Recurves that perform "better than average"?

[LongStick64]

Is it true that it is impossible to build a bow the same way twice, make an exact twin ? If that is true then how can you really make a fair comparison. I can agree that some models may have a better performance history but if variation of results exist in the same model is it fair to even try and compare ?
What I am trying to stumble about is, I won't name names or models but I had at one point 3 recurve bows same make, model, length, weight within a couple of pounds. One seemed (I don't have scientific data) to hustle and arrow with a bit more authority than the others. Limbs were wood core and glass, no carbon or foam. Can there be a significant variation in the wood/glass used to have a similarly made bow perform noticeably better ?

[Bob Morrison]

Speed means squat if you can't hit where you should....I'll take a good hit at 150 to a 200 miss.

[billy shipp]

Big Foot Sasquatch followed closely by a Brandon Stahl Ultra Delight.

I haven't read every word on this thread, but there have been enough threads like this over the years that the details don't change much. Fact is, and I apologize if this has already been said here, that the performance of a bow, given simiarities in design, woods and skills of the bowyer, is a synergistic product not only of the bow but the shooter, string, arrows, fletching etc. In other words, if the setup shoots for you, then it's the best there is. There are so many good bows out there now that I do not see how anybody can single one out as the best, except to say "for me, and my style, and to my eye, this bow is the best". Right this moment, the recurve for me is a Morrison ILF with carbon/foam limbs, with an SBD string, carbon arrows, feathers. End of rant.  

[grouseshooter002]

Amen to that.

[duncan idaho]

Speed and performance are very important to me because I am not spending an average of 800 to 1200 dollars for an "average" bow. Top performing bows from the major bowyers are not cheap, so, why would you settle for average?

[tarponnut]

The best shooting recurve I've shot in terms of speed and draw cycle is my new Northern Mist Ottowa.It's amazing how smooth it draws yet still shoots a fast but quiet arrow.
Another very fast(not real quiet) bow I owned was a Martin Hatfield.
I shot a friend's Habu that was a smoker,too.

[Shawn Leonard]

I have owned over 100 different customs and tested a lot of them. For me the absolute 3 fastest were an RER Arroyo, Border Hex5-Hs and Caribow Tuktu EX all static tips. Now the best shooter I ever owned was a Norm Johnson blacktail, good speed, quiet and I shot it very well! Shawn

One bow type that quite often gets over looked is target bows. We compared a Hoyt Olympic style bow to our recurves, mine a Bear takedown, and found that it shot 2016s faster than any of our heavier bows.  I took a few shot with the heavy target bow and found that with a bit of stabilizer removal, it handled much like my 64" takedown.