Does anyone here shoot ASA tournaments?
I was looking into it as that's pretty much all we have here locally and saw where they only have a "traditional" class. In this class you can shoot recurve or longbow. No riser material specifications, you can shoot off an elevated rest, use up to a 12" stabilizer.
I have never really dabbled with either of those, are they of great benefit?
IBO for me.
I shoot regularly with a guy who uses a stabilizer and a rest on a metal ILF riser bow. We regularly place #1 or #2 in the division we shoot in (old farts division, recurve). Sometimes we both shoot in the same division; sometimes the trad division won't allow stabilizers and rests, and he shoots in an open division, but of course we always compare scores. Sometimes he will beat me, sometimes I will beat him. I'm sure the stabilizer and rest give him some advantage, but we are evidently close enough that it is still a toss-up. I wouldn't change anything, because it always tickles me that I can beat him without using a stabilizer and rest, and for me, that is worth whatever advantage he might have. I've never asked him if he feels guilty when he beats me; that's his business, I guess.
I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. It's not a huge advantage, and the feeling you get when you beat someone who has superior equipment is priceless.
I shoot ASA 3D events quite often.
My setup is either Traditional recurve or longbow. My objective is to always have a fine shot execution at each and every target. Have yet to accomplish that.
My focused goal is not the podium but to execute a lethal mark in the field.
Most are 25 yard max on traditional. (The one at Paris TX I went to was.) Not a huge advantage at that range. But an elevated rest and plunger do make tuning a breeze.