Canting vrs. Vertical/ ON Longbows

[PastorSteveHill]

Hello folks.  I am curious if one must cant a longbow or could a more vertical shooter get by with a longbow since the shelf is so narrow?  Thanks for any advice....

Blessings

[vermonster13]

All depends on how well you draw. I do it with my bows quite often but they are all cut to center or past.

[bayoulongbowman]

Steve , get the book Become the Arrow by Byron Ferguson and his DVD...it explains it , I cant my bows!!    

[Terry Green]

No, you do not 'have' to cant, but you should be able to from various angles and even reverse cant if you want to capitalize on your shot opportunities.

[PastorSteveHill]

What is reverse cant????

[Precurve]

I think the more the bow is canted the more difficult it becomes to engage the back muscles.  The further I cant a bow the more I can feel my draw shortening up and the tension transfering past my shoulder joints towards the bow.  Old pictures of Howard Hill showed a very slight cant, with his head tilted in towards the bow.

[Terry Green]

If your alignment is correct, canting the bow shouldn't shorten one's draw length.

Click below...2nd shot is reverse cant, 3rd is extreme reverse cant

 Different cant angles......

[tamure]

:eek:   I'm gonna go practice...

[mike g]

In one of Howard Hills books. he says the closer the target the more you cant the bow, gradualy moving to vertical on the longer shots.
    And it dose work, when I shoot at up to 50 yds I'll miss left if I can't the bow, butt if I have it vertical at that distance the shot will be closer to the Target....
    My bow is 1/8 off center....

Terry....what bow are ya useing in that video....?

[elk ninja]

Looks like I am going to have to start some yoga...

[katman]

Great shooting Terry, my back hurts watching that manuever, just order more bow hush, great product.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Terry Green:
No, you do not 'have' to cant, but you should be able to from various angles and even reverse cant if you want to capitalize on your shot opportunities.

That pretty much sums it up right there.  

[PastorSteveHill]

Wow!!!

[bayoulongbowman]

When you cant with longbow the site picture just opens up for ya better...but competiton archers shoot straight up...but down in the south , ya better practice from all kind of postions , like Tarz said.When bowhunting depends what the critter gives ya !!    good luck  

[carlr2s]

I hurt myself trying Terry's shots with my "airbow".

[vermontrad]

Real sweet shooting Terry! Howard Hill also mentions in his book that you should practice shooting with your bow canted from horizontal to beyond vertical to, as Terry said, capitalize on your (more) shot opportunities. Man, Terry that was a Tuff pig needing all three shots, little bastard really had you jumping around!!        

[Woodduck]

I enjoyed that, Terry. Everybody ought to see that shootin' and remember to have fun!
I have two Fred Anderson Hyaks that I cant when I shoot. My other longbows, I shoot more vertical.
To me, the grip shape/design dictates the way I shoot.

[Orion]

Terry:  Nice to see a fella who knows how to shoot a stick bow.  Well done.

[Stumpknocker]

I agree w/Precurve's earlier post.  Realized yesterday that I had been canting my Dakota too much.  Have been exeriencing should pain in bow shoulder (not draw shoulder) and having difficulty in maintaining back tension and a smooth release.  I was really surprised how much difference it made to shoot w/a slight cant.  Starting out w/too much cant, then decreasing cant, I noticed much better back tension and way tighter grouping.  Plus, my shoulder did not hurt at all, and no sore ring finger on draw hand.  Certainly everyone has their own style, but for me, decreasing cant made a tremendous difference.  Tray E.

[vermontrad]

Stumpknocker ,I think we all have a go to way of shooting, but hopefully that doesn't limit the options. I think Terry showed us what is possible to do with your bow, with aplomb I might add. I went right out and tried it after I saw it and in a short half hour was puttin' in reasonable groups from all angles, albeit at 12 yards, but it's a start and alot of fun and probably a better work out for my shoulders and back, not to mention (with way more practice) the confidence it would bring in those awkward situations in the field. I'm sold, I'm practicing...