HH bug got me ... Part One!

30coupe · January 04, 2012, 11:34:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by mikebiz:
I didn't make any of the strings that are on my bows currently. I believe that they are all 14-15 strand. Actually I gotta learn how to make a string first. Never done it.

I would try the B-50 just for comparison sake. Nice little experiment.

I twisted up a three bundle 15 strand B50 and gave it a try in the garage (working on my form at five yards). I worked for over an hour, shooting one arrow, pulling it, and shooting it again, over and over and over. It seems to work just as you said. I'm at just over 5.5" brace height with it, still quiet, still no hand shock...elbow, wrist, hand all feel fine. Cool! I'll give it a try outside tomorrow and see if there is an appreciable difference in performance. Like you, I am little concerned about speed, just slinging heavy arrows without having to aim too high at 25 yards and under.

This Hill bow stuff could get addictive.

Nate Steen . · January 05, 2012, 01:08:00 AM

I like dacron 99% of the time and always prefer a brace height of no more than 6 1/8.....5 3/4 - 5 7/8 is better for me. Hill said that if the string didn't "bite" your arm it was braced too high....granted he shot with his heel down and wrist bent and grip seated into the "y" of the hand. The string bites my arm...that's why armguards were invented....

January 05, 2012, 01:54:00 AM

If one does not hold a standard tillered longbow like that, don't you just invite the bow to torque from the pliability of the wrist and thumb joint?

Nate Steen . · January 05, 2012, 02:07:00 AM

Pavan...you are correct

swampthing · January 05, 2012, 09:36:00 AM

1 inch of BH, per foot of bow length, 66" is 5 and a half feet, so that would be a 5.5" BH.
Sounds low because it is low. Keeps the speed up. Higher BH's help cancel out the "node" caused by uneven tiller. Even my 68" glass bow would go down to about 5 " or so before you would hear the "clang."
Please excuse my highly technical and extremely descriptive words.

toddster · January 05, 2012, 09:46:00 AM

first congrad's on the squirrel.

Second, Nate don't know where that came from your feeling as not being an expert. You have a vast amount of knowledge and experiance, and more importantly you are willing to freely share it and keep the legacy alive. KUDOS!!! To me there was only one expert of this system and that was Mr. Hill himself. The rest of us are just pupils trying to find our nitch with a proven and effective system. Lift your chin, puff your chest, and be proud that you have helped and influenced a great many of us who would have quite and reverted back to a curved bow, quit, or injured ourselves. Slante!

dragonheart · January 05, 2012, 09:52:00 AM

In regards to the BH, the variable of bow design has a bit to do with finding the sweet spot on the BH. Lower is better, in general. From lowest BH on a string follow bow to a touch more BH on a highly reflexed. As the limbs become more curved away from a straight limb, bows tend to have higher BH. Recurves have higher BH and R/D longbows also. Bow overall length as pointed out can have an influence on where that bow shoots the sweetest. I like as low as possible and quiet. I wear an armguard everytime I shoot.

30coupe · January 05, 2012, 09:58:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by sunset hill:
I like dacron 99% of the time and always prefer a brace height of no more than 6 1/8.....5 3/4 - 5 7/8 is better for me. Hill said that if the string didn't "bite" your arm it was braced too high....granted he shot with his heel down and wrist bent and grip seated into the "y" of the hand. The string bites my arm...that's why armguards were invented....

Oh yeah, I can feel the string slapping my arm guard now. Hill knew what he was talking about. Imagine that!

I don't know about the one inch per foot of bow thing. It might work on straight limbed bows, but that would put me under 5" on my Kanati. I don't think a radical r/d hybrid would like that low. For one thing, string slap would surely be an issue. I do think I'll make a low brace height dacron string for my old Mahaska and see if that takes the thump out of it. It has a mild r/d but braces to a D profile.

I guess I'm proving that you are never too old to learn. Thanks, guys!

tadpole · January 05, 2012, 10:08:00 AM

My Hill Big 5 loves a 6" BH.

dragonheart · January 05, 2012, 11:02:00 AM

Neat older video here from Dave Johnson about his longbows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXl3z2DkBGU

Mudd · January 05, 2012, 11:35:00 AM

Thanks dragonheart, that was enjoyable to watch.

God bless,Mudd

PS: Is it just my perception or does this thread seem to be growing at an even faster rate as the days go by?

rushlush · January 05, 2012, 12:43:00 PM

Mudd, I think so. I look forward to this thread when I wake up.

JohnI · January 05, 2012, 12:53:00 PM

Mike and Bill,
I have a Hawk and Expedition, the Hawk is a performer too.
If I had to get rid of one of them it would be a hard decision.

swampthing · January 05, 2012, 01:21:00 PM

I'll bet you John, if you had your eyes closed, you Could tell the difference between the 2 when shot, after a couple of shots that is.

tradlongbow · January 05, 2012, 01:38:00 PM

Jesus/ Rushlush

How you been? Good to see you here, another Floridian. We need to get together and do some shooting.

Darren

rushlush · January 05, 2012, 02:53:00 PM

Darren, most definately.

JohnI · January 05, 2012, 03:24:00 PM

I probably could Jesse, only because in my opinion the all wood bows shoot a little sweeter. As far as performance that would't be an issue to me between these two. I think in some ways the all wood bows are prettier. There is nothing like a beautiful Myrtle wood fadeout blending into a Bamboo belly. All that gets covered up with a glass bow.

swampthing · January 05, 2012, 04:52:00 PM

Yes it does...

January 05, 2012, 05:29:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by JohnI:
I probably could Jesse, only because in my opinion the all wood bows shoot a little sweeter. As far as performance that would't be an issue to me between these two. I think in some ways the all wood bows are prettier.

Yeah, I agree on the "performance" thing....and have always craved an all-wood "natural" bow. Have always had one on the radar...some day!

"There is nothing like a beautiful Myrtle wood fadeout blending into a Bamboo belly. All that gets covered up with a glass bow."

That is what they make clear glass for! Beautiful and durable - lets the beauty shine through.

mikebiz · January 05, 2012, 05:30:00 PM

Nate's right. I know I have read a few times that this design, when gripped a certain way, will slap your lower arm pretty much every time. And slap it good.

I think minimal changes in the grip can cure this. The way I grip the bow produces little arm slap. I've been playing with my grip looking for a happy medium. I also feel that torquing the bow because of how it is gripped causes a lot of arm slap issues as well. When I gripped tighter, I got slapped more.

JohnI,

I agree completely that from an aesthetic standpoint, all wood bows or bows with clear glass are usually sexier to me. I don't own any all wood bows, but I have a few with clear glass. I also have a Pete George that has bamboo limbs with clear glass on the back and NO glass on the belly. The belly lam is Tonkin cane, which is gently radiused, not flat. Beautiful bow. Nice shooting, too.

I'm interested in your statement that all glass-less bows are sweeter shooting. Glass provides a bit more stiffness and thus "whip" to the limbs and I'm sure you can feel that. Maybe I gotta try me one of those "Hawk" models. You guys are killing my bank account