All good advice. I'd particularly echo Nichole's final point; a better bow will require far less effort to achieve the same effect. I bought a Coda a year ago (a Conservatory, the next grade up from the Aspire) - it cost nearly as much as my current fiddle, but it was worth every penny. I can hold it with a far lighter grip than I needed to use on my previous, cheap bows, and I no longer have consequent wrist or finger problems in the right hand. It's also improved my playing no end.