Shooting differences between longbow and recurve?

[RUTANDSTRUT]

I have shot recurves a for a LONG time, but I have never really shot longbows.  What are the differences between shooting the two.  I feel the need to buy a longbow or two!

[creekwood]

There may be more differences between types of longbows than between a longbow and a recurve which makes your question even more difficult to answer.  Good on you for feeling the need to expand your stickbow needs!  Shoot as many different longbows as you can get your hands on.

[ddauler]

Now day's with Hybrid Longbows in the mix not much. I tend to prefer longbows because I like the small grip and prefer to shoot low wrist. As far as performance Hybrids and Recurves are similar if of modern materials and similar string materials. Some like to feel weight in hand others like a light bow. Also length is an issue some hate bows over 60 inches other love them. It really depends on shooting and hunting style.

[Iron Man2]

From a newbie in the Trad ways...I do not have enough time in to go into a long, detailed exposé on one versus the other. What can say is, that my "felt" difference was that it was lighter even though it is longer than my recurve, 68" vs 62". Bigger difference if I often times carried an attached quiver with 6 arrows on the recurve. The romantic feeling deference however, was kindasorta like going from wheelies to recurve to longbow. Hunting feelings felt with a LB vs RC, was I felt I was more primitive and I was on the ground stalking vs up on a treestand with the RC most of the time.

My 2 centavos,        

JL

[JamesKerr]

I seem to be just the opposite of you RUTANDSTRUT. I own quite a few longbows (fixen to order another one       ). I have to admit it is easy for me though to shoot either recurves or longbows. I think the main difference is really between the pointability of a Hill style longbow and recurves. D/R bows shoot very similar to recurves.

[rluttrell]

I am not an expert by far, what I do know is you will have to hold it differently  Longbows are harder on the hands. (they thump more) I was so used to my recurve that when I first shot my longbow it hurt. I had to put my head down it hurt so bad. We have a 28 target field range and I am lucky enough to shoot with guys that have shot for over 50 years. There were nice enough to show me on target 22 what I was doing wrong. some might say they were nice enough to tell me and others say they just laughed long enough.

[fnshtr]

I went from the recurve in my signature (below) to the longbow, also listed there. The recurve feels more "stable" in the hand, not because of any "hand shock" with the longbow, but because of the extra mass and weight of the recurve.

I actually shoot the longbow better WHEN I concentrate on holding my bow arm perfectly still and following through. The recurve seems to be easier to hold still due to that extra mass/weight.

I also found that the "high wrist" type grip causes pain in my wrist IF I shoot a lot of arrows... the longbow grip (Toelke Whip) is not a low wrist grip... it is kind of inbetween... and I find that I prefer it now.

Just my thoughts at this time.

[WDELongbow]

Maybe you don't have to choose at all.  I have be smitten by 50's style recurves recently.  This is sort of the best of both worlds. They can be wickidly fast, but also have more of the look/feel that I like with a longbow (light, minimalist, etc.).  Sort of a medium grip, but much ligher in mass than a 3-piece recurve.