String Slap

[RayA]

This has probably been asked before so forgive me if it has. My brother-in-law gave me a longbow. I have been shooting a recurve. When I shoot the longbow the string slaps my armgaurd on every shot. Is this a form problem or just a function of a lower brace height? The longbow is a little heavier than my recurve and I don't feel like I am getting all the way to full draw yet. Maybe this is the cause?

Ray

[kmunch]

If I keep a little bend in my arm I dont get the slap as much as when i get tired and stiff arm it. but I believe tha a long bow will slap more

[FlintRiverKen]

Most likely both form and lwr brace.

Look at the point of your bow elbow when extended. If its pointing down, rotate your arm so it points horiz to the ground. If you do this should stop slapping.

[cbCrow]

Also watch hand placement. If the bow is a hill type remember to use a low wrist. The bow should line up with the knuckle of the thumb and the area of the palm below the thumb should be against the bow. Make sure your hand stays in that position thru the shot.

[Diamond Paul]

Does the longbow have a dacron string?  Dacron, because they have so much stretch, will hit your wrist even on recurves with marginally low brace heights.

[cjw]

Hi Ray - sounds like form, also check your stance as that can make a difference.

Carl ;-)

[RayA]

Thanks all. I'll try these suggestions this evening.

Ray

[Ragnarok Forge]

Bend the elbow a bit more by rolling it down horizontal to the ground. That and low brace height longbows will hit you just a bit lots of the time.  Check the brace height.

[RayA]

My brace height is at 6 3/4 on a 64" bow. Does this sound about right?

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Ray, that's plenty of BH. I have the exact same issues with my Osage longbow, I think it's just a characteristic of longbows. Form could reduce some of it, but if you are going to shoot a longbow then the armguard will always be necessary equipment.

When I shoot my recurve that's shorter, more brace height and a bit quicker, I don't even have to wear an armguard and I shoot in a sleevless T-shirt most of the time. I have yet to slap my arm with it.

The longbow on the other hand slaps me about every other shot and I have to wear an armguard.
When I first finished the bow and shot it, I didn't have the exact string that I needed and made due with one that I made and it didn't fit exactly perfect and it also had some stretch to it. When my new Flemish twist string finally came in my brace height increased to where it should be at 7" on a 68" longbow, I now get less slapage and it's more accurate. It's actually more brace height than I expected, but it has only helped my groups so I ain't complaining.