Highly R/D Vs. D shaped longbows

[String Cutter]

The last few longbows I've owned have been D shaped... But I just received my new  highly R/D longbow... Well, it seems that it's giving me a fitt.. If my release ain't perfect the arrow is subject to go anywhere...It just feels  to be alot more touchy and unforgiving... But at the same time it will flat out smoke an arrow..
Is it just me or are R/D longbows more critical of shooting flaws then the D shaped longbows???

[toddster]

I have noticed the same thing, usually from my evaluation,the faster the bow, the more sensitive it is to shoot.

[Apex Predator]

You nailed it!

[James Wrenn]

Well are both bows the same length?Most d-shaped bows are longer and the hybrids tend to get shorter all the time.I personally think this has as much of effect for some as the shape of the limbs.The 21st Century bows have a lot of r/d in them but are long.Most find them very easy bows to shoot well. jmo

btw..As far as the speed is concerned..a faster bow makes for better shooting as distances grow.The good thing about a fast bow is you have options.If it is too fast for you it is a simple matter to shoot a heavier arrow to slow it down.With a slow bow you usually just have to live with it.   :D

[foxbo]

The one bow which comes to mind when someone mentions a "D" shaped r/d bow is Fazio's Sonoran. I have a 65" model and it sounds like that's the bow you've been searching for. It smokes an arrow and is a very consistant shooter.

[AdamH]

I've never had that problem, but if you want the "BEST" of all worlds,,, Try a HORNE'S Traditionalist,,, I mean That !!

[Scott S.]

I think that with the R/D hybreds, you also get the faults of a recurve and lose the forgiveness of the longbow.  For me, I tend to grip the bow too tightly and therefore am plagued by torque if I'm not careful.

[Ben Maher]

i find the same thing as soon as i put down the Hills and use my tomahawk and widows. I agree with Mr Wrenn and also ,i think, have to take into account the fact that as soon as my accuracy suffers i go straight for my Hills. If i spent more time with the hybrids/r/d bows maybe i'd find the consistant accuracy i've found wanting previously would equal that of my straight bows. Ben

[Apex Predator]

Get the best of both with a mild R/D. A properly designed mild R/D will be as fast as any other.  As a matter of fact, those building the absolute faster bows on the planet are using a very mild R/D design.

[Curveman]

To get a really short bow yet keep the string off the limb to have it still be a "longbow", many bowyers are pushing the riser forward and starting to recurve the limbs thus getting that "Delta" shape instead of a "D" shape. This moves the center of gravity away from you so that it will be inherently less stable/forgiving. Granted some archers can shoot these shorter bows exceptionally well but that is because they have great form. You can't change the laws of physics! Kept the "D" shape (For the sake of argument I am generalizing here-I am not saying that ALL long bows are always more stable than shorter bows)!

Oh! And Apex Predator is right-my Border Griffon GL (glassless) longbow is nearly as fast as my Border Swift recurve with XP-30 limbs, within a few FPS.

[ron w]

On your new bow try to keep a more relaxed grip and focus on a clean release. My "d" shaped bows seem to like a firmer grip. Give it a try.

[Holm-Made]

I'm not buying it.  Sorry,  Chad

[Tom Anderson]

Originally posted by Scott S.:
I think that with the R/D hybreds, you also get the faults of a recurve ....

What "faults" are you referring to?

[Holm-Made]

Seems to me that your asking a pretty general question to which there is not a simple answer as some have given.

To judge a bow by it's profile or length is wrong in my opinion.  There are many other factors involved like riser length, rate of taper in limbs, forward set of riser, etc.  There's poorly designed highly R/D bows out there as well as poorly designed "D" bows.(I'd take a well designed "D" bow over a poorly designed R/D bow any day)

Are you sure your arrows match your bow as well as they could?  If you want a slower bow then try heavier arrows.  

There are too many very, very good bare bow shooters shooting highly R/D longbows out there for you to convince me that this type of bow is more unforgiving then a "D" bow.  Chad

[Curveman]

Originally posted by Holm-Made:
Seems to me that your asking a pretty general question to which there is not a simple answer as some have given.

To judge a bow by it's profile or length is wrong in my opinion.  There are many other factors involved like riser length, rate of taper in limbs, forward set of riser, etc.  There's poorly designed highly R/D bows out there as well as poorly designed "D" bows.(I'd take a well designed "D" bow over a poorly designed R/D bow any day)

There are too many very, very good bare bow shooters shooting highly R/D longbows out there for you to convince me that this type of bow is more unforgiving then a "D" bow.  Chad

Well as I stated, I was generalizing and ALL "D" shaped looong bows are not more stable than ALL short bows (as I said) but certain laws of physics do apply and I stand by what I said. The fact that some "very, very good bare bow shooters people shooting highly R/D longbows out there..." does not prove that these bows are as stable or forgiving-it only proves that they are "very, very good bare bow shooters."

Look at some of the so called long bows with big heavy recurve risers that just BARELY fall short as it were of BEING recurves! I don't think those bows should be compared to other longbows at all in my opinion-don't get me wrong, some of them are GREAT shooting bows!

I KNEW I shouldn't have jumped in here! Next time!    

[O.L. Adcock]

My question is if these "forgiving" bows are so forgiving, why aren't they being shot more successfully against recurves and R/D's in all venues? Sure you can find exceptional individules that can shoot everthing well but on average recurves and some R/D's will be more accurate for most folks. They are different, you can't shoot a recurve the same way you do a straight limbed longbow so those that can't or won't adapt will be happier with their green willow limb.

Like James pointed out, "speed" has absolutly nothing to do with accuracy since it's the shooter who decides how "fast" his bow shoots. It's still the same bow either way. No doubt trying to shoot "faster" requires the shooter to use better form and be better skilled at tuning. Those bows won't let you get away with doing things half way.

Is more mass with a "recurve" style riser an advantage over broomstick risers? If so, who's fault is that? The bow didn't built itself. Bows are tools, nothing more, some can use certain tools better then others..O.L.

[String Cutter]

I  Know better to try and argue with you O.L.   You've forgotten more about bows then I could ever hope to know.  
I go through about  6 bows a year...Just from the shooting I have done I find a wide limbed heavy riser recurve   to shoot  the best" Groups" for me.. But I really love the looks and feel of a very narrow limbed  D shaped longbow. Plus I really like to hunt and walk while hunting. A 3# recurve getts heavy fast... Thought I would try the R/D longbows and get a little of both worlds but it's driving me crazy.... I'm thinking the really narrow limbs and light weight are effecting my shooting.
When I put the quiver on I find my groups tighten up . Not alot but just alittle..

[O.L. Adcock]

SC, Argue away!    No, in most cases we're trying to compare apples to oranges. Your not going to get the accuracy of a 30-06 from a 12ga 00 buck, but under 40 yards the shotgun will be more forgiving to your errors and require less precise skills. Do I try to carry the most accurate bow in the woods? No....Like you I'll carry 16 ounces that gives me enough to get the job done at 20 yards as opposed to something that weighs 6 pounds and will shoot the same groups at 100. The right tool for the job and folks will have different opinions on whether a ballpeen is really needed when a ratchet works as a hammer also!   ...Don't tell me you haven't done it!   ....O.L.

[String Cutter]

I have O.L. but only with my brothers tools.  
I really didn't think that a slight change in the limbs would make such a large change in my shooting ??

[Doug S]

"Is it me or are R/D more critical of shooting flaws than D shaped bows?"

 Not you. Yes, more critical.