Why am I Consistent ?

[PastorSteveHill]

Thanks for looking at this post. Here is what I mean by consistent..

I can shoot my recurve by looking at a spot and shooting...

When I try to shoot a longbow, i always shoot left.  If I line the arrow up and sort of keep an aim down the shaft I can shoot on target, but if I just instinctivley shoot, I'll be left... Is there a remedy or is this jus the way it is?

[Jedimaster]

I have problems being consistent with a longbow.  For me it is more a matter of the grip and less riser mass.  

Since I assume your groups are good and just not on the bullseye it may be something different.  A couple of things come to mind: grip, the sight picture (not "sighting" but your perception of the target and bow alignment), and form.  I would begin by losing the recurve for a few weeks and see if you improve.  I tried this and had better results but not perfect.

[PastorSteveHill]

Loose teh recurve? First I lost my wheels, now the recurve??? Oh my, what's next? hahaha just kidding.. I know you are right, I just can't hardly bring myself to it...

[bgram]

Or, simpler answer maybe that the recurve is cut to or past center and the longbow isn't.

[madness522]

If your arrows are properly matched to your long bow my guess is that you will have to shoot enough with your long bow to mentally acquire the new sight picture.  A problem will be going between the two and hitting where you are looking with both.

Or it could just be that your arrows are a tad stiff if you are a right handed shooter. If your a wrong handed shooter left would show a spine to weak.

[Peachey]

I agree with bgram, I made the switch to a lonbow last year and it took a while to stop shooting to the left. Now if I shoot a recurve I shoot to the right until I mentally adjust.

[PastorSteveHill]

So it can happen?  If I shoot the L/B exclusivley, I will mentally compensate?  What kind of time frame did it take you guys???

[carphunter100]

If you are shooting to the left try canting your bow more to the right. I have one longbow I almost have to shoot horizontal. This might help you and it might not. Wont hurt to try.

[McDave]

Longbows usually don't have the shelf cut in quite as much as a recurve, and that alone would tend to make the arrows hit to the left (for a RH shooter).  If you shoot instinctively, your mind will adjust after a while.  I switch between my longbow and my recurve on a regular basis, and I find that the adjustment period gets quicker over time.  Probably quicker than it would be if I stuck with one or the other for a long time.

[Jedimaster]

I thought about the center shot thing, I do think this makes a difference for me.  I just didn't want to toss it out there because the longbow experts tell me that if the spine is correct it doesn't come into play.  Well it may show some ignorance or lack of motivation but I don't mess with the spine if the arrows are flying properly.  

PastorSteve, lose the recurve just means hide it away for awhile.    I sold most of mine because I love the hybrid longbows.  After considerable effort to adapt I just decided to forget it.  So I had to buy new recurves.   :eek:  
Now I'm a dedicated recurve shooter and much happier... until the longbow I just ordered arrives.
 

[Orion]

B gram has it.  Has to do with more than just arrow spine.  The bow hand is in a different position in relation to the arrow shaft on the bow on a less than centershot longbow compared to a centershot recurve.  To get the same arrow alignment, the hand needs to move to the right (for a right handed shooter) when switching from a center shot recurve to a longbow cut 1/8 inch from center.

Pastor Steve:  If you think about it before you shoot, you should be able to make the transition right away.  Otherwise, it might take three or four arrows or so.

[BONE]

Steve,I find that,for me anyway,when I start shooting left it is because a lack of proper alignment. Keep shooting that longbow and it will come.-------------Bone     :D

[Three Arrows]

Going from recurve to longbow should not make a difference, but it does to some people due to the sight window cutout and handle size,shape, and mass of certain bows.  If you shot a bow with the same riser like Morrison take-downs you will not see a difference.  It boils down to your shooting form or alignment.  I switch hit daily from one to the other.  Hitting left is a form issue in my opinion since I shoot the longbow one end and the recurve the next end.  When my back tension goes, all my shots hit left on both bows.

[Bill Tell]

Long bows are typically a lower spine then a recurve and this does relate to the amount of center cut in the riser. So your arrows could be too stiff.

Are you left handed?   When you shoot a long bow your wrist is bent.  This puts the arrow further away from your hand.  If you cant the bow to left it will shoot more to the left because of the relationship to your "aiming hand".

The long bow vs the recurve is a whole different animal.  Recurves shoot with a high straight wrist with no bend in the wrist.  When you cant the bow with a recurve there is less deviation from where you are pointing.

Try to rotate your hand if you will around the grip to try and hold more on the side of the bow.

If you are right handed and you really don't get your arms in line with the arrow you will shoot to the left.

The long bow is a tricky thing.

After practice you will start to compensate for the difference between the arrow relationship to your hand as compared to the recurve.

[jrchambers]

if you are grouping good with good flight it is just the cut of the riser.  your arow is pointing a little bit left of what your curve is.  nothing to do with form. just shoot it you will adjust i suspect with in a few dozen shots.  i did

[Stagmitis]

Pastor Steve,

My form and "sight" picture never change regardless of what style bow I shoot.

That being said I do need to "Tune" each bow relative to arrow spine AND grip shape to hit the bullseye.

Sorry Byron...

The degree of "CANT" does not affect the degree of left to right until you get past a certain degree and have to compensate. 2:45 or better...

[Diamond Paul]

Steve, I tried to tell John this, but he wouldn't listen:  longbows are baddddd!  Bad longbow!  Don't succumb to the voices, shoot the recuve!  BADDDDDD!