Hybrid vs R/D

[Vroomvroom]

I always assumed a R/D was a hybrid. But I see people mention they like them both.   What’s their differences?

[Wudstix]

I always though the hybrid longbow was the early D/R bows.  But I have been wrong once before.
 

[Orion]

I make a distinction between a mild r/d bow and a severe r/d bow.  The latter I call a hybrid because it is about half way between a recurve and a longbow, while the mild r/'d bow retains its closeness to the traditional straight limbed longbow.  It even takes on the same D-shape when strung, whereas the hybrids string up into an obtuse triangle. 

[McDave]

There seems to be a continuous spectrum of bows from straight limbed longbows to supercurved recurves.  Then to make it even more interesting, we have some recurves that aren't very recurved, and some longbows that aren't very long.   We do have a clear dividing line between recurves and longbows: if the string touches the limb anywhere other than the limb tip, it is a recurve; otherwise, it's a longbow. Clear, but not very useful, because it puts some bows that perform more like recurves than straight limbed longbows into the longbow category.  Probably these are the bows that are known as hybrids, which is close to what Orion said.

[streamguy]

Well said.

[Wudstix]

Probably, anything that would classify as a "straight limbed recurve" as G. Fred used to call them, would be a hybrid.
 

[Steelhead]

What Orion said IMO.

Alot if not most of the early R&D longbows were mild reflex/deflex.Some look almost like a straight ASL when unstrung till you examine them more closely.They mostly took on the classic D shape when strung like an ASL American Style Longbow.Many had narrow and deep cored limbs similar to ASL style longbows.Bows like J.D Berry produced,Great Northern Critter Gitter,Dwyer original longbow and many others.

Then you started seeing the limbs get more radical in thier reflex/deflex.Some very extreme like Centaurs for example and some more moderate and they dont string into a D shape typically unless thier a stealth model like the Fox Tripple crown and some others that string into a D shape to be legal for some competitions that require a D shape.

You started seeing the term hybrid to describe those more radical designs that departed from the more Classic looking longbows

[Vroomvroom]

Ok.   I guess my savannah is a hybrid then.  I kinda called it either or interchangeably.   It is fairly aggressive when unstrung.

[Wudstix]

My MOAB is pretty "hybrid", but my Big River is slightly less, yet performs like a beast.
 

[Steelhead]

Yaa

I would say the MOAB is a hybrid and before that he built the Thunderstick 111 that was a hybrid and the MAG as well.His earlier versions were less so.The thunderstick longbow and Thunderstick 11.

[Wudstix]

Thunderstick III crawled out of the back seat of my truck, one evening.  MOAB was purchased with the same woods and look.  Curly maple and purple heart.  It shoots better than the TS3.  Talked to Jim at PBS San Antonio and he said he couldn't explain why the MOAB performed better, wasn't aware that he did anything different.  MOAB is one bow that I'll never part with, at 63# hope to be able to shoot it for many more years.  Actually one of my lighter weight bows.