Wood vs. Glass bows

[Wolftrail]

The subject of glass and wood comparison does not not come up that often.
 
I have shot a few glass bows one of the better ones been a new Bear 58" at Cabelas.  So far my take on these bows is some hand shock and the annoying twang after the shot. I don't get that shooting my wood bows.  
Whats your guys take on this. Pluses and minuses.

[jsweka]

It all depends on the design of each type.

[Pat B]

I prefer wood bows also. I shoot glass bows more consistently but I just don't enjoy it as much as shooting wood. I like knowing that I can build every thing myself and still be effective whether in the field or on a 3D range or just out front shooting at the butt.

[fujimo]

i like them all, and like to build them all- they are all different- all with their merits and their foibles- kinda like have a bunch of children- all are different but the same!

[Krasus]

All my wood attempts have failed  :(

[Roy from Pa]

I prefer the wood bows I make, however I have a bear takedown I bought new in 1971 that is the best shooting bow I have ever shot. It has a sweet pistol grip, dead center shot with the adjustable berger button spring tension plunger and thin metal magnetic arrow rest. Bow is just so accurate... It's 68" tip to tip and 42#.

 

[Al Dean]

Depends on your definition of a wood bow.  Bamboo is a grass.  Laminations of wood held together with epoxy are not all wood.  To me, all wood is a selfbow from one piece of wood.  I think there is a romance to an all wood bow.  Other than that, who knows.

[Pat B]

I prefer selfbows over all others...preferably osage but any selfbows are my love.

[fujimo]

and it shows Pat- you build beautiful bows, and it was your work that inspired me to venture into the selfbow world- nothing more beautiful than a snakey self bow with flipped tips- pure bow "builderness".

[LittleBen]

Agreed on all counts.

Always seem to come back to selfbows after a while. My first several were selfbows and I imagine my last will be also ... Hopefully many years from now.

[George Tsoukalas]

It has been years since I've shot anything else but a selfbow.
Selfbows are quiet. The arrow is away almost silently. Selfbows are light and easy to carry.
FG bows may be a little quicker but a well made selfie can hold its own.
Jawge

[Roy from Pa]

Them selfbows can't even blow the dust off the feathers since they are so slow..  

[mikkekeswick]

Once you actually chrono wood/glass bows there generally isn't much difference. I remember going to my local 3d club and a bunch of the guys there were chronoing their bows. I had my hornbow (own design) with me and it's a proper rocket launcher....I had to do it! I picked a light arrow (about 7 gpp)and got over 230fps......then walked away.
In my opinion wood bows are quieter, dead in the hand on the shot and nicer to shoot however with a good glass bow there is a lot less to worry about.

My favorite bow is my hornbow.

[John Scifres]

If you are getting handshock and twang out of any bow, it is either poorly designed, poorly built, or poorly tuned, maybe all 3.  

Wood, grass, or glass they all kick ---!

[Wolftrail]

One thing I dont like about wood bows is holding full draw longer than a few seconds is not a good thing.  But I'm getting better at doing an even fluid motion on my shooting, concentrate on the target, pull back and push on the bow, raise the bow, cant slightly, aim, anchor, release. It seems the more time I spend on Aiming anyway the arrows go every which way.
"dead in the hand" thats a biggy for me.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by John Scifres:
If you are getting handshock and twang out of any bow, it is either poorly designed, poorly built, or poorly tuned, maybe all 3.  

Wood, grass, or glass they all kick ---!

I noticed on the least expensive takedowns in particular I would get handshock.