First Longbow

[robbin68]

#125930

I purchased my first longbow this year, a Bear Montana with a 60 lb draw. I seem to be struggling with it, more than my occasional biff shot. My Bear Grizzly drew around 50 lbs, and I have shot a few bows in the mid 50’s draw weight, and even my friend’s 60 lb SuperMag 48 recurve. With that being said, when I ordered my bow, I didn’t feel that 60 lbs would be too much bow. My main miss is pulled left-as I am right handed, or I have groups with 2 in the wheel house and then the third arrow is erratic which really hurts the ego.

I definitely recognize that I may have “over bowed” myself, however I was also wondering since this is my first longbow if there may be any difference between longbows and recurves in regards to which is more/less forgiving to shoot?

Another problem I have when I get frustrated is to nock another arrow as fast as I can and shoot it downrange like it will make me feel better. This does not help when I should be thinking about my fundamentals. Anyway, I thought I would share my troubles and appreciate any feedback.

[Stephen Graf]

#125931

You seem to have a good sense of what the troubles are/could be.

Going up 10 lbs in weight is a big step.  It can cause all sorts of problems like target panic and bad form.   That said, if it’s what you want to do, then go for it.  It just means more work on your part, and nothing else.

As to the question of whether one bow style is more forgiving than another, I’d say the truth is that they are just different beasts.  And that said, I think a hybrid bow (deflex / reflex “longbow”) shoots more like a recurve than a straight end longbow.  Since you didn’t mention which you had, I will assume it’s a hybrid.

Shooting left for a right hand shooter is symptomatic of a number of issues.  It could be that your form is too open (facing the target instead of sideways to the target),  it could be that you are torquing the grip, it could be you are dropping your bowarm at the shot, it could be you are not getting to anchor with your string hand, or it could be that your string arm elbow is too high, it could be that you’ve locked your bow arm elbow instead of having it slightly bent (typical for a  recurve shooter) Whew!  Finally, and most likely, it is a combination of these things.

When I practice, I take just one arrow with me.  That way I am not tempted to spatter a bunch of arrows in frustration.

[Ralph]

#125934

Just thinking that since you’ve gone up in so much bow weight you may be having more problems of getting to your anchor than you think.  Shooting left for a right handed person is also a sign of too stiff of a spined arrow and short drawing stiffens spine. :-((..  I know……………….. :-((

That’s a fine bow you’re shooting………..

Just an added thought.

Good luck with it.

[wahoo]

#125990

i did the same thing. I ordered my first longbow and the bowyer said no it was too much , ordered the bow anyway shot it loved it had problems with it ran into the guy 10yrs later told him the problems asked him to cut it down he laughed and told me i told you so . He cut it down to 52# and never had problems again. I had elbow issues and shooting issues and they all ended . Long story short all my bows are 50# . I hunt elk and deer mostly. I think you already answered your own question ,you are over bowed . Good luck . My longbows seem to be way more forgiving than my curves . They are all reflex deflex and cut to center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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