bow speed?

[44charlie]

I have two longbows both #45 but the one seems noticiably slower than the other! Is this possible shooting the same arrows? If so should I try lighter arrows for the slow bow?

Thanks Guys
Charlie

[Living_waters]

There are a lot of factors that determine arrow speed. Two bows pulling the same LBS draw can be totally at opposite ends of the speed spectrum.
Dropping arrow weight is one way to increase speed, string material(if bow is safe to do so), release style or even aid(unethical for a true trad archer    ) But it could be that the gap in speed is just not possible to close, The design and material of one just may be faster. Example I have 2 white oak bows both unbacked, both pulling 43lbs at 28", both have B50 Flemish strings. One is a flat bow and the other is a pyramid style bow, and both have the same working area of limbs, made from the same piece of wood. The design of the pyramid bow with its thin limbs in the speed category is just superior. As an experiment I made a continuous loop string out of speed flight (not recommended)still with an arrow 75 to 100 grains lighter in the flatbow, the pyramid is noticeably faster.
But speed is not everything, the flat bows draw is so smooth my wife prefers it since it is at the top of her draw weight, she says it easier on her after shooting several shots; and she is much more accurate with the flat bow because of the feel.

[Stumpkiller]

Yes indeed.  That's why you hear folks mention a bow's "cast".  The drawn string represents a set amount of kenetic energy stored in the limbs.  With two bows of identical draw weight at a given draw length they start at the same level.  But when released each bow will transfer some amount to air resistance on the moving limbs, hand shock, noise (it takes energy to be noisy), impact on the shelf and riser, and hopefully a majority of the energy to propel the shaft.  The arrow itself may strike the riser and/or shelf harder on one bow as it bends from the paradox depending on brace height and nock point, also drawing off energy to do so.

[KellyG]

My head hurt now.  :confused:  Don't I just pull string and arrows go zip?  

[b.glass]

It's nice when they go "zip"!   :D

[Swissbow]

There are a lot of factors that determines the speed/performance of a bow. But most of it is in the design of the bow.
And of course you're right it's very nice when they go 'zip' instead of 'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppppp'

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Andy