Im pretty new to traditional archery and i was wondering what is the major difference between a recurve and a Longbow.

I have 2 recurves and one longbow and the recurves seem to handle my 30in draw better than my longbow.

I would like to hear from some of you guys that have been doing this longer than i have.

Thanks

in G. Fred's book he says something along the lines of the difference being in the grip.  I can't remember exactly though.

Yeah, I remember the same thing from Fred's book.  Basically if the bow had a high grip and was designed to be shot with a high wrist/loose grip he considered it to be a recurve whether the actual limbs had any recurve or not.  Conversely if the bow was designed to be shot with a low wrist/firm grip he considered it to be a longbow even if the limb tips did have recurve.  I'm not sure everyone would agree with him on that though.  It can be kind of a gray area with all the different bow designs.

Today the lines are blurred so...if only the bowstring loops touch the limbnocks it is a longbow.  Everything else is a recurve. (this is a quote from Rob's trad for newbies under the how-to section).  
Me personally, i love my longbow but i like more of a recurve grip on it!  

The thing you might need to keep in mind with all this is draw length.  I generally draw a recurve 29".  I draw a straight grip longbow about 27&1/2"  If I pick up a longbow with a recurve grip I'm probably pulling it 29".  That 1&1/2" can make some pretty significant change in the draw weight I'm pulling and the arrows I'm using.

Lots of differences.  Limb thickness and width are two distinct differences  The reflex / deflex bows with recurve risers are hybrids and not really either one.  Handle shape is also a distinct difference in most longbows and recurves.  I agree that longbows only have string contact at the limb tip sting cutouts.

Did I hear "Robin Hood" Roll Over??           Just Razzin' Ya Buddy! Welcome to TradGang, AND Traditional Archery as well!! Long Bow=Straight Limb Tips, Recurve=Culy-Q Limb Tips. Thats as Basic as I can get!    

get G Fred Asbells book Instinctive Shooting II and he spends many chapeters explaining the differences and how to grip the different bows. It is a very informative book and a good one to own.

You just have too short of a longbow.

James im shooting a 64in longbow so it should handle my draw i would think.

It just seems to me that recurves draw a lot smoother than most longbows i have shot.

I can shoot either one just as good as the other but like i said recurves just feel smoother on the draw.

Is the 64" longbow more of a straight limbed bow,then it would be too short for your longer draw.For a 30" draw I think you would need a 66-68" longbow for a R/D and a 68-70" for a Hill style bow.What type of 64" longbow are you shooting?

Its more of a straight limb bow but not as much as a Hill style bow. Its also a 3-piece takedown if that makes a difference.