Standard for testing trad bow

[Orion]

Before Blacky Schwartz, Norb Mulaney also did a lot of bow performance testing and regularly published the results in several magazines. As I remember, he used something closer to the old AMO standard, about 9 or 10 gpp at a given bow weight.  Can't remember if he used 28 or 30 inches of draw.

I started collecting the results that Trad Bowhunter used to publish from Blacky Schwartz' tests.  Never did anything with the info and TB quit publishing those tests several years ago.  What I do remember is that the performance differences weren't real great when comparing apples to apples.  Might have been as much as 15-20 fps when comparing the fastest bow to the slowest, which is a big difference.  But when bows of similar design were compared, they seldom varied by more than 5 fps.

[Shadowhnter]

Yup...i test mine extensively. I know right what you're getting at. If they hit where im looking, feel great, and penetrate deep....they pass the test...    

These days and ages, speed sells. Its all a bit for nothing in the trad world. Even those who advertise trad bow speeds, often shoot specialized and rediculously light arrow, just to say they got xxx amount of speed. The same goes for compounds, crossbow, and even airguns. They never perform even close to advertising because of the special situations and equipment they use, instead of using hunting or at least a realistic weight for speed ads....but then it dont look near as impressive!

[trasher]

I think you can't compare bows over speed.
The chrono shows only speed and not the over all high performance!  

Speed can be great but the over all high performance can be lousy.

"High performance" for me means not only arrow speed. I'm talking over all smoothness of draw, excellent limb stability, and virtually dead in the hand after the shot.

I can't measure a bow I have to feel the bow!
For shure I can measure but    I get only numbers.
 
just my 2 cents

[bowfanatik]

 
Speed is not important for no one here . But everyone like to have speed bow ,why ? Heavy arrow and slow bow , that is winner combination ?
Or is nice to bow have some respectable speed and and heavy arrow ...
For me , speed is not on first place but is important !
Smoothness , smallest hand shock ...and speed .

[BenBow]

Speed is helpful to keep the bow weight down and still have the penetration power of a heavier bow. 6 grains per pound at 30" produced 245 fps on a 67# bow I built but that amo number really doesn't tell you anything for hunting weight arrows. Thats why I use 10 grains per pound as a means of comparison for the bows I build and the 67# produced 188 fps at 10 grains per pound and produced enough momentum to hunt big African animals.

[AZ_Longbow]

i believe it was Howard hill who said, 115 fps + bow poundage, with a hunting weight arrow was the ideal. kinetic energy/momentum. would you rather get hit by a tennis ball at 100 mph or a bowling ball at 20 mph?
its nice to shoot a heavy arrow fast, less flight time means less arch. but i will take a heavier arrow over a faster one any time.

[TSP]

As the great Bill Belichick once said, 'statistics are for losers' (lol).

Just pick the one that shoots good.

[Red Beastmaster]

Great Bill Belichick?

Go Steelers!

[damascusdave]

The way I compare 5 bows is to buy all five and shoot them...I have actually bought 5 bows in the last 3 weeks (to add to the 39 I already have)...unlike compound bows which can be made virtually identical there are often considerable differences between individual stickbows that appear identical...if you are looking for simple comparisons stick with shooting wheel bows...if you are unwilling to spend much money do not expect to learn a whole lot

DDave

[kybowman]

If you get close enough, speed doesn't really matter so much............just find one you love to shoot!!!

 

[bowfanatik]

Ok , thanks guys . Wonderful discussion .