Best design for a low poundage bow?

[Loa]

Hello,

Friend of mine really likes archery, but he's had an operation in his "draw" arm, and can't really handle bows much stronger than 30#.

Which bow design would best fit such a lower-poundage bow?

Thanks

Loa

[PEARL DRUMS]

Narrow limbs so they dont have to be so thin. A recurve or flipped tips would aid in cast.

[Dick in Seattle]

I have the same problem as your friend, very low draw limit.  I've been building low draw weight Hill style longbows and having a ball with them.  As a bow style, they are simple to build if he wants to build.   I've been shooting them all the way from 16# to 35#, finally settled in with a couple of very nice 27# and 23# bows that I can shoot a whole 3D with and not need pain killers.   If your friend wants info on what's worked out and hasn't for me, feel free to put him in touch with me, or send him to my web site:   www.dickwightman.com    Theres some solid info there on shooting light.

[Loa]

Hello,

Thanks guys for the info.

Dick, I've never heard of the hill style bows, but I'm interested.

Loa

[PEARL DRUMS]

Howard Hill style. Its a type of longbow. They are all over, very popular.

[Swissbow]

One thing not to forget is to build the bow according to the draw length of your friend. If the bow is built to a draw length of 28-30" but is only drawn to 26" then you will loose some inches where the arrow is accelerated. The bow will not deploy it's full potential, even if the draw weight is correct at 26". If you make the bow shorter, so that you can draw it at 27" without stacking, your bow will perform better.

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Andy

[Loa]

Hello,

Swissbow, when you say "built according to the draw length", all that really means is that I stop the tillering process when I reach the draw length using the final string, right?

Now I'm used to making very wide flatbows because I like the look and the overbuilt quality, but if I want to optimize it for my friend, I will have to go narrower.

Here's my current plan: 66 inch (ntn) longbow (for his 28 inch draw) with slight recurves, 1.5" at the flares, down to 1/2" at the tips, straightforward pyramid design. Still aiming for 30#.  I'm most likely going to use ash (building a selfbow).

What do you think of these dimensions?

Thanks for the input!

Loa