HH bug got me ... Part One!

[mbugland]

Ben- Thanks, that's what I am banking on.... the seller described it as a 72" bow... but serial number starts with 70" SO I am pretty sure I am in the clear, think the 2" will make it a little cleaner for me. Definitely cant wait for the drive Sunday Morning... although I pinched something in my back and probably won't be able to pull anything back for a couple days.

[Berliner]

Originally posted by dragonheart:
About 1.25 inches shorter.  I used to shoot 27.25" draw extended and locked.  I shoot just shy of 26" now.  Part of the key is getting that shoulder "low and back".  I really like the strength in the bow arm when I do that right.

Thanks, that`s my personal experience as well.
FITA style upright recurve shooting: almost 32"
3D shooting Longbow: 31"
Hill style: 30"
.... and I am still on my way and far from having mastered the thing with the bend elbow.

[dragonheart]

I have not mastered the form that is for sure, but I am alot closer than last summer.  I try to think of my elbow-arm "like a boxer" ready with my "dukes up", but relaxed.  The bow shoulder is low and back, and I just bring the bow up into view, then straight flow back in the last 2/3 of the draw, anchor with mid finger on tooth, BH just nips finger and away we go with arrow, never stopping my concentration.  Flow, fluid, rythmic.  Really cool way to shoot when I am behaving myself and not thinking about it too much!   :D

[Nate Steen .]

remember those arrows you put together when you first got into archery?  lots of cresting, color everywhere, barber pole style?  well, I just got done with this new bow for a new Hillstyle convert....going with longbow, backquiver, woodies...the whole bit.  He picked out the design....  I prefer a more subtle bow, but he just loves it....anything to keep him interested in traditional archery and the Hillstyle longbow....        of course it has white glass on the back for total effect....

 

[David Mitchell]

Oh, wow, Nate--you put the shelf on the correct side this time--not like you usually do!  

Nate, do you ever find it awkward when shaping a bow for the wrong hand? I have heard of bowyers that put shape into the grips being challenged when shaping a left hand bow. The candy cane wouldn't be choice, but everyone sees the world a little different.  All of my latest bows have been lefties, I almost prefer left to right anymore, but when i ordered a shaped grip from one bowyer, he seemed relieved when I changed my mind to go with a more standard, but still asymmetrical saddle.

[Nate Steen .]

I grew up shooting lefty, switched to righty and can shoot either way which helps in bowyery.  My lefty shooting form is just a little less fluid because I don't do it all the time.  If I ever needed to make a 20 yard shot lefty off the side of my righty bow, I can do it...

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Mbugland, if it is that long, you will have no problems. My first Hill was a 66"er, and I had a love/hate relationship with it. Since then, my three Hills (fourth in the works) have all been 70"ers, and my shooting has improved remarkably.

[dragonheart]

Nate,

I would really like that bow if I was still 16 years old.  And I would say it is "Radical man!".

[MikeNova]

If anyone feels like travling to SC for a 3d shoot we have a really good all trad shoot at Rocks Pond the weekend of febuary 18th and 19th. I don't go to many 3d shoots but this is one I try to make. Last year there were 30 longbow shooters. If your from the north you probably never had a fried collard sandwich or "samich" in the southern venacular but they are pretty good.

[khardrunner]

For those guys who have been helping me with a little issue I've been having with a used bow I picked up...

It looks like, after some measuring and talking to Craig, there is likely a bit of a problem with limb alignment. The bow is going back to Craig for him to take a look at. Thank goodness he's a good guy and is willing to look at it and fix it if possible. All I have to pay for is shipping and the re-finish he will put on it after he fixes it! Sweet deal! Hopefully that fixes the issue.

[Ontario Longbow]

Hi Guys,

My new Wesley has arrived. It took Craig two weeks from when I placed my order to when he shipped her out.
Specs" 64" 53 @ 27. Clear glass, a lam of Red Elm on the back, Texas Ebony riser, riser overlay and tips. Locator grip with laced Elk wrap.
 

 

 

 

 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

[ChrisM]

Nice!! What is your draw length?

Very nice lookin bow Ontario!  I have always loved the looks of Texas Ebony.

[Canyon]

Just love reading all the material here. I have been shooting Hill bows for years with my favorite being a 69" 62#@28 Kramer made Falcon I bought from a Tradganger a couple years ago.
I have however run into a tuning issue (if you can call it that) with my takedown 68" Tembo that I cannot explain. So I am looking to some of you experts to maybe explain what may be going on for me.
The bow is 55@29" and 3/16 from center with a thin calf hair sideplate. This bow will only shoot an extremely stiff shaft. Right now I am shooting 29.5" 80-85 Surewoods with 125 grain broadheads drawn to 29". I don't have this issue with the Falcon which shoots perfect with 65-70 spine.

[dragonheart]

What bowstring?  Does one have the small wedge on the side of the shelf and the other does not?  You may draw the lighter bow further?

[Molson]

I would try a lighter spine than whatever the lightest shaft you started with was.  Usually if you can't make an arrow show stiff, it was too stiff to begin with.

[Bud B.]

A little HH Big 5 stumpin' this morning in the Uwharries.

Canyon, a few years back, I had a similar thing with someone shooting a Hill style bow and they showed how their bow shot a super stiff arrow better than one that was right at the poundage. He was right, it did. But when standing behind him something looked a little odd. I then had him try some arrows that were ten pounds lighter spined than his bow and with heavier points and he was dead on. With the under spines arrows the arrows had a consistent S curve, I think the real stiff arrows were shoving off the bow, even though they appeared to recover nice they appeared to move left of the line and he had trouble grouping very tight. With the lighter spine arrows his groups were much tighter out to the curb, 25 yards. Perhaps Surewoods react differently than cedars in Hill bows, and the reaction time of them just works out that way for your setup.
As additional thought, are you getting 55@29? Or could your bow be stiffer than that? With a fast flight not only will your spine requirements be higher, but your bow can also be stiffer. I think perhaps some of the disparity with the marked weights on Hill bows is the string. A B-50 that has a two skein lay up with a generous amount of twists will give a lower poundage than a fast flight with fewer twists. The string either stretches or doesn't when drawing and shooting, if it does not the bow bends more and a more efficient higher poundage bow is the result. 80 pound spine still seems high and I would think something else is going on with the arrows that would be in the 50 pound spine range if they are not flying for you.