Stickbow Target Archery Forums

Cliveanne or Daniel - I was surfing the pages of your Clubs activities -- which was very interesting -- and found a comment "if you're shooting a recurve and change to a longbow you will be able to increase the poundage". Now this isn't verbatim but just as I remember it. In other words if you're shooting a forty pound recurve you'll be able to shoot a fifty pound longbow. Did I misread? I'm particularly interested because I'm thinking of purchasing a longbow in the next week or so. As an aside comment the pictures on your sites of the socializing and shooting brought back very fond memories. Back in the 60's I was stationed in Bedford for two years. Anyway thanks in advance. Robend

You are not missreading, the avereage weight of a longbow is heavier than that of a recurve. For instance I shoot a 38lb KG1 as my recurve set up with sights, stabilisers etc, but my longbow is 70lbs.
The reason for this is that I hold and aim with the recurve, and find that it will reach 100yds with no problems.
With the longbow I am aiming before I reach full draw and use the anchor as a signal to release, so I never hold the full weight of the bow for more than a second, also I have noticed a big advantage to using a heavy weight with the longbow, in so much as reaching the distance is easier. When I was shooting 50lbs I was aiming at the 3rd cloud on the left to reach 100yds!
The best thing to do if you can is try before you buy. The other thing to bear in mind is that Cliveanne and I are both talking about English Longbows, not American Flatbows.
Flatbows tend to have modern materials as part of the make up and are more efficiant than longbows, (especialy with some of the new ones from what I read here!) and again the need for the heavy weight isn't as pressing.
Thanks for the positive comments on the site, I am in the process of redesigning it so any comments will be welcome, also any links you would like me to add.

Daniel

I agree with Daniel, the long-bow is heavier. I am pulling #50 with the L/B & with my R/C #40-41. My method of shooting is as Daniel's, so I will not go over that again
A note of interest, shoot the L/B for a week or so, then shoot your R/C you will think you can hold at full draw for ever. Suprising how soon you can build up the strength