Need some advice shooting a Hill bow

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Watch how tough we are:

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
1) Hang on like your life depends on it.

2) Buy a good armguard.

3) Hire a good dentist.

4) Take off your glasses.

5) Don't try & shoot it like any 'other' bow. Apparently Hill style bows are 'special' & require you to shoot them 'differently'

The severe, arm jarring, filling loosening, eye blurring handshock you experience is nothing to do with any flaws in the design, it's because you're doing it wrong.

You don't like Hill bows - we get it.  Why squander you time in Hill threads denigrating them?  

Whatever bow or bows you prefer, Rob - I hope they perform flawlessly for you for scores of years to come and that they keep your freezers full to overflowing with delicious game. All the best to you and yours.

As to the OP, he has a legit question and should expect to get some legit answers here on TG.  For what it's worth, when I got my Hill, I had been shooting recurves for years and used a real high wrist grip with them.  That worked fine on my pistol-gripped recurves but was a disaster on my Hill with it's big, full handle.

Did some research - found Dick in Seattle's site and started experimenting with the 'grip it like you would a heavy suitcase' technique that (I believe) Howard spoke of.  The hand shock that I certainly felt while holding the bow incorrectly vanished immediately and my accuracy (which still needs work) started improving.  Hope you get it sorted out and that you enjoy yours as much as I've enjoyed mine!

[Mudd]

Thank you GingivitisKahn !!

I appreciate your take and comment on shooting Hill/Hill style bows.

God bless,Mudd

[Rob DiStefano]

truthfully, afl's (hill style longbows) are not for everyone.  lots of guys get them for the aesthetics and after a fashion realize what they're really all about.  this is not to say they are bad or good.  they are what they are.  some folks use them exclusively, and mighty Mighty well.  there's room for all styles and types of stick bows in trad bowhunting.  it's good to experiment and see what they're all about, then gravitate towards whatever works best for ya.  it would be a travesty of sorts to shoot a bow badly simply for aesthetics.

there are no set rules for how to shoot a stick bow.  there are some not so smart things to do, and some guidelines that might help in the area of consistent accuracy.  since we don't shoot for survival (i trust!) all of this is for fun and for the primal connection to the past that lurks in all of us (whether or not we care to admit it).    

[Benny Nganabbarru]

That Team Texaco recurve shooter photo is pure gold!

[Mudd]

Well said Rob!

I thought I wouldn't ever be shooting a bow of this style because Of my bad experience with an "Ole Ben' something made by Ben Pearson Company years ago.

It fit everything bad mentioned here and elsewhere. It is truthful when I say that even my teeth hurt after a few quivers full out of it.

If anyone has followed my dealings just on here they'd know that I have tried about everything I could afford and then some..lol

I didn't get here overnight but I am thrilled I have finally arrived at a point that I am well pleased with my shooting and more than happy at how shooting these style bows make me feel.

I know there are bows out there that I can shoot with more ease but that's not what it's about for me.

Each shooter has to decide for themselves what's important and what works... for them.

God bless,Mudd

[sou-pawbowhunter]

I have not read Miller, Schulz or Steen; however, I also went to Dick Wightmans' site,and remain eternally grateful for the guidance therein.  I hope your experience is as satisfying as mine.

[toddster]

find life line on hand low grip, so bottom three fingers and doing the most gripping straight back into the bow (into the ulna).  Hold the bow, like a bird, don't want to crush it, but don't want it to fly away. Raise bow and draw straight back, keep elbow slightly bent (this is your shock asorber) makes big differance for me.  Low bow shoulder, to get it locked in cup, pull with rumboid back muscles, hit anchor, corner of mouth, so arrow shaft is directly below eye, you will notice two or three anchors in time (corner of mouth for me, a pressure pad area under my eye, and bowstring corner of my eye brow). Relax hand and don't move bow arm till after arrow hits target.  Stand close 10 yards and shoot for just for for 2 weeks.