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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: 4BTradArchery on February 15, 2012, 06:01:00 PM

Title: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: 4BTradArchery on February 15, 2012, 06:01:00 PM
All this Hill style bow talk has got me wanting one pretty bad.  there is just something about the simplicity and beauty of the bow that is appealing to me right now.  I am unfamiliar with them, but have gotten to page 190 of 500 on the HH thread.  My question is would a 60" Hill style work with my 29" draw?  I want the weight to be around 50 to 55 at my 29".  I also shoot three under.

Thanks
4B
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: giff on February 15, 2012, 06:06:00 PM
no! go at least 68"
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: dragonheart on February 15, 2012, 06:09:00 PM
Is your dl 29"?  I have a 71" wingspan.  My draw is right at 26" shooting a straight, slight dished grip on my big five with proper Hill style form.  What is your wingspan measured in the front from end of mid finger to midfinger?  

60" bow is too short for 29" draw.  I shoot 66" straight profile for my 26".  I could go to 65-64" with a string follow, but would rather shoot a 66".  These bows are longbows.  If you have to have that short a bow look at a shrew or centaur.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: Ari on February 15, 2012, 06:12:00 PM
Like Giff said at least 68" for a 29" draw but you might lose some draw length when switching to the the Hill style grip from a high wrist style grip.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: swampthing on February 15, 2012, 06:44:00 PM
Take the last digit of your draw and add 60"
For you, a 69" if that is your true draw.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: ChrisM on February 15, 2012, 06:55:00 PM
Yep don't go short.  In fact David Miller of miller bows would not sell you one that short.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: JRY309 on February 15, 2012, 08:01:00 PM
I would go at least a 68",a Hill bow is not designed to be a short bow.I draw 27" and wouldn't go less then a 66" Hill,my two Hill's are 66" and 68".
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: 4BTradArchery on February 15, 2012, 09:22:00 PM
Wow!  Thanks guys.  What is the reason why you have to shoot such a long bow?  Is it the grip?  Bow design?
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: ChrisM on February 15, 2012, 09:26:00 PM
Bow design
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: dragonheart on February 15, 2012, 09:28:00 PM
Hill's are longbow's!
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: lpcjon2 on February 15, 2012, 09:35:00 PM
Walk softly and carry a big stick!
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: David Mitchell on February 15, 2012, 09:58:00 PM
They are not the same at all as the little short RD bows.  They can be made shorter but a Hill style bow is designed to be long.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: bicster on February 16, 2012, 05:11:00 AM
I have a 64" HH and wish it was 66". My draw with the Hill style is 26". Your draw length may change with the Hill style.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: tradbower on February 16, 2012, 07:26:00 AM
I have a very short draw length. What length Hill would be recommended, I draw 241/4 "
Thanks. Pete
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: ChrisM on February 16, 2012, 07:37:00 AM
64. To 66
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: dragonheart on February 16, 2012, 07:44:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by tradbower:
I have a very short draw length. What length Hill would be recommended, I draw 241/4 "
Thanks. Pete
64"
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: cbCrow on February 16, 2012, 07:50:00 AM
4B, the simple answer to your question is leverage. The longer the bow the smoother it will draw, also it gives the bow greater cast at a particular weight.Example;a bow at 48" length will not cast an arrow as far as a bow at 64" length because of physics if both are the same weight. As far as loosing draw length with a hill bow, I can tell you I pull 28" and when I swithed to Hills back when  I adapted my way of shooting with the Hill to accommodate that length. Their are plenty of guys who shoot them and do not loose much if any draw. I don't understand that a particular type of bow has to be shot a certain way or it won't work mentality, plain rubbish to me.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: Clint B. on February 16, 2012, 08:14:00 AM
The way I understand it, the "Hill style" longbow wasn't designed to be short. I believe Mr. Hill recommended 70" for a 29" draw, 68" for the standard 28" draw and 66" for a 26" draw.  Also, "Hill style" shooting isn't meant be done with a long draw length. Hill was a big man with long arms but he shot with a bent bow arm, low wrist grip and slightly facing the target (as opposed to locked out bow arm, facing 90 deg. from target, straight wrist grip, etc.). That being said, a guy can purchase any length Howard Hill longbow he wants and shoot it any way that suits him. Archery is an individual thing and the main obective is to try to consistently hit the target while having fun.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: Sam McMichael on February 16, 2012, 04:31:00 PM
My draw is about 27", and I love the smoothness of my Hill bows at 68" bow length.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: newtotrad on February 16, 2012, 09:12:00 PM
I am about to get me first Hill style bow.  After much research on Tradgang I decided it is best to err to a longer length.  I only have a 26" draw but ordered a 66" bow.
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: drewsbow on February 17, 2012, 11:41:00 AM
very interesting so from what I gather a really long draw such as mine (31) would not match well with a Hill style bow ?
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 17, 2012, 11:54:00 AM
Drewsbow, you probably wont draw 31" on a Hill style bow. how much less depends on what type of bow and how you shoot currently.

Long draw is not an issue, it just wont be as long.

Eric
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: drewsbow on February 17, 2012, 05:44:00 PM
Thanks Eric , I shoot high wrist now and know it would be low with this style. I just thought it would take a really long bow to fit my draw. Drew
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 17, 2012, 06:01:00 PM
Drew you'd still probably be looking at a 68-70" bow. Just the nature of the Beast.

Eric
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: falconview on February 17, 2012, 07:55:00 PM
I have a short hill and like it for hunting brushy areas
But my favorite Hills are 70" these are longbows
and they are best long, smooth, powerful but light in the hand
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 18, 2012, 08:09:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by 4BTradArchery:
All this Hill style bow talk has got me wanting one pretty bad.  there is just something about the simplicity and beauty of the bow that is appealing to me right now.  I am unfamiliar with them, but have gotten to page 190 of 500 on the HH thread.  My question is would a 60" Hill style work with my 29" draw?  

in a word and for the most part, NO - unless you like stacking and pain.  

i have a 29" draw length and i need at least 68" of a craig hill longbow for smoothness without stacking.  

my david miller longbow is 69" and it's just right for me.

to each their own and not all hill-style bowyers are alike, some will allow shorter bow lengths that are smooth/no-stack at longer draw lengths.


I want the weight to be around 50 to 55 at my 29".  

lots will depend on the bowyer's ability to hit the right numbers, and different hill-style bowyers have different track records in achieving this.  as most folks have noted, howard hill longbows are typically a few to 5# or more overweight at your specified draw length, and as digitally measured - just something to be aware about.

I also shoot three under.

not a specific issue with draw length, but it will be a limb tillering issue.

also, click on the first link in my sig line - there will bee a few things in that article that might help.


Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: Buckhorn47 on February 18, 2012, 04:36:00 PM
4B, I shoot a very similar setup to you, 29" arrow, usually drawing about 28" actual and I would never shoot a HH less than 68-69".
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: tradlongbow on February 18, 2012, 04:51:00 PM
4BTradArchery-

Once you get your new bow; I hope to see you join us next year in South Georgia for the 1st Annual Hill Gang Hog Hunt.


Darren
Title: Re: HIll Style Draw Length
Post by: moleman on February 18, 2012, 10:27:00 PM
4B, my experiances have been that if you take a longbow design and try to make a short bow out of it, your mistakes in shooting and form are amplified immensley. Im a firm believer in 66" and longer longbows. Not only that, but when you begin shortening that design it really changes the way that the limbs load up upon drawing it.
IMHO i think you will be better served by the longer length bow.  :coffee: