I'm over thinking it...I think.

[H.P.]

New to the forum, but have been pot licking info off everyone for months.  Anyways, pretty sure this topic has been beaten to death already, so this is less of “what should I do” and more of a “I know what I probably should do but have an issue with the aesthetics of it” kind of thing.
     Here goes:  I started shooting targets at a local “been in business for years” archery shop/range.  I’m probably one of the very few bare bow guys there that shoot.  I’m surrounded by compounds whenever I shoot later in the afternoon or in the evenings.  Good bunch of folks and friendly as well.  Anyways, I like to shoot off the shelf- I’ve tried using a rest and it just feels odd.  Granted, I haven’t spent enough time using one to honestly give it a chance.  
     Now, there I am shooting at a 20 yard target and getting groups I’m pretty happy with: some tighter than others, some all over the place.  Generally speaking, I’m comfortable shooting at a hog, deer, whatever at 20 yards- closer if possible. Now I know that if I’m tuning things up at the range and my groups start getting wonky, it’s because I’ve changed something, i.e. my release, my anchor point, dropped my bow hand, etc.
     So, eventually I meet another trad bow guy there and he asks me why I’m shooting off the shelf?  Of course, I ask him “…why are you using a rest”?  We’ve since become pretty friendly and run into each other quite often.  He’s 20 years my senior (I’m not a spring chicken myself) so if he offers me advice, I listen.  Well, a couple of days ago I got approached about joining their league and shooting on their bare bow team.  Generally speaking, I’m not competitive; however I do like to hit whatever I’m aiming at (at least the middle of whatever I’m shooting at).  I’m fairly certain shooting off a rest will get my groups a little tighter but I’m having a problem with the idea of mounting an adhesive piece of plastic to my 50 year old recurve purely for reasons of aesthetics and my own personal vanity.

     Frankly I like shooting next to some guy with a tricked out compound with the scope, lighted pins, and all the doohickeys attached to said bow- and shooting good groups.  It took a while but I finally got some compliments on my shooting from one of the “regulars” there.  He asked me what the draw weight was on my recurve and I said, “..with my draw it’s probably around 60-63 pounds more or less.”.  His eyes got a little bigger at that point and he said, “I’m shooting at 65lbs and holding at only 19lbs at full draw…”  I just said, “…wow, 19lbs…pretty neat…and you have that wrist thingy on to hold the string too.  I bet that’s a plus…  Would you like to give my old bow a try?”  He politely declined.  
    About the most “high tech” gear I have on one of my bows are some rubber string silencers I made out of some of my fly tying stuff.  I have a duplicate recurve of the bow I regularly shoot I’m thinking of slapping a rest on.  I’m just trouble having slapping it on.

     So, to shelf or not to shelf?  Am I over thinking it or am I just neurotic? That is the question.  

Opinions or a good slap of reality would be appreciated.        

~Harris  “H.P.”

[Bjorn]

Both are fine.........blondes and brunettes!

[AZ_Longbow]

Shoot what you like. I personally don't like rests, I shoot off the shelf on all my bows. I add or remove felt or Velcro to tune. A flipper may be fine on a target bow held vertical. But my hunting shoot style just seems to be weird.
I love trad, I shoot what works for me.

[moebow]

Welcome HP!!  You'll hear lots of things and probably feel pressure to do it like someone else.  Do it your way and don't look back.  You'll also hear that you "have to shoot line cutter arrows( fat boys, etc) in order to be competitive."  Not really!!  Won't be long before you hear shoot less poundage (thought I'd suggest it first); standard advice and good advice at that but again -- ultimately it is up to you

DO IT YOUR WAY.  Experiment -- YES!  Learn from others -- Yes!  But it still boils down to how you see yourself as an archer and what "fits" for you.  Just have fun with what you are doing.

Arne

[threeunder]

Agreed.

Don't change your style just to fit in with someone else.

Trad is all about finding what works and makes you happy.

A rest is neither good, nor bad.

I'm a shelf guy, but that's just me.

