Bowhunters Parradox, Whats the Deal?

[rastaman]

Sent you a pm Clint!

[Axis Hunter]

Thanks ratsman. norseman im guessing u lik the vikings

[Axis Hunter]

pm sent back at cha

[Norseman]

Axis......I don't LIK the vikings.....that would likely get ones tongue taken off....LOL....sorry had to do that.

My heritage is Norwegian.

[Orion]

Norseman: the link still doesn't work for me.

BobCo:  Don't know what you mean in your first sentence, but the rest of what you say is correct.

First, lets look at the definition of a paradox.  Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines paradox as "contrary to expectation."  Archer's paradox is a term coined back in the day when most bows were self-bows and not cut to center or past center.   Thus, when an arrow was placed on the shelf, if there was one, the arrow pointed way to the left for a right handed shooter, to the right for a left handed shooter.  Looking at the arrow on the bow, the "expectation" was that the arrow would shoot way to the left (or right for a left handed shooter).  However, when the arrow was shot, it hit the target straight in front of the shooter, "contrary to expectation."  It was, in fact an archer's paradox.  Why did it go straight when it appeared it would go to the left. The reason the arrow flies straight out of the bow (In fact, it actually occilates as it passes the riser and as it moves downrange.) is that it is spined correctly for the bow, enabling it to bend around the riser and right itself as it travels downrange.  Thus, the concept of archer's paradox is related to matching arrow spine to the bow, but they're not the same thing.  Hope this helps.  

[Axis Hunter]

Haha sorry bout that norseman. Orion your explanation is very helpful. ps what kind of bow do you shoot your self and when did some of the first known longbows come into existence? just wondering if youd happen to know

[BobCo 1965]

http://www.archeryweb.com/archery/paradox.htm

[Axis Hunter]

Thanks for fixing the link Robert

[Orion]

Yep, Bobco.  That's it.  Definition is in the first line. Thought it might have been Elmer who labeled it, but wasn't sure.

Axis.  No idea when first longbows came into existence, at least 10,000 years ago, probably more.  I've been shooting sticks for more than 50 years.  I shoot everything -- self-bows, longbows, hybrids, recurves.

[Axis Hunter]

are there many hybrids on the market?

[Flying Dutchman]

yes

[Axis Hunter]

which ones are you crazyiest about? if you get what i mean

[Flying Dutchman]

Cari-bow Peregrine without any doubt..... read Pete Ward's review...  http://peteward.com/test.Perigrine.html

[Axis Hunter]

i hav heard a lot of guys talk about these cari bows but i havnt seen one or herd of them until today

[Flying Dutchman]

Archers paradox: the fishtailing or oscillation of the arrow when leaving the bow. Has of course a lot to do with how much center-cut a bow is. How more centercut, the less spine sensitive a bow is. You want after release the arrow to flex enough not to hit the riser, but not so much that yu get a poor , erratic arrow-flight.
In theory, when you are way under-spined, an wooden arrow might just break due to this paradox.
By bare-shafting or papertuning you can get the proper spine-value and solve this paradox. Stu Miller will get you in the ballpark.

[Axis Hunter]

i bareshaft and also paper  tune my arrows i hav the right combo on my bow the bowhunters parradox was the problem that kept me from figuring out the proble until i realized thats what it was. so i decided to learn more about it

[Axis Hunter]

ttt

[Axis Hunter]

ttt

[KentuckyTJ]

[snag]

Great pic TJ. I'll have to do this to see how far my hand comes away from my face...?  It is amazing how much an arrow, that we feel is stiff, flexes as it leaves the bow and in flight.