HH BUG GOT ME - Part Two!

BIG GAME · December 14, 2014, 01:37:00 PM

When you guys first started out with Hill bows did you purchase a bow new and dive in or did you trade for a bow or buy one used and just keep buying and trading until you found the right one? The more I read about how the right grip and length makes all the difference, I am hesitant to buy a new one and then not have it work. Does any of the Hill bowyers have a try before you buy?

BAPilot2 · December 14, 2014, 02:04:00 PM

So the wedge grip is the norm???

mbugland · December 14, 2014, 02:28:00 PM

So I had to catch up a bit.... But can dive right into a little self experience Big Game. I jumped in with a new stock, HHA. Bought a 68" Wesley 55@28, I draw close to 30. Shot that on and off for 6months, then stumbled across a great used 70" 62@27. For awhile I was punching the bag with the heavier, and planning to hunt the lighter. The biggest difference for me in the two was the grip. I ended up learning more from the standard gripped lighter bow, shot my first robinhood with it. I kept thinking it was going to be the one.... When it came down to it, I loved the locator grip on the used 70" I picked up. It felt right and every time I went to go stump shooting I would end up dragging that 70" bow out, just because it felt right. I personally think that the grip really played into it for me... And would tell you to go wrap your hands around as many as possible. I don't know what me next step is going to be, looking at my retirement present to myself being a 68" likely... But moving up into the mid to high 70s. I am interested in the thought of having the 70 taken down to 68" but she is just too comfortable to me to start messing with yet.
Pick up the best you can get in your price range, 68 or 70... You will be fine, just getting one in hand, there is always another guy out there willing to trade left right or sideways to try one out.... I traded my 68 for two other bows, both nice.... But only ones has been into the woods, and that was short lived. Came right back around to that Wesley, she just feels wonderful (even through this crazy east coast brush... Can't wait to get home and play.
My 2cents... And that's about all it's worth.

December 14, 2014, 03:16:00 PM

The wedge grip is one of the grips, there can be some variety in how much wedge there is on various Hill style bows. Some will call a straight grip a wedge while others do not call them wedges until they are very sharp. It is not a one size fits all situation and things can be adjusted.

BIG GAME · December 14, 2014, 03:16:00 PM

mbugland,
Thanks that helps a lot, I have been trying to find someone that was willing to give up a used 68" or 70" in a lighter poundage 40-50# to work on form. My experience is limited on these bows, all I know is that I shot one last winter and never wanted to put it down.
Did you notice any performance difference between the 68" and 70"?

December 14, 2014, 05:57:00 PM

If I had a 28" draw, I would have been shooting a 70" reflex Hill, I like the form that Craig uses. As it is, my favorite right hand bow is a 68" fast tip Half Breed for my 26.5" right hand draw. I like longbows that have working tips at my draw length, performance is somewhat dependent on length but not always.

mbugland · December 14, 2014, 06:30:00 PM

Not being well rounded enough to know exactly what the differences I was feeling were, the 70 felt a lot smoother. The full range of the draw felt better, even though it was a heavier bow it seemed to reach a consistent anchor smoother...
I put a lot on the handle. I wouldn't change what I started with, the original 2x4 feeling block handle, it really made all the advice on palm pressure make sense. I really had to work with that bow to get my form right. Once form was good, the locator grip was super comfy and helps me to maintain the right feel. Still wish I had kept that one around.... Stupid R/D lured me in, plus an old recurve to sweeten the deal. Hopefully the kids enjoy them..... I didn't.

Rossco7002 · December 14, 2014, 08:26:00 PM

BApilot - give that wedge grip some time, bet it grows on you! I find them to be ideal for positioning your hand consistently and encouraging the proper grip. Ensure that you have the sharp, rear edge running down the web of you hand between the thumb and palm so that it's not resting on bone and your numbness issues should resolve themselves pronto.

Overspined · December 14, 2014, 11:03:00 PM

Yeah the wedge straight grip is the bomb, but a stock HHA bow with a wedge grip is a very mild wedge grip. It's not gonna hurt, and takes a little getting used to. BUT, once you are used to it, you will be able to shoot any grip. If a bow is lighter, a knife handle is even better. Just less natural torque unless you squeeze the heck out of it. Just let your fingers lay on the front of the grip like you could squeeze it, but don't.

I am very agreeable, however that some folks have physical features that mix, or don't, with different styles. A bud of mine can't bend his hand to shoot a low wrist without a locator. Physically it's impossible. We are all different!

Dish makes my hand just sink and collapse into the bow, unless very mild. Not my favorite. That said, they all exist for a reason!

Most folks who can't shoot a hill aren't functionally shooting them correctly. I've seen it time after time.

