straight limb vs string follow

[giff]

I have a slightly reflexed hill big 5 that I dont really like. too much hand shock for me. but I really liked the string follow northern mist I shot last year at denton hill. I am planning on making a hill style bow and was wondering what you think about having the limbs dead straight vs string follow. I know I wont gain much performance with straight (and dont really care), but its a lot easier to make a straight form than it is  to cut a perfect curve for 70"

[Hud]

I have both from the same bowyer, and there is not much difference, in the two, which are both all bamboo.

Some string follow bows will feel as though they stack when drawing. IMO it is because there is little tension on the string for the first couple of inches, compared to a bow with setback.  A straight limb is somewhere in between the two.

A bow with setback has a draw curve of say 20" to full draw, and a string follow may be 18" to full draw. Consequently, the string follow is increasing to the same draw weight in a shorter distance, which is more lbs/inch.

Bows with glass might be different from the same bowyer. The most important consideration is in the bow length, riser length, limb design and taper and width of the limb from fadeout to the string nocks. A bow with smaller tips and more taper might be faster, and smoother drawing for a given length bow. A rounded or flat handle and heavy tips will seem harsh in some bows.

Be sure to use an arrow that is around 10 x the bow wt. I think your right to try a few different bows to see what you like.

[Mike Taylor2]

The perfectly staight form will yield a bow with about 3/4" string follow.  

You will need a form with 3/4" reflex to yield a straight bow.

[WESTBROOK]

This topic has came up more than once, here are some past dicussions. Steve Turay puts more SF into his bows than HH, the HH is barely noticable

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=114059  

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=109351  

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=106587  

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=100911

[giff]

Originally posted by Mike Taylor2:
The perfectly staight form will yield a bow with about 3/4" string follow.  

even for a glass bow?

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by giff:
 

Originally posted by Mike Taylor2:
The perfectly staight form will yield a bow with about 3/4" string follow.  

even for a glass bow? [/b]

Yes, a glass lam bow will take an initial slight set when first drawn, then it is done.  3/4 inch for a straight form matches my experience as well.

[jsweka]

Originally posted by Fletcher:
 

Originally posted by giff:
 

Originally posted by Mike Taylor2:
The perfectly staight form will yield a bow with about 3/4" string follow.  

even for a glass bow? [/b]

Yes, a glass lam bow will take an initial slight set when first drawn, then it is done.  3/4 inch for a straight form matches my experience as well. [/b]

That's my experience too, but maybe not quite 3/4.  You really don't notice it in the bows I've made unless you hold them up to your eye and sight down the edge.