Not trying to hijack thread but tenbrook your reply left me with a dilemma. I have always believed that heaver wood was necessary to absorb the excess energy transmitted from the limbs from the string.I can see though that with lighter wood the shock produced might not be as great as denser stuff. Some of my recent bows although lighter bows of 30- 40# have relatively light timber in their risers and produce no shock at all.I am now undecided which way is correct.Anyone with some additional info?