I'm curious and in my searches I've haven't found an answer. Now that I have owned and shot a BUNCH of bows of different designs and types, I have a question.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of shelf design? I see some bows with longer flat shelves and some with rounded and some that nearly peak where the arrow rests. I have my opinion and preferences but am more interested in hearing bowyers say?

I believe that the radiused shelf is so that the arrow makes minimal contact on the surface. Most bows with flat shelfs were probably meant to be shot off a rest.

My bow has a ridged rest(peak). The bowyer told me that he makes them that way to limit torque from the bow hand on release.  

you want  minimum contact between the arrow and the rest . The more an arrow touchs the bow the more likely inconsistant form will affect the flight of the arrow .

with a radiused or ridged shelf the arrow only touches the shelf at one point . A nicely designed riser will also be radiused so that the arrow touches one point on the bottom and one point on the side .

QuoteOriginally posted by Rick Perry:
you want  minimum contact between the arrow and the rest . The more an arrow touchs the bow the more likely inconsistant form will affect the flight of the arrow .

with a radiused or ridged shelf the arrow only touches the shelf at one point . A nicely designed riser will also be radiused so that the arrow touches one point on the bottom and one point on the side .

Ditto above with the addition that the contact point with the arrow should be directly over the point of most pressure on your grip. This is so if you torque your grip the arrow is on a shorter "lever" so the distance the arrow moves is less.

From just the logical view all of the above reinforces my thoughts, so why do some bowyers still produce bows with a flat shelf or to my eye it seems so?

Because some just do not continue to refine their design...just my opinion. You know how when you ask someone why they do something and they saw "just because that is the way I have always done it!"
Some bowyers strive to build a better bow and they have made small changes over the years to improve their bows...others haven't.

The "Feather Arrow Rests" are a Great Alternative if ya have a Flat Shelf!! I have Tried them on a Few recurves, rather than Glue a Wire/Spring type Rest on the Bow, and I wouldnt Use Anything Else!!

With my insatiable desire to shoot different bows I have owned and shot a few with the flat shelf and had to build up the rest or put a feather rest on them to get them to shoot right for me. That's why the question? Are Bowyers doing this to carry on a traditional design or as snag says just not trying to up the game and improve....Maybe both?

Thanks for the responses guys