thoroughly examining the Centershot Compound Bow from BARNETT, it's clear that this is a well-designed, feature-rich, and user-friendly bow that is an excellent choice for young archers aged 5 to 8.
With its array of features, easy usability, and appealing price point, it presents a compelling case for those looking to introduce their children to the sport of archery.
The inclusion of additional accessories, such as two fiberglass arrows and a hip quiver, along with the ambidextrous design, soft-touch finger rollers, and adjustable sight pin, all contribute to an enriched user experience.
These elements not only make the learning process more enjoyable but also help in cultivating essential skills in young archers.
While there are a few minor drawbacks, such as the limited draw length and lack of detailed assembly instructions, these don't significantly detract from the overall value of the package.
Furthermore, these minor issues can also serve as learning opportunities, helping young archers understand the sport and its equipment better.
In terms of value for money, the Centershot stands out with its reasonable pricing and comprehensive package.
The design and build quality of the bow, coupled with its features and accessories, provide a durable and enjoyable archery experience, offering long-term value.
So, should you buy the Centershot? If you're looking for a beginner-friendly, well-made, and comprehensive archery package for a child aged 5 to 8, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Centershot offers a great start to a child's archery journey, fostering skills and confidence that could last a lifetime.
Its few minor drawbacks are far outweighed by its benefits, making it an excellent investment for the young archer in your life.
In conclusion, the Centershot is more than just a bow; it's a tool for growth, learning, and fun.
It's a bow that promises to turn a child's archery sessions into memorable experiences, and for that, it gets our enthusiastic recommendation.
