center of the bow

[harry 62]

The shelf or the handle? There is a retired bowyer Bill Kerner he built his bows with the shelf in center of the bow.His bows shot and perform very well.It seems like the bow would be more balanced with the arrow shot from the center of the string.I was thinking of building my next bow this way. I know most bowyers build from the center of the handle.  I would appreciate any thoughts or opinions you may have .

[Pat B]

I build my selfbows with the center of the 4" handle being the center of the bow. For me it makes seeing tiller better. It really doesn't matter as long as the tiller is proper for the design. A good example is the Japanese Yumi bow. It's upper limb is at least 2x as long as the bottom limb but because of it's tillering, as 3 separate bows, shoots as well as any.

[Crooked Stic]

Tiller will need to be different. I have had the shelf anywhere from 1 in. to 2 in. above center they all shoot good got to tiller them right.

[KenH]

I don't build bows with arrow shelves; but my bows are intended to have the arrow pass at the center of the length of the bow, with the center of the handle (if any) also at the center of the length.  The hand then grips just below the center of everything.

[Pat B]

My arrow pass is about 1 1/2" above center.

[Bowjunkie]

We can't say, "With the shelf at X-location, the bow shoots really sweet." because there are other factors that are equally or more important.

I've learned that I prefer how my bows feel and act if I keep some of those factors close to one another. Bow center(and static balance point), dynamic fulcrum/balance, string hand fulcrum, shelf. However we decide for ourselves, it benefits us to know where they are and why, how to coordinate them and balance them with the strengths of the limbs.