Recurve to Longbow trouble

[banksc1]

Hey All,

This is my first post, been reading posts on the site for a while and decided to make an account because this is one of the better traditional archery forums I've ever found! As far as my trouble's switching to a long bow from a recurve. I have shot recurves since I was about 12 years old (30 now) but on and off. I had applied for an archery tag this year and got back into shooting for about a year now. I can shoot consistent groups with my recurve (Martin X-200 50 lbs) at around 30 yards. But my dad recently handed down a Tomahawk Diamond SS longbow 55lbs which is beautiful and has a bit more knockdown power. My problem is I can consistently shoot groups.. low and to the left. I have read Become the Arrow by Byron Ferguson, readjusted my anchor points and tightened my form, but I am still shooting low and left, not as bad as when I first transitioned but still. What I haven't done is any tuning on the equipment. I haven't done much tuning before, usually get it good with someone who knows what they're doing and call it good. I am wondering if brace height, arrow weight, shelf height or any other equipment could be tuned to my aim point. My groups are about 3" left at 15 yards and worse the farther I shoot. I used to have no problem with the recurve but the shelf is more center cut and the longbow is not. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, archery season is 3 months away!

[Lori]

i asked the local coin shooter, who shoots deer at long ranges almost every year from the ground and stalking. he said eye control, cant the bow a bit. Know that the arrow is in your vision and don't look at it, focus control. Develop an even tempo, up close, with totally repeatable form, then work back and let it happen on it own. Don't lock up the joints, just let it happen.
If your grip is lower, let it be, let your hand heel in to the grip. Then "If he wants to shoot target style get a target bow, otherwise follow John Schulz and do exactly as he says." This is always the 'favorites' list.

[McDave]

You main problem, as you have correctly identified, is the difference in centershot between your recurve and your longbow.  Most people have the same problem as you do when they switch from a recurve that is cut past center to a longbow that is cut short of center.  If you stay with the longbow long enough, you will adjust, and then if you switch back to a recurve, you will have to adjust all over again.  Some people seem to have the knack of going back and forth between bows with different centershots, but I am not one of them, so I stick with recurves and longbows that are cut to more or less the same centershot

I would not worry as much about hitting low, as long as you are consistent.  You should be able to easily correct this by moving to a slightly lower anchor, or possibly lowering your nock point, if there is any room to lower it before you begin to have clearance issues or porpoising.  Again, this will take care of itself in time if you stick with this bow, just like the left misses will.

You can move the POI to the right by using a softer strikeplate or experimenting with different arrow spines and point weights.  If you want to speed along the natural process, look where your arrow is pointing when you are at full draw, not just at the point but along the whole length of the arrow.  You will probably notice that your arrow is pointed left of where you think it is.  You can make a slight correction by swiveling at the hip, without wrecking your form by moving your arms or shoulders.  I find that if I do this a few times, I can learn where I have to hold my bow so the arrow flies straight, even though it feels like I’m holding it too far right.  Eventually that feeling will go away, and things will feel normal again.

[R. Fletcher]

I tend to do the same thing when switching from the recurve to the longbow but I know why I do it.  When I shoot my takedown recurves with heavy risers I don't even think about my follow through, they stay steady through the shot.  When I switch to a longbow (one piece not takedown), without the mass weight my follow through gets sloppy and I let my bow arm drop resulting in impacts low and left.  Once I figured out what was happening I really started to concentrate on my follow through, watching the arrow all the way into the target.  Your problem could also be as simple as a tuning issue.  Before I got carried away trying to change my swing I would make sure my bow was properly tuned with properly spined arrows.

[Otto]

If you're using the same arrows as used on your recurve, there's a good probability that your arrows are too stiff.   A stiff arrow will bounce off the side plate, rather than bend around it, and you'll end up shooting left as a result.

[Part Time Archer]

Asl are often over thought ,but they are very sweet to shoot and very forgiving . They don't require anything extra when shooting they actually are more forgiving than any other bow style with less than perfect form.