Equal length limbs vs not

[Watsonjay]

I have always made equal length limbs but saw a video the other day where a guy left top limb an inch longer, said it helps pre-tiller and shoot smoother.

Pre-tiller makes sense to me as the longer limb will be weaker. Worth it, probably??

Shoot smoother?? Not sure how?? Maybe evens things out with the rest being about an inch above grip??

Thoughs??? Thanks
Jason

[Kirkll]

Yup.... you'll find a few bowyers building ASL designs that do that because they heel down on those straight riser handles putting a lot more pressure on that lower limb.

I like my limbs balanced to the web of my hand and keep the limbs the same length.   Kirk

[rich k]

About 22 years ago I built a 62" laminated longbow with the upper limb one inch longer than the bottom. My reasoning was to see if I could end up with equal tiller, leaving the limbs at equal strength. I figured if the Japanese can build a longbow that has a tremendously longer upper limb and still have balanced limbs, I should be able to do so by adding 1 inch to the upper limb. I looked at it as a challenge. Maybe as a bonus, I would be able to shoot both split fingered and three under without moving the nocking point. It drew perfectly straight on the tiller board. It still shoots smooth and quiet.  But to switch between split fingered and three under I have to move the nocking point, or change the pressure on my drawing fingers.  I also made 11 other longbows using the same form, all with equal limbs. Still have one of those from 21 years ago. It also draws smooth and is as quiet. I can't tell any actual difference except that I tend to shoot the first one a bit better. But I don't shoot well enough to attribute the seemed difference to the unequal limbs.
I currently shoot a 66" longbow built by Greg Coffey (Javaman bows). It has equal length limbs and I have never shot a smoother, quieter longbow. And, I can shoot split fingers and three under without moving the nocking point. Maybe that is due to the longer limbs or just great design and build.

The real fun of bow building, at least for me, is trying something different each time just to see what happens.
Good luck with your builds.

[Longcruise]

My ASLs all have equal limb length.  Like others,  I have no problems tillering to a smooth draw and no hand shock.  Hill and other bowyers going back many years built with longer upper (or shorter lower) limbs but not consistently. 

My theory is that they did it to achieve a shootable tiller with that specific bow that may have far enough out of whack that trimming a limb length was a good starting point on getting to good tiller.

Probably ASL sacrilege to say such a thing!  So, cancel me!🤣