"Smoothness of draw"

snag · November 23, 2010, 04:37:00 PM

I have used this to describe how nice a bow felt to me while drawing the arrow to anchor. Mr. Comstock in his book "The Bent Stick" says it very well when he says, "Smoothness of draw is a term used to describe an even accumulation of weight all along the draw".
Just thought I'd pass this along as an explanation for those who have not read this or had it explained to their satisfaction.

Bowwild · November 23, 2010, 04:53:00 PM

The smoothest to draw of my bows is a Pittsley Predator Anniversary Edition.

Night Wing · November 23, 2010, 05:15:00 PM

I've drawn a lot of trad bows during my last 46 years. These have included Groves, Wing, Bear, Pearson, Shakespeare, Black Widow, Herters, Bob Lee, etc. The smoothest one I've ever drawn was a Blacktail TD recurve. This is the reason I now own two Blacktail TD recurves and no other bows.

LongStick64 · November 23, 2010, 05:27:00 PM

I describe a smooth draw , as the one I don't notice.

WidowEater · November 23, 2010, 05:29:00 PM

My smoothest drawing bow was a Black Widow MAIII. Nearly no hand shock either. I actually did not like it for both these reasons. I want to know it when I shoot and I want to feel the draw.

snag · November 23, 2010, 05:39:00 PM

Interesting way of looking at it WidowEater. I think that if the bow draw smoothly (even accumulation of weight) and then no hand shock you are able to hold the bow at the target through the shoot. I wonder if hand shock isn't partly due to some folks developing a flinch reflex.

hunterbob · November 23, 2010, 06:51:00 PM

Dave Beelers bows draw real smooth

7 Lakes · November 23, 2010, 06:57:00 PM

We had this discussion at a club I used to belong to. At one shoot I took two bows built as alike as I can make them accept that one was 50# and the other was 45#. 100% of those that shot both bows declared the 45# bow the smoothest drawing. No one knew there was a difference in weight. It surprised me to find out that "smoothest" pretty much translated into easiest.

mcgroundstalker · November 23, 2010, 07:19:00 PM

With my T-Rex draw of 26" all bows are smooth to me!

... mike ...

snag · November 23, 2010, 07:24:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by 7 Lakes:
We had this discussion at a club I used to belong to. At one shoot I took two bows built as alike as I can make them accept that one was 50# and the other was 45#. 100% of those that shot both bows declared the 45# bow the smoothest drawing. No one knew there was a difference in weight. It surprised me to find out that "smoothest" pretty much translated into easiest.

That's what I think some think "smoothness" means...easy to draw back to anchor. But I have always felt it is that you have a consistant amount of weight being gained through to anchor no matter what the bow's draw weight. It could be a 60# bow or 30# bow.

S.C. Hunter · November 23, 2010, 07:30:00 PM

I just received a Fedora xcellerator that has got to be in the top 3 bows I have ever shot. This bow is smoooooth. Absolutely no stack that I could detect. This bow was a complete surprise to me in its smoothness and the way I shot it first time out. I knew they were a good bow I heard a lot about them about 10 yrs ago and had to try one. you don't see that many offered for sale or trade.

MikeM · November 24, 2010, 08:38:00 AM

Snag at one time I checked the force draw curves on all my bows. What I found was indeed what you say above. The bow that felt the smoothest drawing was one that was gaining 2# per inch through the last 6 or 7 inches of my 30" draw.

November 24, 2010, 08:55:00 AM

I had an osage selfwood, one day I did a warm up draw and thought, "man this bow is smoother than anything in the world". Drew it a second time and it almost seemed like it was getting easier, then SNAP and the draw weight dropped to near zero. Somehow, I find that little bit of stack with my pignut bow a little comforting. I agree that bows that pull less than three pounds per inch of increase as you reach anchor are 'smooth' and easier to shoot.

straitera · November 24, 2010, 02:38:00 PM

Bunch of folks paint a lot prettier picture than me. Snag, if you haven't nailed it you're close as you can get.

Leon.R · November 24, 2010, 05:10:00 PM

I have not shot a lot of trad bows - basically my Wing 60 and my Black ouglas 68 and the Wing I think feels smoother but 8 pounds less would make you think that....?

Earl E. Nov...mber · November 24, 2010, 05:56:00 PM

I always figure a "Smooth" draw weight is a high preload and a small even or even descending lbs per inch weight..
Pretty much the opposite of Stack.

snag · November 24, 2010, 06:35:00 PM

Here is a drawing curve of a bow. It is pretty much even poundage from the beginning of the draw to anchor....smoooooth. You should never have a descending poundage unless you are drawing a compound.