"Hill" style bows...Why all of sudden?

[Guru]

This is spawned from Apex's "She likes heavy arrows" thread...

I've been seing all these "Hill" bow threads lately and have been wondering what changed all of a sudden....they've always had their die hard fans....but the vast majority of what I used to hear was that they'd shake your teeth out your head and a lot of guys had to stop shooting them because of wrist/elbow/shoulder problems from the shock!

 I've tried a couple for one or two shots...that was enough!

So what has changed?

[straitera]

Perception only IMO.

[pauljr]

I was kinda wondering the same thing, in my opinion they are miserable to shoot. But i thought it was just my draw length and style of shooting that made my opinion.

[Guru]

I'm not knocking these bows at all guys, I'm sincerly wondering as I'd like to own a one LB and I want the "right one"...

From a K zoo thread...

 

Originally posted by xtrema312:
 

Originally posted by Todd Greenwald:
I just got home and will be heading back in the morning. . . All I can say is WOW!!!!

Yep me to.  4:30 - 9. Will be back for more tomorrow.  Have a sore bow elbow from trying too many D shape LB's.  I should know better. [/b]

This is exactly the kind of comment I'm used to hearing....

[killinstuff]

In years past, most of the D-shape bows I saw pulled 60#'s and up. A 70# Old Tom would about make your arm numb after a few shots. I see a lot more bows in the 40's and low 50's these day and they don't beat you up like the heavy weights.

[Ric O'Shay]

Curt -
Check out my response to "She likes heavy arrows" thread.
Danny

[Hawken1911]

I'm with you Guru, as I'm sure a lot of others are as well.  One can't help but notice all the HH bow threads lately and wonder why now?

[Rob DiStefano]

not all hill-style longbows (actually, american flat longbows) are alike, nor will all jar yer arm and teeth.

so what are the advantages, if any?

welp, they do look kinda cool.     aside from that, they do offer a large measure of "stability" in the shot, since the limbs are narrower and deeper than typical r/d style or plains flatbows.  i think there will always be a fascination with these type of simplistic looking longbows, and that's about it.

what are the drawbacks, if any?

to be factual, more than a few.  imo, they can be a challenge of sorts.  not all are made alike and some will downright hurt ya.  no matter what the limb-set (back, straight or follow), they need to be lots longer than an r/d longbow or recurve, for any given draw length.  lots longer.  they aren't speed demons, but they typically love very heavy arrows.  it takes time to get used to a 68" bow where before you got by just fine with 62" or even 58".  the approach to shooting an american flat longbow, in terms of form, will require adaptation and perhaps a slight change in form - you work with the bow, it typically won't work with you.  

imho, what sez "traditional bowhunting" better than a good american longbow and a back quiver loaded with twin blade woodies?  however, adapting that idyllic image to reality, therein lies the further challenge of traditional bowhunting with a "hill style" longbow.  nope, not for everyone - but still cool to admire!  :cool:

Yea...Curt that is a good question.

I am one of those who has RE-taken an interest in the hill bows.  Like you and many others here, I have had some tooth jarring episodes that always ended in my going back to the more comfortable LB or curve.  My first Hill dang near killed me...LOL

I think, at least for me, I fell in love with the true icon of the hill-style bow too many years ago and have always wanted to enjoy em but had given until I ran into Rob and the guys here on TG.

I have learned so much more about why they persevered for so many years.  I'll give it another go...


   

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Hawken1911:
I'm with you Guru, as I'm sure a lot of others are as well.  One can't help but notice all the HH bow threads lately and wonder why now?

ah, yeoman hawkin!  and there ye stand, with stave in hand and feathered pouch at thy side, and ye jest about thy long stick and string!  blasphemy i say, blasphemy!!!!   heretic!!!!!

 :D

[glenbo]

I had a Hill for a year or so.Needless to say,its gone.If I want to shoot a bow with handshock i will use one of my own making.

[Earl Jeff]

I've been shooting one of Steve Turays Northern mist Classics 57# 66" long and it doesn't seen to have much hand shock and super Accurate.

[BWD]

If folks who have never shot one are running out and ordering them, I predict there will be many for sale or trade within the next several months.

[straitera]

Personally, I've never had too much shock, lack of speed, non-performance, or ugly from any LB in my rack (Hills or Hill style). Actually the exact opposite to the point I'd not shoot anything else & haven't for 33 straight years. Not trying to one up anyone or start trouble. Just the facts. I really love my straight handled Hills. They fit & are a joy to shoot. I shot Bear, BigHorn, Pearson & other recurves before for many years.

[Kevin L.]

I learned on a Hill-style bow and to this day, I can't shoot a pistol gripped recurve worth a hoot. IMO, and that's all it is, if you have a sore elbow after shooting a couple of hours, either you're gripping it wrong, got the wrong weight arrow, or you need to make an appointment at the Doc's and see what's wrong in there. If it hurts you to shoot it, something ain't right.

Most of the time I see threads on TG talking about the latest and greatest super R/D or carbon/foam/micarta 3pc 'curve. Lots of folks love them and they look pretty, just not my cup of tea. To me, it's nice to see a good, meaty Hill thread with lots of eye candy.

Kevin

[TSP]

Maybe Hills are more popular because people are learning how to shoot them properly.  Or maybe not.  Holding a Hill like a 'tiny bird' or a cup of minty tea makes alot of tough guys humbler at day's end, lol.  And when that approach doesn't work it's always the bow's fault.  Not really.

Regardless of how magnificent one might be (or think they might be) with their girly bows, Hills will burn the wimp right outta' ya if you don't hold them right.  That's just how it is.  How many times has that been said and ignored.  A great bow with a great history...and a great deal of 'thump' if you ignore the obvious demands of this design.

Get ahold of it and shoot it like it's the opposite of Mommy's target bow.  Bend the bow arm instead of locking it out.  Sooth the beast and it will eat from your hand rather than up your hand and into your shoulder.  Stop wizzing into the wind.  See the light.

Or just shoot your girly bows.

             

[Kevin L.]

C'mon Tony, tell us how you really feel. It's bad to hold in your emotions, ROTFLMAO!!

[Covey]

I don't have anything against them, I think thier a good looking bow. Myself personaly never did care for the feel of them, but like others have said...maybe I'm holding it wrong. A friend of mine had three of them, that's right 3... before he figured out they all hurt his elbow. I'll just stick to my girly bow's!!  :D  Jason

[tradtusker]

Iv shot quite a few different hills, mostly 60lbs to 75lbs
Some where horrible some where really nice!
I like the simplicity of the hill it really has some mystique to it also.
I find them quite accurate but they don't match up to my other bows though

they are fun and functional and attract lots of archers

[Jerry Jeffer]

Originally posted by TSP:
Maybe Hills are more popular because people are learning how to shoot them properly.  Or maybe not.  Holding a Hill like a 'tiny bird' or a cup of minty tea makes alot of tough guys humbler at day's end, lol.  And when that approach doesn't work it's always the bow's fault.  Not really.

     

I think you hit it right on the head there. I started with a recurve as a kid, went to compounds because the people that were teaching me said this is what I should do, and I did it for too long. Came back to trad because I missed the fun, but I struggled for years. Then came a  D shaped long bow, and it was tough to deal with until some one said, "shoot it like this". Which was the way described in the post I just quoted. Since then, archery has truly swept me off to heaven. I have been selling off my other bows, and I will not shoot any other then a deep core D shaped longbow EVER again. Hail the longbow!