Longbow arrow shelfs and rests---which shoot best?

[ken denton]

Having shot a lot of longbows I am wondering which shoot off the shelf "rest" shoot the best?
Arrow shelfs are constructed in many different ways such as flat,oval,and other ways;You normally don't change the bowyers shelf!
Arrow rest such as Bear hair, Seal, calf hide,hair hide,feather,and several others.
I am even wondering when I had a longbow that was not shooting for me would have if I had changed the arrow rest?

[Orion]

I like the rest crowned so the arrow rests on the shelf as close as possible over the web of my hand on the riser.  That usually means it is toward the belly side of the shelf.  I've used just about all types of rest materials.  Leather is the old standby, calf skin being one of the smoothest.  Commercially made rug rests are also good.  Have used velcro and it works fine, I just have a thing about plastic so usually don't use it.  Whenever I can, I use seal skin.  So, those are my preferences.  However, in practice, it really doesn't make much difference.

[ron w]

What ever make the least noise.

[SCATTERSHOT]

i have come to prefer the hair type rest and plate, with a piece of leather on the shelf to act as a pivot point.

[Dave2old]

My experience equals Orion's almost precisely. An important element is to provide feather clearance at the corner where shelf meets bow. That can be attained by not running the shelf material all the way to the bow, but stopping short a little. dave