Pros and Cons of Hill Style longbow?

[Rossco7002]

Hey Guys,

Since moving over to traditional archery/bowhunting 3 years ago I've been shooting my two Toelke Whip R/D longbows and loving them. Lately I've been getting kinda interested in shooting one of his Hill style D-bows.

What differences are there likely to be between the two shooting experiences?

Will shooting the D-bow adversely effect my shooting with the 2 R/D bows?

Is a Hill style bow more forgiving/accurate?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Ross

[GRINCH]

Read the HH bug got me thread,they'll answer all your questions.

it has to be more about how a bow shoots for you instead of just the pretty wood. I have been a longbow shooter since 60s with some target stints with target recurves.  If you try to force a longbow to shoot different than it was designed, you may end up fighting it. Different makers do some different things that allow for differing shooting styles. As was said by the maker of Sunset HIll bows his bows need to healed to get the bottom limb working, which is how I shoot as well. It is possible to change the bows and make them so they shoot real nice for three under as can be made by John McDonald of Big River bows. they can also be centered and tillered for a single contact higher wrist grip style. For the standard Hill tiller and design, although there are those that have their own take on them, I always suggest to start out studying the shooting styles of those that have the long time best record and experience with them first, as in John Schulz and Howard Hill. while they may be more forgiving of certain shooting errors, they can also create problems if they are not handled right. As far as hand shock, some thump harder than others. If you shoot them with a bone on bone straight arm you may feel more than you are expecting. If you allow the broken elbow the thump will lesson with experience. If your shooting style is more like this     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFqjNKC72dA&feature=related     to something more like Byron Fergusson they will work for you. If it is exactly like Byron Fergusson, get a Patriot they are really accurate, forgiving bows with a little more shape to the grip. There is nothing wrong with shooting a more straight up static recurve style, I just wonder why one that shoots that style would want to shoot a different bow than what works for that style. To fully take advantage of the Hill style, in my experience, one needs to adapt the Hill philosophy as a whole package. It may be different than what you are currently doing with your Tolke Whips, which can be consider something in between a full gripped recurve to a Hill style longbow with perhaps a bit of the best of both worlds in the design. It's all good, it is just a different set of choices.

[Kentucky Jeff]

I will echo what's been said.  Hill bows are a a real joy to shoot if you have the temperment and ability to shoot them in the Hill style.  The more you try and force your own style and methods on them the less tolerant they are of those methods and shooting forms.

So much in trad archery is subjective and driven by individual tastes and talents.    If you are a recurve shooter and buy a Hill style bow and expect to be able to shoot it like your recurve you will probably be disappointed.

I can hold my Hill bow like my recurve and when I do its erratic and has pretty dramtic hand shock.  When I hold it and shoot it in the Hill style the experience is totally different.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You don't wear dentures do you?  if so you may want to stick with your Whips bro...

you may find out their is a shocking amount of difference.            

i once had a friend of mine tell me the best way to shoot a Hill style bow is using someone else's hand.            

My own Hill style bows in reality have very little more hand shock than most other bows, with fast flight strings it may be less than many recurves with B50 endless strings. I have had some thumpers in the past, funny thing is, a couple of those got more blood on them than most of my other bows. If you shoot one of those with locked out form of course it will kick you, if you allow your bent bow arm to absorb the shock, after a while your timing will improve and the shock will not go bone deep.

[cahaba]

Learn to shoot one and you will have one of the most accurate bow made. They will put down game. They dont shock anymore than many recurves I shot. Hill and Hill style bow are all I want to shoot. Master the technique and you will have one of the best hunting bows made.

[Larry m]

Cahaba knows what he is talking about. Shoot a nicely weighted wood shaft for best results. They are excellent shooting bows!!

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Rossco7002:
Hey Guys,

Since moving over to traditional archery/bowhunting 3 years ago I've been shooting my two Toelke Whip R/D longbows and loving them. Lately I've been getting kinda interested in shooting one of his Hill style D-bows.

What differences are there likely to be between the two shooting experiences?

yes, there are shooting differences 'tween hill-style longbows and any r/d type longbow.  lots of how that will go for you will depend on your form and shooting style, the design of the hill-style longbow (they are NOT all the same!), the arrow and string used, the length of the bow as it's compared to your true draw length, and your mental outlook.

Will shooting the D-bow adversely effect my shooting with the 2 R/D bows?

absolutely not - unless you want it to.

Is a Hill style bow more forgiving/accurate?

absolutely not - unless you DO want it to.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

you must shoot one, or two, or as many as you can - there is no substitute for hand's-on, particularly with hill-style longbows.  be particularly careful about the bow's length and true holding weight at your draw length.

Ross

[Benny Nganabbarru]

As Mr. Maher says: We're just cooler.

Okay, that's tongue-in-cheek, so go easy.

[straitera]

Longtime Hill/style straight handle shooter. They suit my hunting style. Likely, the big trad majority shoot pistol/locator grips which are limiting to me. BL, personal preference. If ever I switch, it'll be a longer hybrid w/straight grip because it can shoot my heavier arrows faster at less draw weight.

Sounds to me like you just need a good excuse to buy another bow. Your friends here are helping w/center shot info above. Good luck & pix please.

[Ron LaClair]

The Hill style bow has a lot of history and nostalgia. Howard Hill more than anyone is responsible for it's continued popularity. If you're interested in a Hill bow you won't be satisfied until you try one. Any traditional bow is a good choice but shoot the style that excites you.

 http://www.shrewbows.com/shrewhill.html  

   

[Big Ed]

I shot a Hill bow some years ago and had some elbow issues shooting it. It had lots of hand shock. It may have been due to my form but I will stay with my R/D bows. Try one they may fit your needs everyone is different.

[lpcjon2]

I didn't know there were cons to a Hill style bow. A pro is that it works faster and longer than Viagra increasing the testosterone in you. I love the straight handle as Buddy mentioned also.

[LongStick64]

If you like your Whip, Check out Dan's Super D. It is a very smooth drawing D bow without any shock or teeth rattling.

[GreyGoose]

What I hate about bad weather is, I go online and start reading stuff that will ultimately lead me to spend money, instead of getting out in the woods!.  Seriously, I appreciate this thread, because I've always wanted to try a Hill-style bow, and I've seen a lot of them attractively priced in the classifieds lately.  Hope the tips/opinions keep flowing.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by LongStick64:
If you like your Whip, Check out Dan's Super D. It is a very smooth drawing D bow without any shock or teeth rattling.

is the Super D truly a hill-style (basically straight limbed), or is it a mild r/d?  no info or full length pics listed on dan's site.

there is a WORLD of difference 'tween classic hill-style and mild r/d (d-braced) longbows!

[ron w]

[Jim Wright]

Ross, I shoot both Toelke Whips and Super Ds. the latter a majority of the time. The only "transition" to them for me was to simply "heel" the low grip a bit more which is only slightly different than shooting the Whip which you know has a fairly low grip itself. I shoot 11 to 1 wood arrows out of my Super Ds, 11 1/2 to 1 through my Whips. At the shot the only perceptible difference with the Super D is a very slight and not unpleasant thump, more of a pulse actually in the bow hand and I have shot bows with handshock that ranged from noticeable to literally painful. There is an enjoyment to shooting them that is somewhat hard to describe and in addition though every bow Dan has made me has been quiet, the Super Ds are ridiculously so.

[Jim Wright]

Rob, the Super D is practically straight limbed, if you set the unbraced bow on a flat surface "face" or belly up, the tips contact and the riser is 7/16" off the surface.