Lets say we have two identical longbows except their length differs by 2 inches. They are the same design, same materials-everything the same. (Same color too!)


Each pulls the same weight @ 28"

Does the shorter bow outperform the longer in any way, if we set aside "the longer bow is more forgiving" part of the equation.

Is the shorter bow quicker? Does it throw an arrow faster? Farther?

Thanks

Joshua.

I think that the length of the working part of the limb will come into play here, as in a rigid handle vs. a non-rigid/flexing handle section of the longbow.

Nope.

According to whichever installment of The Bowyer's Bible it was in, all things being equal, a longer bow will out-perform a shorter bow.

depends on the design.  But if you were to take two sets of limbs different length on our Orion riser, the longer limb will generally out perform the shorter.

The only exception is if you are really short drawing the longer set.

Each length of limb is designed to perform at a optimum length of draw.  So you get overlap when your between two draw lengths.

Mike

Generally speaking, the longer limbs will store more energy.  The shorter limbs have a good chance of being more efficient though (assuming they were tweaked a little rather than just chopping 'em shorter) so the speeds may be essentially the same.

I think Blacky did a test on different length BW limbs a few months ago, right??

The longer limbs will have to move less at the same draw length.

Yep longer limbs with a long draw and those animals are in trouble.

*

I have NEVER tested a short bow (or short set of limbs) that store as much energy per pound of draw as a similarly-designed longer set of limbs.  Different designs in bows can yield results where a shorter bow stores as much energy as a differently-designed longer bow.  But with two similar bows the longer bow (or the longer set of limbs) has always stored more energy (SE/PDF).  Note that this testing is done by keeping each bow being tested at the exact same brace height.  If you start testing a long version of bow "A" at one BH and a short version of bow "A" at a different brace height then you aren't comparing apples to apples.  But if you keep everything the same (design & BH) longer has always proven to store more energy than shorter.

Yep, What John said! LOL

Our new short bow the Phoenix is really long limbs on a short riser.  So we could do exactly what he's talking about.

MIke

Does this apply to ILF limbs too?