Mass weight and accuracy?

[jonsimoneau]

I've always been a fan of bows with a lot of mass weight. Particularly my old Ebony Habu recurve. I've always reasoned that the heavier bows were less prone to shooter error...jerking/flinching/torque. But someone was telling me they saw a study somewhere that shows this to be false. What do you guys think?

[McDave]

I've never seen a study on it, but I tend to agree with you that more mass = more stability.

The errors you mention: jerking, flinching, torque, are pretty gross errors.  One of those errors could easily throw an arrow 8" off target.  If having a heavier bow only makes you throw it 7" off target, you might not consider that to be a great improvement.  However, let's consider the minor variations we have in releasing the arrow from shot to shot that don't really even have a name.  I'll bet that having a heavier mass bow will put more of those otherwise perfect shots in the 12 ring rather than the 10 ring, where a 1-2" difference in POI would make a difference.

[yth-mnstr]

More mass weight has always felt more stable to me as well.

[Robertfishes]

I prefer a bow with some mass weight too.

[M60gunner]

Funny this subject should come up today. My R/D long bow is real lite. Easy to carry all day. But today I could not seem to get "into it". IMO a heavier riser helps me settle in to the shot. My 3 piece TD's are more stable for me.

[Guss]

I have found that a 2 pc bow bolt with a phenolic riser is a nice compromise....handles like a 1 pc, but the added weight in the grip area adds stability and dead in the hand on the shot...

[Sam McMichael]

All my ASL bows are very light, and since it has been many years since I have had much to do with heavier (mass weight)bows I may not have an informed opinion. I believe good form, rather than mass weight, makes the difference in performance, no matter what type bow is used.

[Michael Arnette]

True for me too....i'm just wondering when you're finally going to order a TallTines and be done shopping?  

[jess stuart]

I used to prefer the heavier risers my favorite for years was a Grable SST 2000 which was stolen.  The last few years I have used and now prefer risers not nearly as heavy as the SST.  I like about 2.25# total weight in a takedown recurve.

[katman]

I also prefer heavier riser. Helps with a steadier bow arm for me. Gone to metal risers for that reason.

[KentuckyTJ]

Like Guss says, I used to try and love lightweight one piece bows but with my terrible shooting form I would always get a flyer about every 6 shots. I tried several and loved some of them but just couldn't hold them on target constantly enough where I felt confident pulling them on a wild animal. Then I shot a one piece with phenolic in the riser and problem solved (mostly). If I get a flyer now its due to overdrawing the bow.

I do think bow poundage has something to do with it also. If a bow is a little to light in the poundage dept it can cause a less steady bow hand, making consistency tougher to maintain.

[Orion]

I'd like to see that study. Sounds like one person's fantasy to me.  

There's a reason almost all target shooters and Olympic shooters shoot heavier risers.  I suppose there's a point at which they might become too heavy, but a heavier riser is easier for most folks to steady and hold on target, in addition to its resistance to movement caused by minor shooting flaws.

[Pat B]

I like my selfbows to be light in hand and never used a bow quiver on them. I prefer a bow quiver on my Treadway longbow though. For some reason the extra weight near the center helps me hold the bow steady and improves my shooting.

[damascusdave]

There are other factors though...last year I had bursitis in my left shoulder...I could lift my lighter bows but there was no way that I could get my 2 1/2+ pound bows up to shooting level

DDave

[Terry Green]

I don't know....I've grown to love longbows and I'm just as accurate  with my longbows than any other bows I own....including heavier risered recurves......guess it all boils down to form....which I feel is paramount no matter if its recurve....longbow...or selfbow

[BWD]

I like a light to moderate weight longbow with a bow quiver strapped on it.

[jackdaw]

I guess as long as more mass weight equals more structural rigidity....you would be correct in theory..

[Red Beastmaster]

If you are jerking/flinching/torquing then you have problems a heavy bow can't fix.

I do tend to shoot better with a bow quiver on, the extra wt does help steady the bow arm. On the other hand one of the best shooters I ever had was a clean light wt 62" Abbott longbow. I busted more nocks with that bow than any other.

[BWallace10327]

Originally posted by Red Beastmaster:
If you are jerking/flinching/torquing then you have problems a heavy bow can't fix.
 

I believe a heavy riser will hide these problems to an extent.  If I give my 3# recurve 2# worth of jerking/torquing and compare the effect of same 2# jerking/torquing force applied to a >1# longbow and the difference will be clear.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I'm with Terry on this one.

Personally I prefer a light bow.  I refer to my bow as "bitchy" because it lets me know immediately if I need to correct my form.  

I know guys want all the advantages they can while hunting but personally I find if I am shooting a very forgiving bow, my form becomes sloppy.

As far as hunting goes, I'm just a  poor hunter.