What factors are most important to you in a bow when getting to "know" one?
-Smooth Draw
-Quiet shot
-Appearance
-Ergonomics
-Handling
-Hitting where you look
-Fit/Finish
-FF compatibility
-??????
I'll start with the first answer.
For me, a smooth draw, ergonomics of the grip and my ability to hit what I'm shooting at are first and foremost important.
Scoring well on the other factors is obviously a plus too.
There's few things more pleasing than picking up a bow that feels good in the hand, draws smoothly and hits where I want it to.
Ken
1. The fit and feel of the grip
2. Smoothness of draw
3. Fit and Finish
4. Wood selection
If these are to my liking, the accuracy etc. will come.
Hitting where I'm looking is the most important, what good is any bow if it dont shoot well for ya.
Must be quiet, real quiet without putting a scane of yarn on the string.
Fit & finish, tells me the bowyer is proud of what he is building and its probably good quality. Doesnt have to have a $1000 of excotic wood to be finely crafted and finished.
Must be FF compatible, I hate Dacron strings. Its not a performance thing at all, just dont like the feel of them after the shot.
Dont realy care what it looks like, I dont like black galss or natural(blond)bamboo, other than that I can learn to like it.
And which ever category the grip fall into, a good grip is essential.
Other than that not much else matters to me.
Eric
Smooth draw and the grip!
1) Hitting where you look
2) Ergonomics, Handling
3) Quiet shot
4) Smooth Draw
5) Fit/Finish and Appearance
6) FF compatibility
A simple way of putting it may be:
I buy a bow to shoot and hunt, accurate is a must, great handling is a must, and being able to make it quiet is a must. The smoother the draw and better it looks, the happier I am. Also, FF compatible is nice only because it gives me more options but if an old string works better thats what I'll use.
I like a bow that shoots where you look first and foremost. Secondly,it has to be whisper quiet. and last but certainly not least, it has to be aesthetically pleasing but not to busy like a pizza with 8 toppings. A cocobolo riser with either osage or yew limbs with no accent stripes & etc. I want a bow that's ready to get a few scratches on it cause it's not to "cosmetic" for hunting ! ... just my preference.
Yes.......to all on your list. If it's right you'll know it in a very short period of time! The only thing that is not "REAL" important to me is if it's FF ready.
Grip and quiet.
the first thing is how it makes me feel when I pick it up. If it doesn't make me feel good, nothing else matters
Hit where I look.
I just came in from shooting a beautiful bow with carbon limbs that's as smooth as any I've ever shot. It's quick and quiet as can be and fit and finish is perfect. The grip seems to fit me just right and love the way it feels in my hand.
I've had this bow for 2 months and I really have to work hard to get it to hit where I look. It doesn't come to me naturally at all.
This is the second one of this particular bow I've owned and I thought I may not have given the first one enough time. I really want to like this bow. I've always thought that my brain would adjust to about any bow and has until these bows. I've come to the conclusion that there's some that I just can't shoot well.
I think how pretty a bow is; is the most important... :saywhat: :dunno:
When I put my hand to my bow I fully expect to be transported to "Sherwood" or I'll be switching bows.
God bless,Mudd
The bowyer is most important to me.
All of the previously mentioned qualities are important to me too. I would have to include "price" to the list. I do enjoy a low priced, smooth, comfortable gripped bow.
I like one with a soft early draw, seems the ones that build up early interfer with my concentration. I know it costs a bit of speed but well worth it to me. Also like a bow that is quite.
I want it to fit lightly and easily in my hand and to draw smoothly. If it is a hunting bow quietness becomes important. I most prefer (but not always)the classic D shape. I like simple but elegant lines, maybe that's why I like Hill bows so much. Generally, I like dark or at least subdued coloration. Lastly, it needs to point well for me. If it won't go naturally to where I'm looking, I'll soon be looking for another bow. I won't say any one of these characteristics is more important. I need all of them or the bow just won't keep my attention.
For me the most important thing is the grip. Chris Cox makes the best grip for my hand on his Habu bows so that is what I shoot. Lack of handshock is the second most important. Handshock messes with my shooting for some reason. Mass weight is also very very important to me. I simply do not shoot light mass weight bows as well. I like a bow that weighs well over 2 pounds. Habus and black widows fit that description for me. I also like a large sight window. On the old habu recurves the sight window is 5.5 inches, and I believe it is the same on a Black widow MA. I also prefer bows with the limbs mounted on the belly. A higher brace height is desireable to me. Less chance of hitting clothing during colder months and also more forgiving in my opinion. Cosmetics are the least important thing to me since my bows generally take alot of abuse anyway. For some reason, no matter how hard I try, I cannot keep them away from screw steps when raising or lowering them to my stand!
Smooth draw, grip, consistent-stable-forgiving performance. Fit and finish, and #1=the bowyer.
For me it must say Schafer Silvertip! :bigsmyl:
Sorry I couldn't help myself
All the above for sure and my ability to shoot a range of arrows through it accurately and with perfect arrow flight!!!
Kris
Ergonomics firs and foremost. If it doesn't fit then it will be difficult to repeat my grip.
Smooth draw secondly. I have a 30 1/2" draw and want to get the string back without it stacking on me.
Fit and finish ranks third. If it has a poor finish or defects in it I'll never be confident enough in it to take it hunting.
Hitting where I look and quietness are functions of tuning and arrow selection (for me).
fit
smooth draw
hits well
weight(what good is a bow if its only 12# at my 27" draw lol)
I think all of those features in the original post are basic requirements and are delivered by a lot of modern makers. Some other things I use to narrow my selection is:
A high mass riser, they are more accurate.
A high sight window, also aids accuracy.
At least 64" in length, even in recurves.
A take down feature is very desirable.
Ease of shooting is king for me and nothing turns me off a bow more than a compressed sight window.
mass in riser for stability. Smooth draw, dead in the hand feel after the shot. FF compatiable, not for the speed, but after shooting FF, i feel like I have a floating anchor when shooting a higher stretch string material. Shafer Silvertip takedowns fit the bill for what I like in a bow better than any other I have owned and shot. I guess that is why I have shot the same bow for going on 9 years now. In general I like the ST, brakenbury, wes, wallace, tall tines, norm johnson style of takedown recurves.
the grip if it does not feel good in my hand i dont shoot it very good.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bjorn:
The bowyer is most important to me.
Bjorn can you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Usually starts with the grip. Some bows just fit, and some don't. As long as it fits, has good performance, and don't look too fancy/gaudy we usually do alright. Fit and a good tough finish are important also. I don't abuse my bows, but I don't baby them either.
It has to shoot where I`m looking without me doing anything different in my shooting style.RC
LOL, Jon,
ME TOO! Nothing like a Tip.
the frist thing is the grip
then shootability
If I dont like the grip then I wont shoot it.
Cast, nothing more is as important
the grip
smooth draw
cast
pointability (is that a word?)
workmanship
customer service
mojo :archer2:
1. It must shoot where I'm looking.
2. Must be very stable and forgiving.
3. It must shoot quiet.
4. It must have good cast with heavy arrows
around 10 gpp.
5. It must be able to take abuse. I try not to
abuse my bows but accidents do happen.
6. It must have the right sized handle for me
and it must be straight.
7. Fit and finish.
8. Warranty and longjevity
9. Bowyer or bow company must have a solid
reputation.
10.It must be a Hill or 'hill like".
A comfortable draw weight and a grip that just feels right.