Trapped Limbs Question

[machomanandysavage]

Hello,
Could anyone educate me on the advantages of the trapped limb design? I noticed some bows are trapped from back to belly, and some belly to back. I understand the appearance quality (they look very nice), and my thoughts are that it would lighten the limbs without making them too narrow, thus improving bow performance. You could also knock the draw weight down a few pounds if your bow came in heavier than expected. Are there any other advantages/disadvantages here that I am missing?

[strungstick]

That's the $64K question with about the many answers. It really seems to depend on who you talk to as to what, if any, real advantages trapping the limb one direction or the other really provides.  You will find as many opinions both directions.  Some claim increased limb stability w/mass reduction, some claim increased speed for the same reason as well as altering % of tension and compression.  I'm not really sold that by itself it really affects bow performance much at all.  We'll see what others think-

[Pat B]

I build selfbows. When using woods that are less strong in compression it is good to make the belly wider(trap) to improve the compression strength. Wood is stronger in tension than compression so for selfbows or other all wood bows trapping to a wider back is not necessary.
  I have also trapped an all wood lam bow if I find the bow taking set during tillering to decrease the tension and especially with bows backed with very strong tension backings like boo.

[Jason Kendall]

I do trap all my bows, I leave the belly wider for the reasons Pat said above.

However, I firmly believe that trapping does nothing for performance at all, its great for removing draw weight and it lets you control how the limb bends. I also think it looks a little better myself.

[Bob Sarrels]

I trap my one piece bows narrow on the belly.  My 3 piece bows narrow on the back.  Can't notice a difference except  I don't have to worry about my limb to riser match on the 3 pieces trapping to the back.