Clarification, Please

[D.A. Davis]

Is the true center of the bow at the grip, or the shelf?

[Apex Predator]

Most are around 1.5" below the shelf, but it really depends on the bow.  Many longbows are built with the bottom limb shorter, so the arrow pass is really close, if not at, the center of the bow.

[D.A. Davis]

Thanks Apex.  I guess I just really never gave it much thought.

D.A.

[mwmwmb]

Apex do you mean during glue up you put the riser about 1inch off center?

[bjhaug]

The riser should be centered at glue up, at least that's where I've seen it done more often than not.  The arrow shelf is cut in such a way that the arrow passes over it about 1.5"  I build glass bows so others who dont use shelves and shoot off their hand know differently.  I also dont know anything about bows that bend through the handle.

But for glass bows, and I suppose any bow with a riser attached to it, the note above is valid.  Hopefully someone else will agree with me here.

[Ricker]

D.A.
Experiment with the thoughts you are thinking.  I think you will find any way you decide to go will shoot well with good tillering.  Balance in the hand comes into play with the "center" issue....and one limb longer than the other. etc etc...
I have found a good shooting bow is equal limb length and the shelf is an inch and a half above that, for what it is worth.
Have fun trying out different things.

Take Care,
Rick

[Steve Kendrot]

Read Dean Torges article on his website "Tillering the organic bow". Calling that title up from memory, but he talks a lot about the various "centers" of the bow.