Confusing terms!

[Old York]

What makes a bow "centre-shot"?

What's the difference between
"centre-shot" and "centre-cut"?

Just what is the "centre" of a bow?

Thanks

[Pat B]

If a bow is laid out correctly the string will run down the center of the bow from tip to tip.  A center shot bow will have an arrow shelf cut out so the arrow is shot directly out of the center(lengthwise) of the bow thus requiring less concern to arrow spine.
   With properly spined arrows center shot is not necessary for a bow to shoot accurately.

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

Saying what pat said in a different way...

IF a bow is center cut, the side of the site window is cut on the center line of the bow.  

If a bow is center shot, the center of the resting arrow will be placed on the center line of the bow.

[Old York]

Originally posted by Pennsyltuckey pete:
....If a bow is center shot, the center of the resting arrow will be placed on the center line of the bow....

So then centre-shot is determined by the diameter of the arrow?  :confused:

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

Originally posted by Old York:
 

Originally posted by Pennsyltuckey pete:
....If a bow is center shot, the center of the resting arrow will be placed on the center line of the bow....

So then centre-shot is determined by the diameter of the arrow?   :confused:  [/b]

Welcome to the brotherhood of confusion.    

Center shot is a term/definition that has it's place in target archery.  You are correct when you say that "centershot is determined by the diameter of the arrow"  

The term generally refers to a bow that has the site window cut past the center allowing the arrow to rest on the center.  On a target bow the fine adjustment of placing the arrow on the center is usually accomplished by using a cushion plunger and a flipper rest or an adjustable plate rest that can move in and out.  On a hunting bow or a bow that is not drilled and tapped the adjustment is accomplished by thinning a piece of rawhide, or if necessary adding a slender piece of something behind the side plate to move the arrow away from the side of the site window.  What this does is allows you to complete finer tuning of the bow and arrow combination.  This is something I haven't bothered with since I was shooting competitive archery on one of the finest collegiate teams in the US. Many a 600 round was lost by three or so points and we went for every edge we could get.

Below is a picture of two of my target bows.  The silver bow has the plate rest and the white bow uses the Burger button(cushion plunger) and flipper rest.

 

I hope this helps more than it hurts.

pete

[kipplin93]

are there any specific things to remember when building centre-shot bows?

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

The thing a bowyer needs to do with center shot bows is to make sure there is enough material in the riser sight window to handle the stress of the limbs.  Having a riser snap in half on the shooting line is not a fun experience.  I have seen it happen.

pete