Transition RC -> LB

[adirondack46r]

I would like to hear about your transition from the recurve to longbow. I have shot recurves exclusively since switching from the compound 5 years ago and have shot them pretty well. I would fall into the category of trying to "fix something that ain't broke" by trying to make the transition to the LB. Nevertheless, I am thinking seriously of doing just that. I pretty much shoot one bow at a time so if I make the commitment to switch I will stick with it for several years if necessary. I have retooled my shooting style several times and I figure I could adapt to shooting a PVC pipe strung with fishing line if I had to. The challenge for me will be going from a relatively high wrist to a low wrist. Also I currently shoot relatively upright. What do I hope to get out of the switch? Quiet, quiet quiet, whispy light bows, no chance of limb twist, and a chance to yet again explain why the ones I have/had weren't quite right.

Thoughts?

[ChrisM]

the key is a low wrist and tight grip other than that to me its about the same.

[Orion]

It should take about 5 minutes to make the adjustments.  It's really not a big thing.  I shoot self bows, straight limbed longbows, hybrids and recurves.  High wrist, low wrist.  No problem going from one to the other.  

I disagree with the tight grip advice.  The tighter one grips the bow, the more the excess energy that is transferred from the limbs to the riser to the bow hand will be felt, resulting in more felt hand shock.  Heavy recurve risers ameliorate this considerably by absorbing much of this energy. Small, light longbow risers do not.  A firm, but not tight grip is much better IMO.  Good luck.

[George D. Stout]

The grip should be the same as your recurve.  I have shot longbows the same way I shoot recurves and there is little adjustment period....other than the difference in mass and pull characteristics.  A bow is a bow is a bow.  I shot my 64" def/ref bow today, and tomorrow I can shoot my recurve 58" model and there is no adjustment.