Static Recurves

[Kevin Hansen]

Need an explanation.
Recently I've run across the term "static recurve" in more than one place. I think I kind of know what the term means, but I'm wondering if someone can give me a simple definition and tell me what the advantages are of a static recurve versus a working recurve limb.
Thanks.
Kevin

[Zradix]

The tips of a working recurve bend or straighten out a bit when the bow is drawn.

The static's tips keep the same curve when drawn. Just kinda roll back.

[Kevin Hansen]

Thanks.
Pros and/or cons???

[katman]

Search function is wonderful.
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=126564#000000

[Keefer]

Kevin,
 I can really say it's a Pro to me due to the lack of finger pinch from the string angle...I think I had posted this before but here's why I love the static ..
I had my right hand severed and reaatached with 8 pins in the mid palm area from a logsplitter accident in my early 20's and that was on Dec.1 1985..
 I thought I was never going to shoot a bow of any kind anymore..
 Well after a year of therapy and several years of rigging a release aid so I could pull back my bow and release with my thumb(which worked good at the time)I was able to shoot again..
 I switched to recurves and longbows once more and really had no problems except for a full open hand release cause my hand cann't open fully all the way and I tend to get grooves in my shooting gloves after a while...
 Now recently I have owned two RER Arroyo's with static limbs and one was 52# and the most recent I own now is 50#...
 I have a few other bows I love as well but the static gives me a much better release and I am also toying around with tabs which seem to be helping much...
If you ever get around a show that has a static version try and shoot it a few times and notice a difference in the way it pulls...
 Not saying static is the only way cause there are many limb designs that pull just as good but for me I just love the way a static feels in my hand...

[Kevin Hansen]

Thanks, Keefer. I appreciate your insights.
Kevin

[Keefer]

Kevin,
Check that search function Katman has highlighted above and look for Sixby's explanation about the static limbs and look at his limbs on that bow he'a showing ...Rer bows also has a profile of the limbs like that when unstrung but not quite as much..I'll try and see if I can get the previous owner of my Arroyo to post pics of my Arroyo when I traded him...I'll see if he can post it here or on the thread I started so you can see the limbs and the limb tips....
        Keefers <><

[Bill Carlsen]

Many of the statics are really deep hook recurves. Sort of an evolution I guess now that we have carbon and foam cores. My first experience was with Border limbs. Very fast but, unlike others, I had some difficulty with getting them quiet and they were a bit tempermental for me. The Morrison MAX I's have won me over. Not sure that they are as fast as the Borders but the difference is undetectable to me. They also offer me a shorter limb and are much quieter. Both are extremely smooth to draw.

[savage1]

Bill I have also said the Borders are loud since last summer. Its a deal breaker for me as I prefer a quieter bow. I feed that #48 set up 605 grs. and it was still loud. Any bow I ever had got quiet over 11 gpp. I downloaded the BH chart and tried several settings with silencers and even limb savers which Im not a big fan of except on the metal bows I guess. I see guys shooting bows that look like they hung their laudry out to dry, I dont want to one of them.
I shot three arrows out of the max1 limbs a month ago, felt good to me. Is that a static too? I thought it was full working but didnt really get to spend time with it. Theres many good design these days not to knock any one. It just depends what a guy wants in his hand.
Lou

[Sixby]

the new Bigfoot and the newest Eaglewing are both geometrical statics. The static is formed by the geometry instead of building up the tips. Both Kirk and I put a thin wood overlay on the bellys simply to cut the string grooves in. Neither of us like cutting deeply into the glass although I have some old Bears that are cut clear throuh the glass and into the second lamination and still going great after 60 years.
I just don'tlike doing it. Of course we are not shooting soft fluffy strings on these new bows either.

Here's my take on statics being built today, Geometry which is the lightest, standard recurves with stiffners , lever types. Most of the really fast bows are built with geometry that keeps the tips from bending. They may actually bend a tiny bit at full draw but have accomplished the major work of being static through the draw cycle. Most of these bows are in the top echalon of performance once the bowyer gets them just right. No working recurve I have ever shot could stand up to them in overall performance, Quietness, ease of draw. smooth draw cycle.. eveness of draw cycle , deadness in hand at end of shot, consistancy or speed. The only downside is that they are not as easy to string . However with a good block stringer and just a tiny bit of practice its a piece of cake.
Friends thread on the Dryad with static limbs is a good one concerning this and so is the thread about the new Caribow, there are also threads on the Stalkers of South Coxs and on the RERs , all of which are truly good statics. I also love the Raven that Jack Kemph is building and I believe that there is a thread about them several months back.

God bless , Steve

[Kevin Hansen]

Good insights, guys, and much appreciated.
It's always good to hear from people with first hand knowledge.
Thanks.
Kevin

[nineworlds9]

They rule.  Plain and simple.  I just got a 71# example and I shot it the other day.  Quiet without string silencers and I currently have an arrow I am unable to remove from my bag target.  I'm a 6'2" 250# firefighter and I can't pull it out barehanded.  Unbelievable.

[Gator1]

My hats off to Kirk and sixby for providing static tip curves

Personally will never own a curve without statics

Their simply longbow quiet without doctoring padding the loops

[savage1]

Lets not scare anyone off here, all recurves need care when being strung and I have not experienced a great difference in string. I have had working curves that were very hard to string.
Gator1 I have all sorts of bows but statics rule.
Years ago I called a mag. and asked if they could do an article on the differnt bows, pros and cons to help guide future starters, they never did. I personally spent thousands in my life time but today I know The bow of choice for hunting is a staic no question as far as curves go. Longbow is also a better choice in my opinion. Not to upset anyone but just saying, for speed and quiet..

Lou

[Safari Scott]

Haha, @nineworlds, I've had the same problem with my static (it's only 62# at my 30 draw though) at my local range there are the hay targets and the ones that are made of several sheets of plastic.

They were going so deep into the hay that I had to yank on the arrows so hard to get them out I was worried they were going to snap. I even had to turn backwards and brace my back against it.

 Now I can only shoot the plastic ones.