Even though I have a short 25" draw length, I prefer the smoothness of longer bows. Mine are mostly all 68".

I have 3 Lost Creek longbow hybrids. Shortest is 53", 54", & 58". Shoot them all pretty well & love them. Chad makes a beautiful short bows that really shoots fast & smooth. My favorite is my 54" NAT. In the woods with it as I type.

I like the looks of those lost creek and Kanati bows

Never thought it was possible with my 30" draw until I picked up a 56" Elkheart with the perfect grip for me. Probably one of the most accurate, natural pointing bows I own.

I am 5'6 but have a dwarf 26 inch draw...... Well I need to get a long bow.....

QuoteOriginally posted by Yellow Dog:
Never thought it was possible with my 30" draw until I picked up a 56" Elkheart with the perfect grip for me. Probably one of the most accurate, natural pointing bows I own.

Ditto this.
I have a 28" draw and shoot a 54" JavaMan Elkheart that I absolutely love!!    

A lot of 54" and 56" pikas being bought right now

I have had a 48", a 56" and a 58" bow.  For whatever reason I have settled on 60" as optimal for me.  I just have more confidence with that length in a recurve.

I posted on this before,  but measure your bows tip to tip when strung.  You might be surprised about the actual length.

I think there ought to be an established length that defines what a longbow is. Logically, a bow that is short can not be a long bow, regardless of the overall design. My opinion, and it is only my opinion, is that no bow shorter than 66" is actually a longbow.

Been there,done that. More is more. 66" for this kid. rat'

I have a 30" DL and have tried all shapes and sizes but have settled on a 56" Elk Heart by Gregg Coffey. I shoot it as well as any 64" bows i've had.  No finger pinch, quick to target and amazingly smooth. I think it's plenty long especially after seeing some of the bows our native ancestors were shooting. The design of the bow is more important than lenghth IMHO.

This my opinion,I have a 58" Bear Grizzly, a 52" Shakspear and my DL is around 29". I dont really feel any finger pinch shooting either one.

Everyone shoots different so not everyone can shoot short bows without feeling finger pinch. I also feel a lot has to do with how much poundage your pulling.

I have several longbows 66", a 62" RER longbow and a 62" Blacktail recurve. Love 'em all!

Having said that, I have a shorty on order with Greg Coffee (Java Man). Currently signed up for a 54" Helms Deep recurve, but seriously thinking about calling Greg and asking him to switch me to an Elk Heart longbow. I shot both at the Kalamazoo Trad Expo and shot both of them as well as any of my longer bows.

One of the things that intrigues me about a short Elk Heart, is the way I could order it as a 2-piece. I'd then make a new back quiver with a separate pocket for the bow which would not stick up above my arrows. At 74, I don't anticipate climbing any mountains chasing goats, but I just think it's a really cool option.

I have a Shrew Classic Hunter at 58" and even at my short draw it has excellent performance.  The grip is very repeatable and it is just very consistant...

I would like to try his 64" version though...
Alex

Been shooting 54-56" Shrew Classic Hunters and Java Elkhearts for years.  For me it's a perfect fit.  5'10 28".  I still have some longs of 62" and better but for hunting I seem to always feel the most comfortable with a shorty.

Had a 60" Selway /Centaur, a 58" Elkheart. and sometimes shoot a 62" stock Whip. All have been excellent bows. My current 58" T-Mag,I have to say, equals or exceeds all these in overall smoothness,forgiveness and pointability.

Among well made bows, my impression is a whole, whole lot depends on the design.

I shoot a 56" Leon Stewart, 60#@28" I only draw about 26.5" but this Li'l Slammer has remarkable cast and shoots where I look.

A Short....Long..... bow, is that the definition of an oxymoron?

QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
A Short....Long..... bow, is that the definition of an oxymoron?

I dunno, Walt.  I've always liked long shortbows, but hey, YMMV.

A short longbow is just that ; its more the design that makes it a longbow ; than the length . No different than a 66in recurve or one thats 48in ; still a recurve . just my opion