Welcome to Back of the Valley!

 Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you'll enjoy my archery journey with my family and friends!

I'm Bobby Ratliff from Grundy Virginia.
In the late 80's, early 90's I shot 3D tournaments and loved it. But like some people, I ended up getting target panic and gave it up.

Then September 2022 rolls around and my son (Bobby Anthony), and my friend Jason encouraged me to get back into shooting competitively. And so it began.

I first began work on an old Oneida Tomcat compound bow. I eventually got it fixed up but it just wasn't working for me. Although it didn't turn out too bad:



The first issue I had to deal with besides a bow, was target panic.
I didn't have it as bad as I did 30 years before, but I had it.
And so it was, I began watching videos, I began reading on Archery Talk, I began trying to learn how to overcome it before I got any farther.
I found out a good way to beat target panic was with a true back tension release. I purchased a Tru Ball XTension-RT and began working on it.
And it was about the same time towards the end of November, I purchased a Bowtech Fanatic 3.0 target bow. That bow was great, and it was the perfect bow to get re-introduced to competitions:

And with that things began to get serious! 

Between November 2022 and now, September 2023, much equipment has been bought, tried out, and resold.
This is my list of current equipment:
3D= High Country Ascension XR. 35 inch axle to axle. 50#@29 inch draw.
Carbon Revolution Speed Pro Target arrows with 100 grain Black Eagle glue in points.
Infetec Crux Blade rest.
Zinger Fletches with 3 fletch @ 1 degree offset.
B3 Infinity Pro release.
Custom modified Axion sight with 8x lens.
Specialty archery peep and #2 clarifier.
Custom WCS L96 front and back stabilizer bars.

Indoor bow= Vintage rebuilt late 80's Hoyt Pro Vantage with late 90s Gamegetter Straight limbs. 48 inch axle to axle. 50#@29inch draw.
Vintage Accra target site with Brite Site scope and 8x lens.
Vintage Golden Key Futura blade rest.
Vintage Easton 36 inch stabilizer.
Vintage Chek It Master Release II Hinge Release.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First 3D tournament in nearly 30 years! 3-4-23

Image
 So my son and I hadn't shot a 3D tournament in nearly 30 years.  On March 4 2023 we made our way to Dixon Range at Clintwood Virginia. It was pretty chilly that morning. I was shooting my Bowtech Fanatic 3.0 and my son was shooting his vintage Oneida Screaming Eagle lever bow. I ended up taking 2nd place and my son ended up 5th.  It was a great start to our new journey in 3D archery! Which leads me to say this: I should kept this Bowtech! It was awesome now that I reflect on it. It would have been a much better bow than the next one I buy! But that's a story for later....... Here's a few photos from our first tournament:
Read more

1st Tournament Feb. 4, 2023

Image
 Feb. 4 2023 was my birthday. My wife, my son, and my friend Jason took me to my first ever indoor tournament, and the first tournament I shot in around 30 years. It was a 5 spot tournament, and I we were pretty tired before the end of it. I had a pretty horrible score, (255), and was last place among myself, my son and Jason. But I enjoyed it and could wait until the next one. I was shooting my Bowtech Fanatic 3.0., some cheap carbon arrows, and a Whalen's Hooker release.
Read more