"Soft" bow - what am I looking for?

[Tom Anderson]

ttt

Haven't been around for a couple of years. Any newer bows that I can try that have a "soft" draw at the beginning?

[TheFatboy]

Almost any straight-stave bow will have a tiny bit of string follow, and a low early draw weight. My new ELB (english longbow) pulls 100# @ 32", and has a low early draw weight too. While you may think it stacks badly, it doesn't. If the bow is long enough, the draw will be smooth, even with a low early draw weight.

[Dusty Nethery]

Tom,

I have a Vermilion River Snake (3 pc. w/longbow limbs) that I draw to 30" that pulls identical to what you described you like.

You definitely lose some performance but the only way I figured that out was to shoot a heavy r/d type longbow with this one side by side.

When I first received the bow I would have bet a bunch that he missed weight by at least 5lbs.

Dusty

[Don Batten]

Tom, take a look at the addiction recurves that John Dill is selling now. I think you might find the best of both worlds. Not too far from you. You could go down and shoot some. Give him a call. 252 227 2114. Don

[cahaba]

My Northern Mist Classic pulls easy on the front of the draw and shoots great. I got to get my hands on his stringfollow (Shelton).

[Tom Anderson]

Don, is John building bows now!?  That boy is always up to something.  I'll check 'em out.
Thanks.

[buckeye_hunter]

If you want to see the Quick Stick with a review, go to this site....

 http://www.peteward.com/

and then click on trad reviews.

Enjoy,

[Lee Robinson .]

You do realize that what you are asking for is a bow that "stacks." A bow that stacks typically isn't going to be the highest performing bow design one can go with (stack relates to design, core depth, limb width, and draw). A lot of people don't realize it, but what you are asking for is not as uncommonly preferred as many may think. I personally like to have a bow with optimal performance so I like a smooth bow that loads early in the draw. Hand someone a bow that loads up early to someone that shoots a string follow self bow and they probably won't like the way the smooth bow loads up as it requires more pull early in the draw. You're not alone though, many people don't like a bow that is really "smooth" on a scale, because a truly smooth bow is one that loads up EARLY in the draw and then only gains 2-3# per inch after the initial load all the way out to full draw. Many people actually like a "soft" bow and think such bows are smooth when in fact, on a scale they stack. I suspect that the reason many people like those bows is because they are indeed easier to pull early in the draw.

If you don't like the longbow appearance, I do know of one recurve that might work well for you. It isn't a speed demon, but it is quiet, accurate, and very nice looking. It is the Great Plains B-Model one piece or Kiowa. Their other bows are quicker than the B-model recurves or Kiowa recurves. I don't believe it is the most efficient recurve design being the deflex doesn't start until you are about 1/3rd of the way down the limb. And, yes...I said deflex on purpose. By starting the deflex in the limb instead of off the riser, the reflex (which is responsible for preloading the limbs) is left to the last 1/3rd or so. As a result, some efficiency of the limb is "theoretically" reduced and I didn't find it to be a fast recurve to be honest; however, the bow is still a very good shooting bow that as I said before is quiet and accurate. Their take downs and their Swifts are completely different designs and have a more effiencent profile. All of their bows seem to be well crafted and very pleasing to look at.

[Tom Anderson]

Lee,
Thanks for the insights and the recommendation on the Great Plains bows - I'll check them out.
Actually, you're right - I'm looking for a bow that stacks.  Due to issues with both shoulders, I've never been really good at drawing an early-loading bow...most compounds I can't even budge!  But once I get 'em going a few inches, I can pull the snot out of them...way on back, too.

[Lonala]

My Stringfollow Boo backed Osage smokes a550grn arrow I love it....A gift from my brother Rick in Michigan..Love ya Brother traditional all the way..With hush puppies speechless..............

[Shaun]

Smooth early draw has to do with the "preload" weight. Many modern speed bows have a lot of draw weight in the first few inches and then gain only 2#/in or so. Some older designs have very low early draw weight and gain closer to 3#/in.

Example: I have a Jim Brackenberry recurve that is 55# @ 28 that is very soft in the early draw. Sweet forgiving shooter but not high speed. I also own a Wes Wallace recurve that is very similar but has much more early draw weight with similar # @28. Much faster but more sensitive to form. Wes learned under Jim and the bows have nearly identical risers with different limb designs.

[Apex Predator]

I would consider a bow to stack only when it gains a dis-proportionate amount of weight towards the end of the draw.  Low early draw weight in the first few inches doesn't cause a bow to stack.

[Ricker]

Hey Ron (Lonala).... Glad you like the bow.  Better post a few pic's of the hog ya shot for all to see.

You're deadly with that thing !!      

To answer Tom's question, a string follow bow can still have early string weight yet feel really smooth if it is built properly, and still not give up much speed.  The benefit is stability an easy to be consistently accurate.  

Take Care.
Rick