Narrow limb or wide-Longbow

[wv lungbuster]

Whats the difference with the design besides size when shooting.

[straitera]

My handle is bigger on the wider flat limb LB. I can't tell a difference shooting. Prefer the thinner Hills.

[Jeremy]

The stiffness of a material is influenced by how wide and thick it is.  If you make a limb 2x as wide it'll be 2x as stiff.  If you make it 2x as thick it'll be 8x as stiff.

When properly made, a narrow-limbed bow will have outer limbs that are lighter.  Lighter and stiffer tips are two of the hallmarks of a great performing bow.  Some of my favorite recurves to shoot have limbs that are narrower than many of the longbows being made today.

[wv lungbuster]

Thanks for the help guys, can one design be more forgiving over the other or feel smoother drawing.

[wv lungbuster]

^^^^

[Rob DiStefano]

wide limbed longbows are typically called 'flatbows', the narrower limbed longbows are typically considered 'american longbows' as opposed to the narrow "D" sectioned english longbows.

in bowyer's bible II, there's some great reading on board bows and how wide and tapered limbs are more functional.  dunno how this translates to wood/glass bows.