Smoothest drawing 60 or 62 inch Recurve?

[BowZen]

I have a Schafer Silvertip, and to me its smoothest drawing recurve I have.  Just curious to see what other folks think?

[wooddamon1]

I had a 60" Wapiti static tip that seemed like it had let-off. Very smooth draw.

[straight_arrow]

Have a tip and a wapiti, gotta go with the tip for sure!

[Jmatt1957]

The static tip wapiti 60 and 62 both smooth.

[The Whittler]

So far it's my 62" BW recurve.

[Covey]

I had a 60" Silvertip and I would have to say it was the smoothest bow I've ever had in my hand. Plus that thing hit like Thor's hammer! Purdy partial to my longbows though!

Jason

[landman]

Long as I'm not over bowed, all of my bows are smooth.

[Panzer]

My Chek-Mate (Hunter I) is the nicest recurve I have ever shot.

[ChrisM]

For me a Lee is very smooth.

[wrbirddog]

I have limited experience but love my Assenheimer 64" and 66" bows (56 and 60/64 lbs respectively ).  I guess I need to try a few more bows. Although I've found that that can be expensive...

[Ravenhood]

Predator

[Tajue17]

I owned shafers and you should try a preditor

[YORNOC]

Heh, every guy is going to chime in that theirs is the smoothest.    

[heydeerman]

Martin Hunter is a pretty smooth bow.

[Jock Whisky]

Chek Mate Hunter I and II. Love 'em both.

JW

[ron w]

My 60" Sivertip is real nice....but so is my 60" Zipper, both 47# @ 29". My 60" River Runner ain't bad either, same poundage!!

[Marc B.]

Hummingbird and I own 2 Silvertips.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Smoothness of the draw is a relative description that is interpreted differently by archers.

A good example would be a string follow bow, or a long straight "D" style long bow with very low string tension, or preload  at brace. This bow pulls at a very even rate and slowly increases in weight as it reaches the end of the draw.  These type bows are known for their smooth draw, but unfortunately, they typically do not have very high performance or good cast to them until you get into heavy draw weights. the first two inches of draw are only 3 pounds per inch increase on a 50 pound bow.

The second type of smooth draw is produced by an R/D long bow. These bows have reflex to the limbs that is pretty much taken out of the limb at brace height, but give the bow more string tension, or preload at brace.  this typ of bow will pull slightly harder in the first couple inches than a string follow or straight "D" shape bow does, but then its a very gradual increase the rest of the way through the draw cycle. the R/D bow will draw 5 ppi then 4 ppi down to around 2.5-3 ppi clear through the draw until it goes back up again which is called "stacking".

The third definition of smooooooooth. Is a Recurve or Static recurve design that has a much higher preload at brace than the R/D long bow. the first few inches may run as high as 6 to 7 pounds per inch in the first couple inches then start dropping off like a ski slope clear down to 2 pounds or less at about 22" in the draw before climbing back up slowly. With the early weight in the first few inches, it gives the feel of a let off in draw weight that many archers really love....

All these different kinds of draws can be measured on a DFC chart (Draw Force Curve) like this one.

The difference in smoothness from a 60 -62 inch recurve depends on the taper rate in the core and geometry of the limb, vs actual draw length...

Sorry for getting long winded here... but there really are 3 types of smooth out there.                      

 

[twistedlim]

Great info. My 60" Toelke Chinook is by far the smoothest draw I have shot.  As you mentioned above this is one of the preloaded bows that seems to get significantly easier to pull.  Really helps me to zone in in the last inch or two of the draw.

[BowZen]

I understand that each person will have an opinion. What I'm after is what Kirk described as the third definition of smooth. Something that has a preload and eases as you get to your anchor, especially that last inch.  Some bows, like the Silvertip, seem smooth and consistent throughout the entire draw cycle.