Question for you Hill style longbow shooters

[D Sheffey]

Do you have to wear an arm guard?  I don't think I've ever seen a pic of someone shooting a Hill style longbow that didn't have on an arm guard.

I assume it's the low brace puts the string into your wrist but thought I would ask.

Stick

[Jim Wright]

I shoot Dan toelke "Super D" Hill style bows and I do not wear an arm guard. There is a certain magic and awareness of tradition when shooting the Hill styles and I get that, mine have never seen anything but wooden arrows and meybe I should be wearing an arm guard too.

[straitera]

Can shoot w/o armguard unless shooting a lot. String Rash...Once is enough.

[Randy Koleno]

I always wear an armguard no matter what bow I'm shooting. I do think my Hill is more likely to hit me though.

[treetoppredator]

A bow string has never slapped my arm! Just never had that problem, lucky i guess.

[Ben Maher]

I haven't worn an armguard aside from hunting in extreme cold and I had to because of bulky sleeves.

[mike g]

I can shoot mine without one, but ya need to pay attention....
    Get a little sloppy with your grip and you get it, Like said above, once is enough....
    The Armguard is also great for keeping the sleeve out of the way....
    And of course they look "Cool"....

[Blueridge]

I only use one with a coat on. Don't need one otherwise.

[Dick in Seattle]

Hill style form generally involves a slightly bent elbow.   How much depends on the individual and the grip on the bow.  Some folks can get away with no guard, others can't.   Even those who can can get zapped if they're careless.   Not to be a wimp or anything, but it hurts!   So why not wear a guard?  They look cool and give you a chance to show off some personal craftsmanship.  

Besides, admit it, we're still kids playing mind games and taking ourselves back in time.   Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) wore a guard... Howard wore a guard (even had one built into the sleeve of his buckskin shirt!).   Heck, a trad longbow archer (real longbow, that is) without a guard would be like Roy Rogers with his six gun stuck in his waistband instead of in a tooled leather holster!

[WESTBROOK]

I dont use one uless I got bulky sleeves on.

Eric

Hill said that with a low brace height longbow the string is suppose to hit the arm guard, according to Schulz.  This changes when using a higher braced bow with a fast flight string.  With one of my bows, it is tiller-ed to shoot best with a low brace using a B50 string, but with a fast flight it likes the brace about a half inch more and the arm contact is much reduced.

[Ralphie]

I have always used an arm guard. One built of tough leather. Should an arrow break, on it's way out; the guard will protect you from injury.
Somehow, I never, ever hit my arm with the string when shooting. Even with a 6" brace height on my Hill Big 5 or Miller longbow.
I use a guard strictly for safety.
    ....what Pavan said,   that according to HH; " with a low brace height longbow the string is suppose to hit the arm guard" I was told similar by David Miller. He mentioned Hill had said the string should be hitting from time to time, if everything is being done correctly.
You are probably best doing what makes the most sense to you, as opinion and talk is all over the place.

[Blueridge]

they do have a "COOL" factor , no doubt about that.

[JRY309]

I never hit my arm but I always shoot with an armguard,just habit and in case it would happen.

[seven crows]

I shoot longbows and recurves, never use arm guards, open stance and canting make it unnecessary I guess.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Usually don't need it. Use it in winter to hold back the bulky clothes. But, I like how Dick put it.

[alex m]

My 68" Westley Special is tuned for light arrows so the brace is a bit on the high side. it's never bit me yet.  My 66"Long Bowman's Classic is tuned for heavy arrows so the brace is on the lower side.  It bites a bit, almost every shot.  Regardless of which one I'm shooting, I wear a stout custom arm guard because of occasional sleeve interference.  It only took one bad shot caused by a sleeve to make a believer out of me. Alex

[D Sheffey]

The reason I asked is simply that I HATE WEARING ARM GUARDS but I want a HH longbow.  I think I"m going to sell the BW recurve and get me a HH now that I think I wouldn't have to have an arm guard.

Thanks to all that answered.
Stick

[David Mitchell]

Yep, I need one or else I get a nice little red welt mark on the forearm.  Don't need 'em with recurves.

[Owlmagnet]

I didn't need an armguard for my recurves, but I definitely need one for my Hills....