Short vs longer bow length

joekeith · October 01, 2011, 10:30:00 PM

Well I don't like too much shorter than my 46" R.W. Stalker.....or too much longer than my 66" G.P.Rio Bravo...

Night Wing · October 02, 2011, 10:50:00 AM

With my 30" draw length and small skinny fingers, I love length bows. For me, a 66" recurve is the "cat's meow" due to it's easy and velvety smooth draw to my anchor point.

October 02, 2011, 05:17:00 PM

I have a friend that was shooting a 60" recurve and thought that the short length was causing him problem for his 28" draw, which was really 27". I let him try a longbow with a straight grip and showed him how to shoot it. He was instantly more accurate. He thought it was because of the string angle, they were virtually the same at his for real 27" draw. I showed him by drawing both bows together, his was 45 and mine was 55 at 27". he went back to his own bow and instead of up and down misses he had left and right misses. Went back to the longbow and once again instant accuracy. There is nothing wrong with his recurve, it shoots fine, just not when he shoots it. So I let him keep my longbow, it was tillered too long for my, better for myself 26", draw anyway.I have seen guys go from 64" recurves down to 58" hybrids and have the same type of results. It matters more if the bow feels right to you, when you find a bow that seems to shoot itself, stick with it.

Friend · October 02, 2011, 07:33:00 PM

Much is predicated on design

Much is decreed based on draw length

Much is dictated due to application

Much is governed by personal preference

Huntschool · October 02, 2011, 08:26:00 PM

If you want a giggle and your draw is no more than 28" try one of the old Bear Super Mag 48's. 48" tip to tip. I like mine and it shoots lights out....

Terry Lightle · October 03, 2011, 07:48:00 AM

I draw 28 inches and went from 66 inch longbow to a 60 inch Cari-bow Slynx and am liking it a lot

centaur · October 03, 2011, 08:04:00 AM

My go to was a 62 inch Pronghorn before I got my 56" Thunderchild. I can tell no difference in either accuracy or 'feel'; I'm drawing 29 inches, and there is no finger pinch with the shorter bow, plus it is easier to handle in the woods. I tried it out of a tree stand, and much prefer it to the longer bow.

30coupe · October 03, 2011, 09:31:00 AM

I went from a 62" Mahaska longbow to my 58" Kanati. I draw right at 28". I much prefer the shorter bow. The design of the Kanati pretty much eliminates finger pinch. I also now have a 56" Orion recurve...no pinch there either. While the Kanati is my go-to bow, the Orion is great out of my ground blind. Not that the Kanati wouldn't do it, but I ordered flat black limbs for the Orion, which is nice for concealment in the blind.

Anyway, I don't know about shorter than that. I had an old Herters recurve that was 52" and 49# @ 28" and it pinched like a son-of-a-gun, but I think again that was more design than length. I just find the shorter bows are much handier for me. I'm only 5'9" on my tall days, so that may have something to do with my preference.

If you get a well designed 54" bow, I don't think you'll have any issues drawing 27".

coaster500 · October 03, 2011, 11:29:00 AM

My 60" Buff and my 56" TC are both shooters... my personal shooting style makes me shoot the Buff a tad better. The difference is very slight though. When I have had my buddy's shoot both side by side the review is always mixed. From the stand point of comfort, smoothness, pinch etc..... I can't or don't notice the difference. Fortunately I have both set up so my arrows hit where I look with either bow.... It's a try for yourself thing and all subjective. I only have a 27.25" draw but hands like a fat gorilla.... I put this in there because everybodys different..