I have said bow that I just can't shoot. I love it, it's pretty and exactly my specs but it just isn't working. I have switched to wood arrows over the last 2 years and this bow just flat doesn't like any of them. It shoots the few carbon arrows I have great but I'm not real interested in shooting those anymore.
My Centaur is cut to center (I believe) and at my 60@26 I can shoot 65-70 poplars and cedars cut to 281/2 with 165 up front or my carbons with no issues at all. Said bow is cut to 3/16 past (I believe). I've tried my woodies and even tried some 70-75 and 75-80 with no luck.
Is it just me and the bow doesn't make a happy couple?
I had a longbow that just wasn't my kick. Had all the specs I like but, I couldn't shoot it worth a darn and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn at 12 paces! Sold it as quick as I could. :rolleyes:
If "said bow" is cut past center, would lighter spine be better than heavier spine (you said you went from 65-70 to 70-75)?
I don't think you are alone in this! Anyone who has shot for any time has had one that fell into this category.
Possibly, I'm not really sure how it works. I've been pretty lucky in the past to hit it pretty close the first couple times I've tuned arrows.
I can hear an arrow slap on the shelf somewhere.
You might build out your strike plate until your 75-80's shoot well from her.
I'm with Green. Build the side plate out to closer to you other bow.
For me it was a Cascade Goshawk. Gorgeous bow, fantastic performance, just could never shoot it well. Really tried. Couldn't bring myself to sell it, but my son really took to it and shoots it like it was made for him.
Yes. MANY!
There are some gorgeous bows from many great bowyers that I've had. But simply do not work. No matter what I do. Most likely it's my shooting style that just doesn't work. Or I don't care for how it feels. I've just learned to move on to the next bow and shoot what works
Yes. Several. Sometimes the chemistry just isn't there or doesn't work out.
Sort of like the Beatles' song For No One
Typically it's the cut past center shelf, and the hand placement on the grip that makes the difference.... pad that shelf out to center and try shifting your hand placement until you find the balance point..... try rotating your wrist a bit more one way or the other too... you'll find the sweet spot if you keep after it.
I had a Martin Mountaineer...the ML-14 longbow once. I had always shot recurves and I loved the length (68 inch) and D shape...it was so beautiful to me. But I couldn't shoot it at all. there was too much handshock no matter the brace or arrow used, the grip hurt my hand, and it pulled like a leaf spring lol. It finally found a new home...But yes, I understand!
Loren
I've bought many "pretty" bows that ended up clashing with my shooting style - nothing wrong with the bows I just couldn't get them to shoot for me. Sent them on their way. Also sold a couple I wish I had back.
My experience mirrors the others, I've had several nice bows that for some reason or other didn't work for me.
You said you hear an "arrow slap on the shelf somewhere". How tight are your arrow nocks on your serving? When I get a new bow that I want to tune, after I set the nock point, grab some arrows and shoot. BUT I have noticed that if the nocks are sloppy on my serving the arrows "slap" the shelf or porpoise on release. That's why I almost always build up my servings on my strings.[waxed dental floss] I shoot 3 under but my Buds that shoot split actually put 2 nocks on the serving to solve that same problem.It sounds like your in the ball park with your arrow selection. One last point if your carbons fly out of the bow good,why change?
QuoteOriginally posted by jmrsyrs:
I've bought many "pretty" bows that ended up clashing with my shooting style - nothing wrong with the bows I just couldn't get them to shoot for me. Sent them on their way. Also sold a couple I wish I had back.
X2 ...
This is why I no longer own my Habu. Beautiful bow, but I never felt like I could shoot it as well as other bows.
Yup, had several gorgeous bows that 'look great on paper' hahaha but that I couldn't shoot for $#%$! LOL. It happens. Despite their good looks, they get sold. Kinda like women sometimes right fellas?
Frustrating at best
If a bow doesn't work for me I see no reason to keep it unless there is a unique sentimental value to it due to who gave it to you, etc.
I'd say there's almost (often no fix for a bad tiller that doesn't match your shooting form) always a physical fix, but once a bow becomes "bad" in my head it's either sold or designated as a wall hanger.
I like how the bow was not mentioned. Not all bows fit all people. I used to love Bws, then I completely went to straight grip longbows and the BWs no longer work for me. Not the shooting, the holding while hunting and when not shooting. I bought a recurve once, at a big store, that I could not get good arrow flight out of, no matter what I tried. When I checked the tiller it was obvious. The bow seemed to be tillered for three finger over the nock, upside down. After some cutting,filing,sanding, and glueing time, I had a great shooting bow with a better grip that was 4 pounds lighter, less recurve and a bit shorter. A buddy of mine says it is the best shooting recurve that he has ever owned. However, before one blames the bow, try to objectively look at everything. I always tell people to try to handle a Hill style bow like Hill would, just to see if it works better for them, and a Widow like Fred G. would, just to see if works better for them. No point in reinventing what the experts have already discovered. I always reserve the right to adjust any grip to fit my hand.
I bought a used longbow from someone here on TG. I just wasn't happy with the way I shot with it, no matter how beautiful I thought it was, or how nice it felt. :knothead:
Figured I was just better with a recurve, and just left the bow on the rack, but I ordered a new string for it, to be sure. I spent some time with some different longbows while on vacation a couple weeks ago, and things were not too bad with them. I hadn't made time to try the new string until yesterday, and went about setting the brace height, tying in nocks, etc.
I was still all over the place on the target, but mostly to the right (I shoot LH). I was using woodies, and didn't have anything weaker than what I was using in wood.
I thought about it last night, and today set up some Easton carbons I had that were too weak for the recurve that is set up for carbons. Threw on 3 different weight points, and went out to the target.
The 2 lighter ones were pretty close, with the heaviest a touch to the left. Put the 145 grain tips on all 3 arrows - baseball to softball size groups out to 20 yards. :)
Apparently, I had been trying to compensate for mismatched arrows in my aiming, but time away from the bow, and becoming more accurate over that time helped me realize my error.
Sorry to be so long-winded, but it really made my day to get things straightened out today !
Sell It and Buy a Bow that Loves YOU Back!
I sold my only deer rifle to purchase a Bear Super Kodiak. I tried everything imaginable but could not get an arrow to fly nice from that bow.
I reluctantly sold it after a few years of frustration. I ran into the new owner a year later and he absolutely loved the bow and it shot great for him.
I have found that shooting some bows with the cock arrow in makes a complete difference.
Yep I had the same problem with a Bob Lee. Loved that bow but it hated me. I think the grip was a little too fat for my hand. Traded for a longbow and couldn't be happier.
ive had a couple. one in particular. was a G&L Viper. probably the prettiest bow ive ever seen, and was quiet, smooth, and fast, and...
I couldn't hit water from a boat with it. no matter what I tried. had a few other friends try it to no better avail. was sure a beauty though.