[last arrow]

Feather rest is a good compromise.  Classic looks and elevated rest performance.  (You wouldn't of asked if you wasn't at least considering trying it).

[Sean B]

Well, I shoot both. I've shot off the shelf for about 25 years, until I bought a used Tall Tines that already had one on it. I shot it and loved it!! I put one on My Silvertip and it's a tack driver too!! I still shoot my Widows off the shelf though. If you don't like it, just take it off. Adhesive comes off eith a little bit if vegetable oil!!

[H.P.]

Well, thanks for all the input/advice/perspective(s).  Might slap a rest on a 1960 Herters recurve simply because it's got an ODD shelf that's been hell trying to figure out. I think she's a good candidate for a rest (and she's only a 50#'er- so I got the 'lighter poundage' covered, Arne     I have an entire day tomorrow to play around with it to see how it goes.  As far as the "feather rest" suggested, I think I have some turkey feathers in my fly tying gear that would be perfect for building my own.  Short of wearing a loin cloth at the range, I'm keeping it as "trad" as possible.  Thanks guys.   Harris     "Sua sponte"    

[1kwikstik]

I second the feather rest. I'd never tried one before but my Bear Kodiak 59er I bought a couple of years ago had one on it and I love it!

[tomsm44]

You can also build a "rest" out of leather.  You can make it as high, long, etc. as you want.  I have homemade leather rests on two of my bows.

[H.P.]

Got enough duplicate bows that I can put a different one on each and see how they feel.  Got enough scrap leather pieces to make shelves until Doomsday.  Guess I have some tinkering to do tonight.  H

[fmscan]

Feather Rest, I think is more forgiving and I think quieter.. Trap is a guy here who sells the best and they really hold up...

Either way is fine. If you don't like the idea of a rest for you, then don't use one!

Bisch

I had a rest on my one recurve, a Grooves Spitfire.  Shooting targets and trying to shoot six arrow groups, I found it to be perhaps a little more forgiving.  Out turkey hunting with that same bow that rest was a total pain for me.  I did not like how far my finger was from the arrow with both handling and shooting at turkeys.  Probably because I do most of my hunting with  asl longbows.

[Sam McMichael]

Listen to moebow. Moebow knows. I don't like shooting off the shelf, but I know plenty of guys who do. See which works best for you and go for it.

[Jakeemt]

Only way you will know  S to give it a try. I shoot of a bear stick on rest and that's about the most bomb proof rest you can find. Lots of advantages no disadvantages. Give it an honest to goodness  try and you may like it (as in atleast 3weeks of regular shooting) if not peel that sucker off and you are out a total of 3.50 no sweat.

[H.P.]

Well, spent about 4 hours at my local range yesterday with an old Herter's recurve that I had mounted a rest on.  Determined that THAT particular bow will the one I use with a rest (merely due to the odd shelf). Took some getting used to having my bow almost straight up and down, however, I did notice some improvements in my groups.  But, kept going back to my shelf bow and using that one instead.  Me thinks I'm just going to go with what feels "right" and natural for my general shooting. I did identify the fact that I have "B.A.D.D" (Bow Attention Deficit Disorder) and kept using different bows over the course of that 4 hour session.      Next time I'll bring TWO instead of FOUR and just keep the other ones in the rack until I'm consistent with the two I've narrowed it down to.  I did get some great advice from the folks that work there (I was the only shooter on the range for two hours).  Nothing better than 3 experienced archers telling what I was doing wrong and what I was doing right. Out of the three 2 were in the "off the shelf camp" and one was in the "always use a rest camp".  However, I change up how and where I draw (I usually come to a draw low and come UP to the target) and started coming to a full draw pointed over the target and dropping down.  That improved my groups for whatever reason- point is it made a difference- now just have to make that a repeatable action.  One of the guys shot some video of me shooting and showed it to me.  Didn't know he was doing that, but it was helpful to see myself shoot- it was also a bit disturbing.  Do I really look that old now? I've apparently also upgraded to the "full sized" spare tire as well.  Wow.

Harris