Possible switch to a longbow

[Cy14561]

First of all I'm new to trad gang so hello from Texas . I've been shooting rue curves for 4 years and have been fortunate enough to take several deer with traditional tackle. But my shooting has always been somewhat erratic sometimes great sometimes embarrassing . I shoot right handed but am left eye dominant, and have struggled with target panic. So I bought a 50lb bear montanna longbow off **** to check it out never shot a longbow before and right off the bat it felt like everything I've been working on started to come together.i don't know if its the fact that its longer thinner than a recurve but I see and focus on my target better and my groups have shrunk quite noticeably. Soon I might need to put new fletchings on and I never had that problem before. Has something like this ever happened for someone else? Do certain guys just shoot a recurve or longbow better than the other? And my arrows are matched and my bows are tuned ok so the the problem was me by the way. Thanks for your input and experience if this has happened to you

[RecurveRookie]

Ok man, I'm not an expert.  I shot a beginner's recurve for the first 2 1/2 years, then decided to get a "nice" bow.  Wound up with a Maddog Mountaineer reflex longbow.  I noticed that it was way more forgiving to my form errors than my recurve.  I would have a bad release, but the arrow would go for the bullseye anyway. But I still practice my form.    Welcome aboard!

[Rob W.]

Welcome from Indiana!

I would say that it is highly likely that some shoot one style of bow better than others. Grip and draw curve play major roles. Since you mentioned TP though be careful of the new equipment fix. For me a new bow or glove would have me shooting lights out for a short time then TP would creep back in. I finally fixed the root cause with help from the shooters form forum.

Good luck and welcome to the gang.

Rob

[RecurveRookie]

Hey, get on youtube and search "themoebow1".  Some excellent form videos by our own archery coach, Arne Moe.  You will be a different animal!

[NBK]

Originally posted by Rob W.:
Welcome from Indiana!

I would say that it is highly likely that some shoot one style of bow better than others. Grip and draw curve play major roles. Since you mentioned TP though be careful of the new equipment fix. For me a new bow or glove would have me shooting lights out for a short time then TP would creep back in. I finally fixed the root cause with help from the shooters form forum.

Good luck and welcome to the gang.

Ditto.  New bows tend to shoot better for me initially also.  I too prefer a longbow and shoot one better than recurves.

Rob

[Cy14561]

Thanks for your input I checked out his videos there real good, and I agree new stuff is usually real good at first I have a bob lee takedown recurve but I usually still shoot and hunt with an old Kodiak magnum ill just keep working on form anchor and release, but that's what I love about trad archery the constant practice and tinkering and never being satisfied

[shag08]

Shooting a longbow has really helped me alot. It just seems to fit better and all the pieces just seem to fall into place....to an extent....

A few months ago I was an EXCELLENT snap shooter.  I was shooting better at 40 yards, snap shooting with my recurve, than my shooting buddies could do with their compounds. That has since led to a mild case of target panic and short draw. All good things must come to an end I suppose.

But I have found that longbows do help my form now significantly. Theres is just something about the feel that kinda makes me come to anchor and stop long enough to think about what I'm doing.  This did start to pass for a time though.  In the end, it seems to me that most of it is in my head.

Focus really hard on your form. The rest should come in time (aiming and hitting the mark). But shooting longbows has helped me more than most folks would say is possible.

[Slickhead]

Welcome
Im a longbow guy
But its like Chevy or Ford
Matter of taste

Good luck!

[LB_hntr]

Congrats on the new longbow.
I too only shoot a longbow now. haven't hunted with a recurve in 13 years. Not that there is anything wrong with them. just that a longbow shoots better for me and seems to be more forgiving to my errors. I was good with a recurve but everything came together when I got my first longbow. something about it just fit right and I never looked back. I still shoot my recurves and have fun with them but only once in a while just for fun. all my serious shooting and all hunting is with my longbows.
 Have fun with your new bow.

[dink]

i shoot both have 2 recurves and acustom silverfox.for me it changes seems the one i pick up after a leave of absence shoots the best so i switch every year one year longbow next curve.but it seams i allway shoot  a curve better.wieght is all so a factor when im shooting my light bows for awhile and then pick up my heavier hawkeye it seems i cant miss,i wish someday i could just settle on one.matt

[backstrap_provider]

I recently sold my recurve, and now exclusively shoot and hunt with a longbow. As others said, it does seem that a longbow is more forgiving.  I have also noticed that the longbow has a more consistent "draw-cycle" in that when you bring it to full draw, there is very little change in the perceived force I am holding.  However when I pick up a recurve I notice that the force that I am holding seems to let up a bit once I reach full draw... this change in the draw cycle seems to make the recurve a more sensitive bow for me at least

[sam barrett]

I have to say that I just love longbows way more than recurves.  They just feel more natural in my hands.  Easier to string without a stringer if needed, seem to be more durable.  Plus, I've heard that 4/5 women asked found longbow guys more attractive than recurve shooters. Hahaha    

[Achilles1]

The best of both Worlds:
Take-down longbow, with a recurve grip.
In this case a Crooked Stic make.
60" #55@28".

[Achilles1]

[VictoryHunter]

Welcome!

[reddogge]

I've made it a point to try every d/r longbow I come in contact with over the years and I think I'd like one to try. I can't see just putting longbow limbs on a ILF riser  but rather would like to have the complete bow which would be lighter and livelier in hand. However the weight and stability of a recurve is what I like.

The other problem is my friend owns one of the best shooting longbows I've ever shot but the bowyer won't make another one like it so I'm a little spoiled. All bows are compared to this one.

I guess I'm just waiting for the right one to fall into my lap.

[rick7]

welcome aboard

[Trad Whitetail]

Hmm - guess I am in the minority!  I can hit with both well when I concentrate, but overall I shoot my medium / low grip (I guess that is what you would call it) Howatt Hunter better than anything I have tried.  It is my go-to bow so I have shot it more than anything else and that probably is the main factor.  It is just so smooth at 29.5" that I just like shooting it the best.

[Rob W.]

Originally posted by Trad Whitetail:
Hmm - guess I am in the minority!  I can hit with both well when I concentrate, but overall I shoot my medium / low grip (I guess that is what you would call it) Howatt Hunter better than anything I have tried.  It is my go-to bow so I have shot it more than anything else and that probably is the main factor.  It is just so smooth at 29.5" that I just like shooting it the best.

I'm the same way. I started with curves then went to longbows for a few years but my Hunter fits me so well.

[tracker12]

For me buying a longbow with a recurve grip is defeating.  I am actually looking for a recurve with more of a low grip.  I point better with it.