Recurve vs longbow in ease of pull

[OldChuck]

I know that recurves traditionally have been faster then longbows but looking at the newer longbows with reflex/deflex design they appear to be just a fast as most recurves. My concern is that I have had shoulder issues for the past 30 years and have read that a longbow pulls smoother then a recurve. If a longbow does in fact pull smoother and is not losing any or much to the recurve then I might look at the longbow. I have  a cheaper recurve on order to see if my shoulders can handle the pull and if they can, then want to purchase the bow that is the easiest on the shoulders. Will keep the poundage low on both but wanted input from those who might have first hand knowledge on the newer longbows.

Chuck

[khardrunner]

Most often its related to the length of the bow. Usually a longer bow is a smoother draw.

[Over&Under]

I have had lots of both recurves and longbows and most of the longbows have been the highly r/d type....my experience has been.......it depends on the bow.

I can't say with any real certainty wether it has been more one way or the other on which has pulled smoother. Some longbows were butter smoother and so were some recurves.

If I were to give the edge to one of them, I would be the recurve, but only by a small margin and that is because there are a few that stand out.

A lot does have to do with bow length, but most is in design.  YMMV

Years ago we compared my Stotler longbow,Gamegetter, with a Stotler recurve of nearly exact poundage and the force draw curve was identical. It depends on the bow is the right answer. A deflexed riser on a recurve gives a flatter string angle than a longer Hill style bow in some cases, while a very short straighter handled recurve will at a point in the draw will have a much tighter string angle and will often feel much stiffer towards the end of the draw.  One more annoying point what a bow is at full draw for the shooter will be the same, quite often bows that start very soft like a string follow longbow will feel easier for one person and harder for another.  It all depends where the shooter is gauging the stiffness at.

[michaelschwister]

I think that by and large a recurve is perceptively easier to draw given idnetical draw weight

[ronp]

Good info here, OldChuck.  You can also think about limb core material.  Like the foam core stuff.  I have some foam cored recurve limbs that are real smooth to me.  And so are me bamboo core limbs on another recurve.  Try a bunch of bows and you will find what you most prefer.  And enjoy the ride!

[Sam McMichael]

My longbows have seemed to pull more smoothly than my recurves. Perhaps it is partly because they are all considerably longer than the recurves.Perhaps, also, it is a pre-conceived notion on my part. All through the years everybody says the longbows are smoother, so sure enough the perception is that they are smoother. I have no definitive way to measure if they really are or not.

[threeunder]

I'm convinced it depends on the bow.

I have both longbows and recurves.  Have some of both that are buttery smooth and feel lighter than their marked weight...Others that feel like I'm pulling #10-#15 more than they are marked.

Ken

[OldChuck]

Thanks for the input. Seems I will have to find one that speaks to me. Also, looks like I  will be drawing a few bows in the next month or so.

[oldbohntr]

They're all right.  And, in a way, they're not. I understand your question, as I've been pulling bows for nearly 40 years, many of them heavy weights.   I calibrated a scale and use it on most bows that I've collected recently.  How can one bow that builds the same poundage/inch feel any different than another that measures the same? If two bows scale 54# at 27 and 60# at 28, then those should feel the same, right?  But, they don't-and that doesn't even address the fact the differences are often very much greater after you release!  

I don't know the answers, and that's why I still love the quest!  My suggestion would be to start with a long-limbed, hybrid longbow in a very modest draw weight. They give up nothing to a similar recurve, period. And-IMO-they can be much easier on the shoulder AFTER the release!  

It'd be great if we each had unlimited LOCAL friends, one with each bow we want to try!  Doesn't work that way.  

Good luck!

[NBK]

I agree with the above.  A bow with alot of preload will feel "heavier" to me.  Faster, yes, but heavier.  My best compromise is to go longer in bow length.  The smoothest draw I've felt is still my Firefly longbow at 64", but the least amount of stack was my Dwyer Endeavor 58"er, (shouldn't have traded her).

I was told by a joint replacement surgeon that thought that compounds were causing more injuries than the old  bows did. His claim was that the shoulder is at a weaker position when the wheelie job is reaching its peak and in a much stronger position with the old bows.  Depending on where your shoulder kproblem is, he may have a point.  That is, if your shoulder does not like much pressure in the back position it may be a poundage issue, if it hurts on the way back, about half draw or so, a bow that starts out lighter and builds its poundage towards the end of the draw may be easier on you.

[Flying Dutchman]

I suffer from MS, so for me a sweet draw is very important. I tried and shot many different bows, longbows, recurves and horsebows.

I found my Holy Grale in the Caribow Peregrine. It is a hybrid 62 inch longbow; it is heavily reflexed/deflexed and has a pistolgrip. When strung, the string does not touch the limbs, though the bow has no trough D-shape.

A very fast shooter, one of the fastest I shot,a smoooth and sweet draw all the way up to 30 inches, dead-quiet after release, no handshock or vibrations, even with 9GPP arra's.

I liked it so much that I bought another one, with 6 lbs more drawweight. I draw this weight also with ease.

Those Peregrines are the only bows I shooth right now. Caribows are all pieces of art and built to last. The craftmanship is impeccable.

If you want more info, PM me.

[Archie]

My recurve and longbow, only one pound apart, feel almost identical.  If they were exactly the same weight, I think the draws on each would feel the same.

[Zradix]

sorry to say...
It really depends on the design of the bow.

[WRV]

Definitely depends on the bow

[babs]

it depends on the bow and the limb design, and the length of bow comes into play, and also your drawlength