I agree with Pavan, error on the long side for hill style. I remember selling all my 66" bows years ago once I started with 68" bows. My draw is 26.5-27" like pavan. 29/30" draw around 69". Longer go 70".

BAPilot2 · December 15, 2014, 12:58:00 AM

I will see if the wedge grip grows on me. It may just take a bit of a learning curve for me to adapt to the feel of a Hill longbow. One thing than concerns me however, is the fact that the grip seems pretty large and deep for my hand. My max hand span is only 8.5" and it seems like it is made for a 10" - 11" hand.

One thing is for sure... It's a completely different feel than Bear and Shakespeare recurves.

Overspined · December 15, 2014, 01:50:00 AM

Don't grab it, seat it in your hand as you apply string tension, then just lay your fingers on the back. If it's not too sharp on the belly where it hurts, you'll notice no difference in how the bow shoots compared to other shapes like racetrack oval. I have shot my bows well before I shape the grips and they shoot fine with no grip shape, just a rectangle. I find just in carrying them, it feels strange to have a grip too large. Grip shape is often a mental thing, although some shapes lend to less torque for some shooters. Mostly it's all fundamentals. Check out old Howard photos, copy em. The bend in bow arm doesn't mean it's spongy. It is rigid, with a little bend. Kind of looks like pushing a drill into a wall. You'll forget what the grip shape is when you are only feeling the bow pushing against the palm of the hand properly. Probably why he started swing draw, keeps bow arm in proper alignment and not spongy.

mike g · December 15, 2014, 09:39:00 AM

Performance wise when I ordered my last Hill, Craig told me there was 5" per sec difference between the 68" and 66"....

Grip wise, My first Hill my Big has a small take down grip even though it's not a take down, I was at a local shoot talking to Bob Burton and I held his Hill bow and liked the grip, It was the small take down, So when I ordered my Bow I mentioned Bobs grip, And Craig said no problem....

My newest Hill Is a Tembo and it has a 2" deep wedge....

mbugland · December 16, 2014, 07:26:00 AM

Big Game,
I would definitely say, call and talk to Craig or Jason, they are awesome folks and will walk you through everything. Not sure where you are at, but it could be worth a trip to Hamilton to do a little more hands on question and answer.
Also, wou would be amazed what people have laying around that they are willing to trade for stuff you have laying around... I actually made my trade off of one of the online "list" classifieds. Lots of watching and patience, sometimes a little drive. Think I took a 150 mile road trip to pick that 70 up used, the guy picking up my 68 came up through some pretty rough traffic, only 60 miles, but took him a couple hours. I watch the Bozeman ads quite a bit and have seen them pop up over the years, I am back in the area every couple months and have been looking for a bow to keep in my house out there.
Good luck! It's an addiction, I have convinced myself that my monogamy is helping my accuracy, but am on the hunt for the next one at the right deal.

mcbowguy · December 18, 2014, 02:16:00 AM

mcbowguy · December 18, 2014, 02:19:00 AM

A few more pics of the bubinga and yew string follow longbow.

http://nebula.wsimg.com/60bb734c752a2def5c631a042ede9eb6?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/4e84a19b0ebe7da2c02f37ce99f3e4a6?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/32ff7575e50231f62bd7a41a3a23abd0?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/fcd9977ab1ea57653d23a90eb04479a3?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/e47bf50afee4e280db6050c795ff3a01?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/dda5b1124b6532386291f4ceab895e24?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://nebula.wsimg.com/d5c96cd6c1530d57f8804aaedbc3d328?AccessKeyId=6B2A3AEB28CDA3F11959&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Mudd · December 18, 2014, 10:02:00 AM

Nice looking bow Brian.

Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas and God bless,Mudd

mcbowguy · December 18, 2014, 01:49:00 PM

Thanks Mudd. And a Merry Christmas to you too.

jeffg · December 18, 2014, 05:16:00 PM

We will see if I catch the HH bug. I have a 64" 50# Caramelized bamboo and ebony Wesley special on its way.

December 18, 2014, 09:38:00 PM

I ordered some stuff from Craig today and when he asked if there was anything more, by reflex, I almost ordered a new bow. Man that was a close one, but I still want a Cougar.

SAM E. STEPHENS · December 19, 2014, 01:47:00 AM

I got a Big Five a few years ago from a fine TG member and took it out one time and shot some small game then hung it up. But it always calls to me to be shot so I made my mind up to dust it off and got some arrows shooting off it good so now after putting some time into it I think I'm getting hooked. I have never put the time in on a Hill bow but I'm getting it figured out I think so here I go on another adventure. A good friend is giving me a HH quiver and my beautiful wife just ordered me some HH broadheads ( I can see this costing me a bunch of money ). Anyway I will be after a deer with my old Big Five for the last few weeks of our season......

,,,,,Sam,,,,,