I prefer Hill-style longbows. I’ve shot both, and have had a few high-end recurves which I really loved, but once I got the hang of shooting a Hill bow it’s what I kept going back to. In fact I just traded my last custom recurve for an old Frank SanMarco yew longbow.
I love the hill-style bows best for a lot of reasons, including their shooting qualities, lightness in the hand (barely over a pound), durability/toughness (I’ve used them for a walking stick occasionally), simplicity, and silence at the shot (there’s nothing quieter). But beyond that there’s reasons that aren’t so easy to put your finger on. [To me] they have such a great aesthetic quality. A simple longbow and wooden arrows, in my mind, stands in opposition to all the “advancements” that keep finding their way into our sport. They serve as a reminder to keep things simple, and concentrate on what’s important.
