I coach my county 4h archery program. I recommend all shooters i teach to get a mission. I am not brand loyal, so I would say any bow that has adjustable draw length without a press, changing cams, etc. I shoot a mission. They are great bows. When you are starting out you will want to explore different draw lengths and they are easy to adjust. They are relatively cheap as well. After some experience and finding what you like, then go for a Matthews, bowtech, hoyt, or anything else. I hunt, so I am worried about hitting a 6 inch plate at 30-35 yards. These are more than capable, and they have enough speed to take down any native Texas big game.

If I ever decide to get into competitive shooting, I might consider a high end bow, but I see no need to invest in a $1000 bow, when a $350 bow can shoot better than me as it is.

The idea of shooting a few at a bow shop is great, but until you have some time behind a bow, it will be hard to sense the minute differences.