Palomo Archery — Local services in Palo Alto

I went to Palomo Archery on a Saturday night with a friend having no prior experience. I had tried calling ahead to schedule an appointment, but never heard back. I left two voicemails and sent an e-mail but never heard back. Se we showed up around 7 PM Saturday night. Elliot greated us. He was working with someone. We told him we had never shot before and he said we had to have a lesson first, and if we came back around 8 he could give us a lesson. So we went to a nearby bar and came back at 8.

The lesson was great! Elliot was very patient, kind, and friendly. And a great teacher!! I really felt like I knew what I was doing by the end of the lesson. And it was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this place.

To be honest, I researched the place before coming and the interesting reviews about Peter just made me want to go more. I'm from the East Coast, and I like people with an off-color sense of humor. We met Peter on our way out. He says he tries not to teach as much now because of the bad reviews (which to me sounded like people misinterpreting things he said - the sort of 'assume viciousness rather than giving the benefit of the doubt' kind of people). But he seemed extremely nice! Not at all politically incorrect or offensive when we met him. Very funny and social. I'm sure he'd be a very fun and entertaining teacher.

One thing to know before coming here! You have to pay by cash or check!!!!! I think our beginner lessons were $35 each.

And remember to wear...

Great experience; the vibe at this place is really relaxed and friendly, and Peter is one of the rare few that cares more about the actual archery than about tangential things. Don't let the barebones aesthetic scare you off; this is a great place to learn and practice shooting. It's the hole-in-the-wall hidden gem of archery, and I doubt you'll find better prices / value at any other ranges around this area. The negative reviews about "rude comments" don't do this place justice. Being openminded and withholding judgement will help you have a great time at this range and in life generally. As a society, maybe we've become too sensitive or quick to judge other people, or expect everyone to don permanent masks appropriate to their "roles" of customer service, professionalism, or whatever other box we've packed them in. Live and let live. Appreciate other people for who they are in their entirety. Everyone has their quirks and idiosyncrasies, and that's fine. You're coming here to shoot archery; go out there and have fun, and if someone says something that bothers you, nicely tell them upfront in person, and consider the interaction in its entirety before you make a judgement. Despite disagreeing with some things Peter said, I found him to be overall a genuine, caring person who puts a lot of his time and effort into helping others learn the art / sport that he is passionate about. I will definitely be returning, and if you're still reading then I recommend you try...

Visit: September 2024

This was my first experience at an archery shop. I've never really shot a bow before (or at least with proper instruction since I was a kid). I had an extremely good experience here! I went twice on my visit to San Jose, and it was a blast each time. For clarity, I know the owner, but I wasn't asked to write any review, these thoughts are all my own.

The staff (Jordan, Raymond, Ken) who I met snd interacted with were all amazing, knowledgeable, snd very friendly. I was able to try out recurve and compound bows, and through different weights.

They are all very skilled there, and were able to guide me from beginners form, to making micro adjustments for more precision and consistency. By the middle of my first lesson, I was able to shoot down the length of the lane, and have all of my shots at least land on the paper.

There are 10 lanes in total the people can shoot from at one time. The staff stresses the importance of safety and ensures that everyone follows the proper safety protocols st all times. Theres also a real sense of community there. The staff and clients really build a relationship together, and the clients contribute to developing and positively affecting the store itself

Overall highly recommend this store for anyone who wants to learn, or continue to...