Hills secrets revealed

Ron LaClair · July 01, 2015, 08:47:00 AM

A week and a half ago at the Compton Rendezvous John Lee, Chuck Deshler and I sat and talked about the Hill style bow and how they should be made. John knew Howard and learned first hand from him how he made his bows. John actually made three bows for Howard before he died.

As we three sat and talked, John told Chuck what Howard had passed on to him. He drew sketches on paper and Chuck took notes. Today Chuck brought over the first bow he made after Johns instructions. He made it left handed so I could try it and I must say it's a very sweet shooter.

kevsuperg · July 01, 2015, 09:24:00 AM

tell me about your grip ron.
i have a hill reverse handle and i choke it like it owes me money.
your grip seems very relaxed, like a recurve.

mike g · July 01, 2015, 09:39:00 AM

Wow, What a tease....
Now Ron, Finish the story....

Ray Lyon · July 01, 2015, 10:49:00 AM

John Lee is a super entertaining man to listen too. I've only done so a few times around a campfire, but it's been a real treat. Good to see Chuck putting John's knowledge into play.

Ron LaClair · July 01, 2015, 02:07:00 PM

Quotetell me about your grip ron. i have a hill reverse handle and i choke it like it owes me money. your grip seems very relaxed, like a recurve.

There are many styles of form in archery, as for myself I've always adhered to Howards advice, "upon release both hands do nothing". I keep a loose grip on the bow so as to let the bow do it's thing without the influence of pressures from my hand.

In my competitive tournament days all through the 60's almost everyone shot with an open hand and a "keeper" leather strap around the wrist to keep from dropping the bow.

July 01, 2015, 02:19:00 PM

I used a leather 'keeper' on my target bows too. I do squeeze a longbow into my hand at the beginning of the draw and then loosen up. Those 20 yard PAA targets mess with my brain even today. When I shoot at one I instinctively open my hand. There is no hand shock in a Hill style bow when the hand is completely open. It is a bit embarrassing when I have walk forward to pick my bow off the ground.

kevsuperg · July 01, 2015, 03:00:00 PM

awesome, i guess i'll have to try a loose grip.

Terry Green · July 01, 2015, 03:23:00 PM

"Hold it like a bird....not too tight as to hurt it....and just tight enough so it can't fly away"....HH

kevsuperg · July 01, 2015, 03:42:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
"Hold it like a bird....not too tight as to hurt it....and just tight enough so it can't fly away"....HH

perfect, explains it all. i just had always been told that about recurves and to squeeze the daylights outta a longbow

STICKBENDER98 · July 01, 2015, 04:13:00 PM

I'm slowly starting to realize that about my grip as well. I have a N.M. Baraga, and a reverse handle Whisper, and I shoot them pretty much with the same grip as I do my recurves. I have also had to switch from shooting 3 under to split with them. It's been a fun and sometimes frustrating learning experience for me.

monterey · July 01, 2015, 04:51:00 PM

Moe Arne has some good info on here regarding gripping a long bow. Not sure where to find it at the moment. When I started doing it as he suggests, my groups tightened up!

beyondmyken · July 01, 2015, 05:35:00 PM

Terry, I hold my bow like it is an ostrich trying to get away. Is that the same thing?

TSP · July 01, 2015, 05:59:00 PM

Lol, beyondmyken. I find that gripping it like the neck of a large angry Guinnea Hen is about right. Or maybe like the neck of a medium-sized American Condor as it's lifting off with my other arm in it's beak. Something like that.

I'm afraid that little canary wouldn't stand a chance. Squish...Poof!

Orion · July 01, 2015, 06:31:00 PM

Hey Terry. Is that quote in one of Howard's books? Definitely worth repeating. Don't know how folks got the idea that one needs to put a death grip on a longbow. That's one of the things that leads to a lot of felt hand shock, regardless of the bow being shot. Those folks who say a Hill "rattles" their teeth, are probably gripping the bow too tightly.

That's probably not the secret(s) you were talking about Ron, but a revelation to some just the same.

kevsuperg · July 01, 2015, 06:46:00 PM

i think, for me atleast, the death grip came from selfbows.
i had always been a longbow admirer from afar. compounds and recurves were my bows of choice.
when i became enlightened and started diving into all things trad, especially making selfbows, i was always told to hold the recurve " dainty" and the have a firm solid grip on long and self bows.
i have a four day weekend and a new package of parts and pieces from three rivers . so i'll be doing alot of grip testing.
by the way ron , i hope we arent hijacking you're thread. will you be at ETAR in the coming weeks

Terry Green · July 01, 2015, 06:56:00 PM

Yes.....that was a quote from HH.

Another quote. ..."I made many a shot instinctive on game once I started hunting"

nineworlds9 · July 01, 2015, 07:06:00 PM

AWESOME to hear this news and see this Ron!! The first Shrew Hill was a SWEET bow, still my favorite Hill I've ever tried aside from Steve Turay's bows. This is very exciting. Will Chuck's new bow be as slim in the limbs and deep in the grip as the original Shrew Hill was??

awbowman · July 01, 2015, 08:10:00 PM

I like to settle it in the straight back fat part below the thumb so as not to torque the bow then just close the hand with low to moderate grip strength. Doing it right places the force in back straight part of hand. Not nearly as loose as Ron's picture but not strong either

Ron LaClair · July 01, 2015, 08:28:00 PM

Quote Will Chuck's new bow be as slim in the limbs and deep in the grip as the original Shrew Hill was??

I've been talking with Chuck for some time now about bringing back the ShrewHill Chuck knows his stuff so I know he'll make em right.

WESTBROOK · July 01, 2015, 09:47:00 PM

Ron, you gonna bring that to the GLLI so we can have a closer look... :D