What do you think makes your bow accurate?

[Ulysseys]

I had a great tuning experience today with a short modern longbow...it perfectly bare shafted...found its sweet spot and made it whisper quiet and had zero hand shock...it would be an absolute dream from a climber this spring and fall.  With that being said it lacked a little in accuracy when compared to my 64" longbow.  At 20 yards I'd say its plenty accurate to hunt but I'd about cut it off there and my groups were a little more open than I'm used to.  I only draw 27" and the bow is rated for that length...it doesn't stack and I feel no finger pinch.  With those things aside, why would the longer bow be more accurate?  Or what do you think makes the bow you settled on accurate for you?

[DaveV]

I think the key phrase is "more forgiving" not more accurate.

If you bolted each into a Hooter Shooter, most likely they'll shoot exactly the same every time.

The difference is in the shooter, not the bow.

Deflex, limb length, center shot, grip, all sorts of things can make one bow more forgiving than another. I would generalize that shorter limbed bows are inherently harder to shoot consistently for many reasons. The question then becomes, how much stability are you willing to sacrifice to shoot a short bow?

[grouseshooter002]

It isn't the bow it's the arrow and you. The bow doesn't do anymore than propel the arrow.

Grouse

[Ulysseys]

I'm using forgiveness and accuracy interchangeably here then...assume all bows are shot from a human and not machine...is there something beyond finger pinch and stacking that makes a shorter bow inherently less accurate to a human, if those things were removed from the cycle?  Or do some people find short bows equally or more accurate?

[Orion]

The problem is you can't remove those things from the cycle/equation.  They exist because the bow is shorter. The stack makes the bow feel stiffer/rougher, the finger pinch makes it more difficult to get off the string cleanly.  Shorter limbs are also more susceptible to various types of torquing with both the bow hand and drawing hand, because the string angle is always more acute up/down or side to side vis-a-vis a longer bow. Certain design and construction features can lessen the effects, of course, like a forward grip handle, extreme deflex/reflex limbs and limb materials that provide cross sectional stability, etc.

[drewsbow]

ME  

[JamesKerr]

Stability in the limbs is what I think gives a bow the most accuracy. If your limbs aren't tillered perfectly and balanced to each other the bow will never be as accurate or stable as a bow that has those things.

[kat]

Originally posted by drewsbow:
ME      

X2

With some bows, if I throw a twang into the string on release, the limbs go out time, torque is put into the grip and it all carries through until the arrow leaves the string.  What makes my new bow forgiving and accurate for me is because James understood how I shoot and built a bow that functions perfectly with my normal shot, and if I mess up a bit the smooth long limbs and the reverse grip corrects things before the arrow leaves the string.

[Plumber]

MONEY,just keep throwing money at the problem,It will get better

[kat]

I really think that switching from one bow to another, and making comparisons is tough.
I have found that if you work with a single bow for a while; you will adjust to it's subtle differences.

[Tater]

Confidence........

With bows that are a bit sensitive to release errors, the good ol cant pinch tab helps me a lot.

[Bazooka Joe]

Me

[larry]

I can only speak to what makes it inaccurate...that would be my bow arm   :(  just can't hold it rock solid like I used to   :(    :(

[katman]

Grip, very stable well timed limbs and a well tuned arrow. I also shoot longer bows better when shooting longer than my normal hunting distance.

[bartcanoe]

Originally posted by drewsbow:
ME      

That's what makes my bow inaccurate  

[LongStick64]

My hand - eye coordination

[59Alaskan]

All my bows are infinitely more accurate than me.

The longer ones tend to be more understanding of my imperfections though.

[Fisher Cat]

I'll second what James Kerr said.  Stable limbs are more forgiving than "light whippy" limbs (When everything else is equal, the added mass will tend to make them a bit slower too though).

I don't believe longer bows are more forgiving TO ME.  Lately I seem to shoot 56" recurves better than anything else (and I'm 6' tall with a 28" draw).  

Its interesting to note that (everything else being equal) longer limbs will tend to be more "whippy" than shorter ones. Shorter limbs of the same draw weight will also tend to shoot faster because they have less mass.

My quest for the "magic bow" has taught me that a good fitting grip is also important for consistency and practicing with just one bow is also very helpful.  It's just not as much fun.        - John