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Tom DiRisio of Strictly Archery
Have you ever walked into an archery pro shop and wondered who exactly their “pro” is? I have and at Strictly Archery in Washington, N.J. the pro is Tom DiRisio.
Born in New Jersey in 1957, Tom DiRisio, who is no stranger to hard work, was raised on a working Warren Co. dairy farm. From very early on, Tom was interested in shooting. He and his brother Ray grew up hunting and trapping around their farm. By the time Tom was 10 years old he was addicted to whitetail deer hunting. Tom has a competitive streak though, so he started to focus on other sports.
By the time Tom was 16 years old he was racing motocross. He raced for 12 years, eight of which he raced pro, and then his attention shifted to martial arts.
Early in 1991, Tom went to his first local 3D shoot, which he won. The archery bug had him. Six months later Tom was at the NFAA 3D Nationals in N.C. As he prepared for that shoot his buddies would tease him: “What are you going to do? Beat the pros?” Tom’s intentions were to watch the pros, and to learn from them. He ended up taking second place in his class, and was approached by Browning right there. From there Tom started to practice every day. He spent three to five hours a day shooting, and countless hours studying the mechanics of proper form.
During the next two years Tom took many top three finishes. In April of 1993, he headed to Atlantic City, N.J. for the IBO Indoor Worlds and the FITA International Classic. They were being held on the same weekend, and Tom’s goal was to place top five in both. Switching back and forth between target and 3D, Tom managed to win the IBO Male Bowhunter Release class and the overall, and place fifth in the FITA competition.
Between 1991 and 2005, Tom shot for sponsors such as Browning, Hoyt, Mathews, High Country, and Storm Archery. He also collected: 2 World, 3 International, 12 National, 14 State, and 4 Regional titles in both 3D and target archery.
In September of 1993, Tom opened Strictly Archery with his brother Ray. When I asked Tom what makes his shop special he said; “We are a technical store. We specialize in set up, service, and instruction.” Bowtech refers to Strictly Archery as a two percent store. Meaning only two percent of archery shops are technical stores where customers can expect proper fit, tune, arrow selection, and instruction. When you’re good, word gets around. Tom figures that 80% of his customers drive an hour or more to do business with them. Their major product lines are PSE, Bowtech, Hoyt, and Bear Archery, but they service every make and model bow.
My relationship with Tom, and Strictly Archery, dates back to 1999 or 2000. I had a new solo- cam bow that wouldn’t shoot a TM style rest. After taking the bow to five or six different shops and then putting it back to the way I had it, I brought the bow to Tom and Ray. Tom looked at the bow, and at my unorthodox set up, and asked “Does it shoot like this?” I said yes. He then told me that the bow had bad limbs from the factory and that the draw length was wrong, but he was impressed with the set up. Although this bow wasn’t a brand he carried, he got on the phone and ordered new limbs, and a draw length module for me. After a week or so, I got a call that the bow was done. When I came in the bow shot like a dream. I took a lesson with Tom and the rest is history.
Tom Dirisio has written tech articles for United Bowhunters of New Jersey and NJHunter. Com. He has also given seminars for UBNJ, Safari Club International, and many local clubs. He competed as a lefty for 19 years, but since 2006 he hunts with a right-handed bow, as he is right eye dominant. He has been on a shooter program with PSE since 2008 and he plans on going back out on the 3D circuit next year as a righty.
If you want to shoot your best, or just better than your friends, you owe it to yourself to make an appointment with Tom. Strictly Archery is located on the corner of Rt. 57 and Biedelman Rd. in Washington, N.J. Their address is 7 Biedelman Rd. Washington, N.J. 07882 and the phone number is 908-689-5800
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