Ever loved a bow that doesn't love you back?

[David Mitchell]

If a bow doesn't work for me I see no reason to keep it unless there is a unique sentimental value to it due to who gave it to you, etc.

[Swamp Yankee]

I'd say there's almost (often no fix for a bad tiller that doesn't match your shooting form) always a physical fix, but once a bow becomes "bad" in my head it's either sold or designated as a wall hanger.

I like how the bow was not mentioned. Not all bows fit all people. I used to love Bws, then I completely went to straight grip longbows and the BWs no longer work for me. Not the shooting, the holding while hunting and when not shooting. I bought a recurve once, at a big store, that I could not get good arrow flight out of, no matter what I tried. When I checked the tiller it was obvious. The bow seemed to be tillered for three finger over the nock, upside down. After some cutting,filing,sanding, and glueing time, I had a great shooting bow with a better grip that was 4 pounds lighter, less recurve and a bit shorter. A buddy of mine says it is the best shooting recurve that he has ever owned. However, before one blames the bow, try to objectively look at everything. I always tell people to try to handle a Hill style bow like Hill would, just to see if it works better for them, and a Widow like Fred G. would, just to see if works better for them.  No point in reinventing what the experts have already discovered. I always reserve the right to adjust any grip to fit my hand.

[Florida lime]

I bought a used longbow from someone here on TG. I just wasn't happy with the way I shot with it, no matter how beautiful I thought it was, or how nice it felt.    

Figured I was just better with a recurve, and just left the bow on the rack, but I ordered a new string for it, to be sure. I spent some time with some different longbows while on vacation a couple weeks ago, and things were not too bad with them. I hadn't made time to try the new string until yesterday, and went about setting the brace height, tying in nocks, etc.

I was still all over the place on the target, but mostly to the right (I shoot LH). I was using woodies, and didn't have anything weaker than what I was using in wood.

I thought about it last night, and today set up some Easton carbons I had that were too weak for the recurve that is set up for carbons. Threw on 3 different weight points, and went out to the target.
The 2 lighter ones were pretty close, with the heaviest a touch to the left. Put the 145 grain tips on all 3 arrows - baseball to softball size groups out to 20 yards.      

Apparently, I had been trying to compensate for mismatched arrows in my aiming, but time away from the bow, and becoming more accurate over that time helped me realize my error.

Sorry to be so long-winded, but it really made my day to get things straightened out today !

[Shakes.602]

Sell It and Buy a Bow that Loves YOU Back!

[Red Beastmaster]

I sold my only deer rifle to purchase a Bear Super Kodiak. I tried everything imaginable but could not get an arrow to fly nice from that bow.

I reluctantly sold it after a few years of frustration. I ran into the new owner a year later and he absolutely loved the bow and it shot great for him.

[JDinPA]

I have found that shooting some bows with the cock arrow in makes a complete difference.

[Medic85]

Yep I had the same problem with a Bob Lee.  Loved that bow but it hated me.  I think the grip was a little too fat for my hand.  Traded for a longbow and couldn't be happier.

[huntnmuleys]

ive had a couple. one in particular.  was a G&L Viper. probably the prettiest bow ive ever seen, and was quiet, smooth, and fast, and...

I couldn't hit water from a boat with it.  no matter what I tried. had a few other friends try it to no better avail.  was sure a beauty though.