Might be a dummy question but what difference is there when a R/D longbow maintains a D or C profile vs a swept back profile when at full brace.

Good question. There are a lot of different shapes of RD bows, both strung and unstrung. I'm partial to the mild RD shape that shows a little deflex and a little reflex when unstrung. I guess because I had three of Dan Quillians longhunters some years ago.Pup

I have two.  One shows none when strung or drawn that I can really notice.  The other show some curve a the ends when strung, and I have not seen it drawn (I am usually looking down the arrow).

I might be the odd guy here but I love the trapezoid almost triangle shape of the Treadways,ACS, etc and the other not so common shapes like the Dwyer Endeavor, the shrew,etc

I guess what I'm getting at, is there any difference in perfomance or is it just for looks.

To me, the more radical limbs are more efficient. I have a Lost Creek Judge that shoots very quick.

I bet it does, I mean that shape was not achieved by aestethics but looking for performance

The more radical r/d designs are more efficient, i.e., faster for a given weight.  A moderate r/d design like a Robertson longbow or Great  Northern Critter Gitter will string up into a d-shaped bow.  A severe r/d design like an ACS does not form a D-shape when strung. Of course, there are always other design and material considerations that affect performance.

When I was caught on the wheelie hype the trend was for "parallel limbs" because the more parallel the limbs are the more each limb recoil cancell each other, simple physics (altough as stated above there are a lot more considerations ie materials, etc)

So I would guess a more Reflex bow will have less recoil also

I have owned and shot both types, hybrids(Fedora) and milder (Harrelson,Dry Ridge)R/D bows. In my opinion while the hybrid is faster, it is not as forgiving as the milder bows of any mistakes the shooter makes regardless of how minor.

I think the big diff is the hybrids have a lot less hand shock. Or the ones I have tried.

More speed -less handschok. You need a ratio deflex to reflex and can go too far with either.
reflex also stiffens the tips for better string angle.

Beyond the performance issues, there was a time when some traditional shoots would not accept anything other than a 'D' shape in the longbow class.  Haven't seen this in a while, but might still exist.

QuoteOriginally posted by Pon:
I might be the odd guy here but I love the trapezoid almost triangle shape of the Treadways,ACS, etc and the other not so common shapes like the Dwyer Endeavor, the shrew,etc

You're not the odd one out anymore, I second that!