As the deer season winds down here in SC I have started to get ready for small game time. Been playing with a Martin Mountaineer. Sure does have some handshock compared to my Tsunami. I also don't like the thin leather grip with harsh lacing. So what do you do to make Hill style bows more shootable and user friendly.
Heavier arrows and a heavier string always seems to help tame a shockey bow for me. As far as fixing a thin grip, why not just wrap it with something to get the thickness up?
It's all in the grip and arm position. When i shoot my Hills i keep my bow arm slightly bent, and grip the bow with the grip in your first thumb joint and you need to heel it using just the pad by your thumb. And as Howard said "you gotta get a hold of it" Don't be afraid to grip it pretty tight, This works for me.
I reduced the poundage for a kid with a Martin longbow by trimming the tips and copying the bend to a Schulz on my board by tracing the Schulz and then working the Martin to match. Ten pounds or so less and half the vibration and handshock when finished. I am not sure what the Mountainer measurements are, but if the tips are wide it would work.
heavy arrows, shooting style like mentioned above,
....and you can work the tips down a bit too, If you check the post I have on the bows for sale forum, there's pictures of how I worked down the tips on a MOUNTANEER