Learning your bow

[moleman]

They say that you get wiser with age, well, I cant attest to that, but I am stubbornly learning that for me, shooting multiple bows is a detriment to my performance.
 In the past 3 months I have been shooting a Hill longbow and pretty much nothing else. Now this is not a testament to how fine a shooter a Hill is, but in fact( for me) that shooting just ONE bow has really made a difference in my shooting.
By learning the bow, and how it feels, its likes and dislikes in grip, arrow preference ETC., it is becoming an extension of myself, something thats really hard to achieve when shooting multiple bows.
For me, I think im finally realizing that your best hunting partner is your bow, and now that im taking the time to really LEARN my bow, I believe that the dividends will be something that I have never achieved before.
Im not advocating anything, just sharing my experience,so that it may help others, like myself, with the gotta shoot them all affliction.  

[WidowEater]

Be wary of the man with one bow.....

[iohkus]

FWIW..........I agree with you completely!  

[Gdpolk]

That is part of why I only want one bow.  With a 50-55lb bow, I can shoot for 3-4 hours without fatigue, yet it's capable of humanely/ethically taking any game animal in Arkansas.  I figure with one good longbow, plenty of arrows, and plenty of practice that I'm set.  I have been wanting to replace my 1-piece with a 2-piece take down from Big Jim though to make it easier to travel.  I guess for a short while I'll have two while making that transition.

[Brianlocal3]

I agree completely, but I don't listen to myself.  My scores have dropped a Ton and my confidence has dropped since getting two more bows. I got them just to try different kinds. But I have made up my mind that from here on out I will shoot the union Jack only to duly seat it in. I had a 100 pt drop in a week. I'm having fun, but game time is fast approaching.

[Bladepeek]

I tend to agree with you, but I sure don't want my wife to see this thread   :eek:

[Tim]

Changing or varying anything can have an affect on your accuracy.  Changes in not only bows but shooting gloves, arrow length and quivers are other important factors that need to stay consistent.  The less you change the more consistent you'll become and the more confidence you'll gain.

This is coming from someone who loves change!        And someone who has learned the hardway.

[Gila Mike]

Moleman ... you are wise beyond your years ... and absolutely right.

I have six or seven bows that are my favorites and I shoot them regularly. All the rest might as well be art works, things to be admired and dusted off occasionally but not put to any practical use. In truth, I could pare down the collection and get by with just three of my bows ... and probably improve my shooting too.

It's something to consider. Thanks for reminding me.  

Mike

[Orion]

Whatever works.  I've got a few years on me as well.  I like to shoot  different bows.  No difference in accuracy, which is pretty good with all of them.  

[njloco]

I'm pretty much the same as Orion, above. It's all in how you hold the bow, Moebow taught me that on this forum, look up his posts.

[JamesV]

I dissagree, I have many bows that I shoot and they all shoot the same for me. With the exception of a few that just don't like me and then there are the ones that I don't like.

[USN_Sam1385]

I have narrowed it down to two bows. One longbow and one re-curve. They are 2 lbs different from each other and 2 inches difference in length. They both shoot the same exact arrow set up and I can shoot both fairly well.

[Roger Norris]

Timely thread. Just yesterday, I unstrung all but one bow. I will shoot this one for the rest of the season.

[alaninoz]

I have two sets of matched pairs of longbows. That way, if anything happens to the one I'm shooting I can go and get its mate and continue on without having to change form, point of aim, etc.

[Archie]

I shoot one longbow, and one recurve.  I shoot both well.  My accuracy suffers considerably with the others I own, or have owned.  I am strongly of the opinion that if one wants to shoot like Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, or Byron Ferguson, he/she shouldn't monkey around with different bows all the time.  The more I dedicate myself to one bow and setup, the more my accuracy has improved.  I am beginning to feel like my BW longbow is becoming an extension of myself.