Bow design affects shooting ability?

[Stinger]

I believe this is the correct forum for this question, if not please move.

I have multiple bows but have never really been able to shoot any one of the custom bows I have with the same accuracy/consistency as a bow my father made for me over 35 years ago.  I don't believe it is just familiarity with that bow as I just began shooting it again about 2 years ago and I can put it down for several weeks and shoot the others, but come back to that bow and shoot much better than with the others.  I am talking consistently less frequent outlyers and much tighter groups.  For example, I have been shooting the Zipper and Bob Lee exclusively for a week and a half and not shooting well at all, but yesterday at the end of a shooting session I pick up this bow and I'm busting nocks.  The issue is, I would like to find a backup bow that I might shoot as well.  I thought if I posted pictures here that might assist with the discussion.  The bow is center shot and shoots off an old Herter's brush rest.  It is a 62" takedown recurve and pulls 45# at 28 inches.  The "other" bows that I shoot are all within 2# of the same draw weight and I have arrows matched for them.  They are a Zipper Extreme at 60", a 60" Kimsha Mattawoman II longbow, and a 60" Bob Lee Stick.  The comparrison may not be fair for the 2 longbows, but should be for the Zipper.  I also have an old Shakespeare Yukon, a '59 Herters and a '57 Bear Super Kodiak and I don't shoot them as well either, but didn't include them because of the much older designs.

What could be my issue with shooting "Dad's" bow so much better over the others - the rest vs. off the shelf?  The limb design?  Amount of reflex?  Grip?

Again, I'm looking for a bow design that might shoot as well for me as a backup.  Any suggestions on what bow(s) I might try?  

Appreciate any help I can get!

 


Yes, you see a similar bow here, but it draws way too heavy for me.  I am thinking about shaving the limbs though if I can't find a backup.
 

[D. Devall]

dude im just getting into this whole thing, so dont take my oppinion to the bank, but if that is the only bow with the rest on it, that may be the trick.

again, dont take my word to the bank, just my oppinion.

[BCWV]

I too, am not one to be giving anyone advice,  but I have found a rest to make a big difference in shooting my recurves. It may not be for people that shoot better than I do. Which is about everyone! I use a feather rest on all 4 of my curves and shoot much better than I do off of the shelf.

[BCWV]

Sorry, I double posted.

[Don Stokes]

Most older recurves were made to be shot from an elevated rest.

[Stinger]

So, am I hearing you all tell me that shooting off an elevated rest will be better than shooting off the shelf?  If that is the case, then why do so many people shoot off the shelf?  Is it purely a manhood thing?  Would I expect to be able to shoot my Zipper better from an elevated rest than off the shelf?

[calgarychef]

When you shoot off the rest it brings the arrow more in line with your eye and your line of sight.  So that might be better for your style of shooting.  Off an elevated rest is definately better for gap shooting.  Also the arrow you use might perfoem better off one bow or the other.  All of my bows have their own set of arrows.  

the chef

[Don Stokes]

Whether the elevated rest works better depends on whether the bow was tillered that way. If so, when you shoot off the shelf your nocking point appears to be too high unless you build up the shelf to compensate. The high nock makes tuning more difficult.

[BCWV]

Stinger
 I didn't mean to say that shooting off a rest was best. In my humble experience, it is easier for me to shoot mine with a rest. For me, the feather rest gives me better arrow flight when I get off a less than perfect release.(which is too common for me) and also more forgiving with arrow spine with an elevated rest. When shooting from the shelf I have to more precise in arrow spine. I can shoot all of mine off the shelf but I have less room for error than I do from the rest. Again, this is just my experience and yours man be different. I was just offering a possible answer to the question you had posted.
BC

[Stinger]

Appreciate all the comments and the discussion.  I shoot instinctively vice gap and the bow ,y Dad makes is tillered for the rest, the others for the shelf.  Interesting comment from BC about elevated rest potentially being more forgiving of release errors.  Heaven knows my form always needs work.  Maybe I should try a feather rest on the Zipper and the longbows.

[jhansen]

If you don't mind another thought, could it be that you are sure you shoot the bow your dad made better and so you really do shoot it better?  So much of trad archery is mental.  To look at it another way, do you subconsciously believe that no other bow will shoot as well for you?  If I started listing all the times and ways that I've psyched myself out about shooting we would still be here next week.

John

[Stinger]

Intersting thought John.  Like you, over the 40+ years I have been shooting I have psyched myself numerous times, but don't believe that is the case this time.  In fact I want to find another bow that I can shoot better and have convinced myself that I can find such a bow.  All of the bows hanging on the wall are a testament to that.  I'm concerned that this bow will finally give out one day and I will be left without a shooter.  I certainly don't believe that this bow is any better than anything else.  It is a bit noisy and a little shocky, put does pull smoothly and is surprisingly fast for the vintage.

You know, reading over what I just wrote it sounds like I made your point. .....but, I like the rest theory.

[jhansen]

An elevated rest certainly does make tuning a recurve easier in my experience.  As for the bow giving out, I guess it could happen but if you take care of it your grandkids will be shooting it.

John

[jbuck9]

One thing I took notice too is that the grip and throat of the grip too the shelf is not the same as a zipper or Lee it may be in the grip,
the one your Dad biult may be better fitted for your shooting style, you can usually send the riser too your custom bow builder and have it duplicated, so the grip will feel the same, or more too your liking, I like zipper bows , but I have buudies that shoot very well and can't shoot my zipper, they do not care for the grip but love the bow.Hope this may help.